Essential Preparation
VPN (Critical)
China blocks Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook. Download and subscribe to a VPN before entering China — it becomes illegal to download VPNs within mainland China. ExpressVPN and NordVPN work reliably.
Payment
WeChat Pay and Alipay now accept international credit cards — register before arriving. Cash (RMB) is backup.
Offline Apps
Download Google Maps offline, translation app, and your VPN before entering.
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Top Destinations
Beijing
Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace.
Great Wall: Mutianyu section is best for independent tourists — restored, cable car, less crowded than Badaling. 1.5–2 hours from Beijing.
Shanghai
The Bund (Art Deco vs futuristic Pudong skyline), French Concession, Yuyuan Garden.
Xi’an
The Terracotta Army — 8,000 life-size soldiers guarding Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. One of archaeology’s greatest discoveries.
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Great Wall day trips from Beijing (Mutianyu section) and Shanghai city tours with English guides are bookable through Klook.
Book China Great Wall tours on Klook →
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Plan Your Trip
- 🎫 Tours & activities — KKday
- 🏨 Hotels — EconomyBookings
- 🚕 Airport transfer — Welcome Pickups
- 📱 eSIM & SIM card — Airalo
- 🚗 Car & scooter rental — Localrent
- ✈️ Flights — Kiwi.com