Beginner’s Guide to Travelling in China as a non-Chinese speaker

Visiting China as a non-Chinese speaker can be intimidating, especially when essential travel apps like Google Search and Maps do not work without some tricks.

I spent a lot of time researching how things work in China and made a few mistakes along the way. I’ve written this article to provide the information I wish I had, saving you research time and helping you avoid common mistakes.

In this article, I’ll cover all the important things to know before traveling to China, with a focus on Xi’an and Beijing. These tips are ranked by importance.

P.S. Seasoned China travelers, please let me know if I’ve missed out anything!

Important mobile apps

Here are the important mobile apps to install in your phone, while in China. I’ll explain their uses in detail later.

Important:

• Alipay: Pay for everything, browse restaurant menus
• WeChat: Pay for everything, browse restaurant menus
• MAPS.ME: English language map app that works
• Google Translate: Translates texts, images and voices
• DiDi: Ride-hailing

Optional:

• Mullvad or LetsVPN: Probably the only VPNs that work in China
• Klook: Book activities
• Trip.com: Book trains and activities (sometimes cheaper than Klook)
• 12306 China Train: China’s official train booking app
• Microsoft Copilot: AI platform for trip-planning and quick answers

Internet censorship

Internet traffic in China is heavily regulated by The Great Firewall (GFW). This prevents banned websites/apps from functioning in the country:

❌ Google (incl. Search, Gmail, Maps, YouTube etc.)
❌ Meta (incl. WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook)
❌ Telegram
❌ TikTok
❌ Netflix
❌ Twitter
❌ Skype
❌ Reddit
❌ Dropbox
…and more

If, like most people, you need the above services during your time in China, there are 2 proven methods to bypass the GFW.

1) Get a data roaming plan

Foreign data roaming plans, SIMs and eSIMs can bypass GFW without a VPN, as long as the provider is not from Mainland China.

There are plenty of highly-rated and affordable ones on Shopee. I got a physical SIM and eSIM (S$15.99 for 10GB, 15 Days) from this shop, and they both worked flawlessly.

How to use TikTok: Most of these eSIMs are from Hong Kong-based telcos, where TikTok is banned. If you want to use TikTok in China, temporarily disable your eSIM, connect to the hotel’s WiFi and connect to one of the recommended VPNs below.

2) Pay for a VPN

Most hotel WiFi networks are also protected by the powerful GFW. Without a VPN, you will need to rely on your paid data roaming plan in the hotel, which can be costly.

Unfortunately, GFW is able to detect and block most VPNs out there*. Based on what’s shared on Suitesmile Chat, only 2 VPN providers work well in China:

✅ Mullvad: EUR 5 per month
✅ LetsVPN: USD 4.69 per month

Making payments

Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted everywhere, even at tiny stalls in night markets. Payments are mostly made by scanning the other party’s QR code, or by letting the other party scan your QR code on these apps.

It is absolutely crucial that you have these apps properly set up on your mobile phone, before flying to China. Remember to add your cards to these apps, as payments will be deducted directly from those cards.

Related: Best cards in Singapore for Foreign Currency spending

Alipay served most of my needs pretty well, and I’ve only used WeChat Pay twice, when Alipay didn’t work, during my 11-day trip.

Navigation

Although Google Maps work really well in most countries, it is pretty much useless in China, as it is highly inaccurate.

There are plenty of good maps apps in China, but they are mostly in Chinese.

The one English version that worked well for me was the MAPS.ME app, available on Android and Apple devices. The app’s interface is good, and navigation instructions on car and public transport were pretty accurate. I’ve also read that Apple Maps work well, if you’re using an iPhone.

Transportation

1) Local buses and trains

On the Alipay app, tap on Transport and scan your QR code on the scanner when entering the bus or train platform.

In my experiences in Xi’an and Beijing, trains can be crowded and unfortunately, passengers often do not allow alighting passengers to exit first. This can be really uncomfortable and stressful, especially when travelling with luggages, kids or elderlies.

2) Ride-hailing

As compared to other cities, ride-hailing (or e-hailing) costs are pretty low in Xi’an and Beijing. The go-to ride-hailing app in China is DiDi.

We also never had issues getting DiDi rides near touristy areas, which can be tricky in some non-Chinese cities, where “taxi mafias” still have a stronghold.

Be sure to download the China version of this app (as shown below), not the Global version. This app is in English, you shouldn’t face any issues using it.

3) Long-distance trains

Long-distance train tickets are available 15 days before departure, and can be booked on the official 12306 website or app, or Trip.com.

From what I’ve read, passengers can only choose their seats on 12306, not on third-party websites. As we were travelling as a couple, I had to verify my both our IDs on the app. Unfortunately, I faced difficulties verifying my partner’s ID in my account, and we ended up booking through Trip.com.

Although Trip.com allowed selection of seat columns, do not expect to receive your selected seat.

We booked 1st Class seats on Trip.com, which costed around S$170 per person for the 4-hour ride from Xi’an to Beijing. Seats were wider, had better legrooms and laid out in a 2-2 configuration.

Having chosen seats A and C on Trip.com, we were assigned seats C and D — separated by the aisle, but thankfully in the same row.

Unverified ticket-holders (those who did not book through 12306) will need to go through manual verification at the entrance of the train station. There wasn’t a queue when I was there in October, but I read that it can be pretty long during peak travel seasons. So, be sure to arrive early, before your train’s scheduled departure time.

4) Airport transfer

I booked an airport transfer service using Trip.com, which costed just S$20 for the 30-minute journey. As first-time travellers in China, it was nice having the driver wait for us at the arrival hall of the airport (holding a board with my name), for a worry-free start in a new city.

Communication

English-proficiency is generally low, especially in Xi’an. Most signage, labels and menus are displayed in Chinese.

We used the Google Translate app to translates texts, images and voices.

Dining

From our experience, most cafés and restaurants in China do not display physical menus. Guest are expected to scan the appropriate QR codes with Alipay or WeChat (not with your camera) to view the menus. These menus are usually in Chinese, but thankfully, the in-built translation function in Alipay was easy to use.

Also, restaurants may display multiple QR codes for different purposes. Use Google Translate to ask a staff, if you’re unsure.

Also note that it is difficult to search for highly-rated restaurants, as most are not listed on Google Maps, only on Chinese apps. We searched on the MAPS.ME app (not always accurate for restaurants) and explored by foot.

Booking activities

Klook is usually the go-to platform for Singaporeans booking activities overseas, because it is reliable and competitively-priced.

In China, however, Trip.com owns the space, offering lower prices, more choices and more reviews. So, be sure to compare both platforms!

Note: Some sites, like The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing, require advance booking — up to a week prior. Alternatively, you can often find tickets or guided tours on Trip.com at least a day in advance, though usually at higher prices.

Best/Worst times of year to visit China

For a better experience, first-timers in China should visit during the best travel windows shared below.

✅ Best times: Best weather, fewer crowds and cheaper hotels.

• Spring (Apr to May)
• Autumn (mid-Oct to Nov)

❌ Worst times: Extreme weather and/or large crowds.

• Summer (Jun to Aug)
• Winter (Dec to Feb)
• Chinese New Year (late-Jan to early-Feb)
• National Day Week (early-Oct)

Bring passport everywhere

Passports are requried in a lot of tourist attractions in China, as they also serve as your tickets. So be sure to bring them everywhere you go.

Common scams

Generally, we felt very safe in Xi’an and Beijing. We appreciated that no one was aggressively trying to sell us things on the streets, unlike what you often experience in places like Bali, Paris and Istanbul.

Ride-hailing drivers were also well-behaved, and never tried to charge us more than the displayed fare in the app, unlike my experiences in cities like Istanbul, Muscat and Rio de Janeiro.

We had one experience with a scammer in Xi’an, though: After dropping off from our DiDi ride, we walked towards the main entrance of The Museum of Terracotta Warriors, when someone who looked like a staff (formal clothes + lanyard) approached us (with a smile) and politely asked (in English) if we had tickets, we replied with a “yes”, and she said that we need to book a tour guide, or we will not be able to enter the area.

It triggered the scam sensor in me, and I replied with a “no”, before walking past her. It felt like an easy scam to fall for, so please be careful!

tl;dr: Like in most countries, be more aware of scams in or around touristy areas.

The Great Wall of China

First-timers in Beijing should probably visit this famous landmark.

There are 2 main sections of this wall, Badaling (mainly locals) and Mutianyu (most tourists). First timers would probably be more comfortable at Mutianyu.

You may see a lot of merchants offering tickets to the Great Wall on Klook and Trip.com. If you don’t have time to go through every single one of them, I highly recommend booking this one on Klook, that is run by Mubus tour agency.

It is the cheapest, most-booked and highest-rated one. We paid about $33 per person and it included roundtrip bus rides, as well as a delicious buffet at Mutianyu, before heading back to the city (I don’t usually like buffets!).

Mubus usually operates multiple buses per day to/from Mutianyu, and you can hop on any of them, before the last bus leaves of course. Mubus tour guides will share a history of the Great Wall in the bus, and can recommend Mutianyu hiking routes, according to how fit you are.

Driving style

Driving style in Xi’an is aggressive and impatient, with lots of unnecessary, continuous honking, even towards pedestrians with the right-of-way. This noise pollution may disrupt your sleep, if your hotel room is located on a low floor near a road.

❗Beware of e-bikes when walking on pedestrian walkways, especially when travelling with kids. These e-bikes are dangerous as they are fast and quiet. From my experience, the e-bike riders do not care to slow down near pedestrians, kids or elderlies. This issue felt more serious in Xi’an.

AI for trip-planning and assistant

Need a quick answer to something or an assistant to help plan your trip? I recommend having a couple of Artificial Intelligence (AI) language model apps (like Copilot or ChatGPT) installed in your phone, for these purposes.

For example, here’s what Copilot gave me, when I asked it to rate the best places to visit in Beijing, and the total duration recommended at each attraction.

Take a chill pill

Just as many things are done differently in China, local behavior may also give you a bit of culture shock. Be prepared for things like queue-cutting, loud conversations, and some staring.

That said, China is a beautiful country that offers truly unique travel experiences. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, at least in the cities I’ve visited, Xi’an and Beijing. 😊