China
China spans 9.6 million square kilometres from the Gobi Desert to subtropical rainforest, from Himalayan plateaux to neon-lit megacities of thirty million people — a country so vast and varied that every province feels like a separate nation. Five thousand years of continuous civilisation have left a density of cultural heritage that few places on earth can match: the Great Wall threading across mountain ridges, the Forbidden City at the heart of Beijing, the Terracotta Army standing guard outside Xi'an, the karst peaks of Guilin reflected in the Li River, the sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie that inspired the landscapes of Avatar. Modern China adds a layer of hyperspeed urbanism — Shanghai's Pudong skyline, Shenzhen's tech campuses, Chengdu's panda sanctuaries and fiery Sichuan hotpot — while the Silk Road corridor through Gansu and Xinjiang, the rice terraces of Yunnan and the monasteries of Tibet offer some of the most rewarding overland travel on the continent.
Visa Requirements for China
China has relaxed its visa regime: citizens of dozens of countries — most EU states, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Canada and several South American countries — enter the mainland without a visa for up to 30 days of tourism, business, family visits or transit under a policy renewed periodically, so verify your eligibility before travel. Citizens outside that list, the United States most notably, can use the 240-hour visa-free transit at designated ports when continuing to a third country; work, study, journalism and longer stays need a visa in advance from a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre or embassy.
Before you travel
Hong Kong and Macao
Run immigration systems separate from the mainland's; different entry rules apply.
Passport
Valid at least six months beyond arrival with at least two blank pages, since a Chinese visa takes a full page.
Registration within 24 hours
Anyone staying outside a hotel — a private home or homestay — must register with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours; hotels register guests at check-in.
Language requirement
No mainland visa or work permit tests Chinese. The foreigner's work permit is graded on points that score Chinese proficiency by HSK level beside salary, education and experience, so a certificate can lift an application into a higher category without being a condition of it. Chinese-taught degrees usually ask for HSK 4, often HSK 5, the Chinese Government Scholarship asks for HSK 4 for Chinese-taught graduate programmes, and the X2 visa covers short language courses.
Certificates, tools and tutorsVisa types
Visa-Free Entry (Select Nationalities)
Citizens of eligible countries may enter mainland China without a visa for tourism, business, family visits or transit. The list of eligible nationalities and conditions is updated periodically — always confirm current eligibility with a Chinese embassy or CVASC before travel.
Tourist Visa (L Visa)
For tourism, sightseeing or visiting friends and family in mainland China. Required when the visa-free exemption does not apply or when a stay longer than 30 days is planned. Apply through a CVASC with passport, application form, photograph, detailed itinerary and hotel bookings.
240-Hour (10-Day) Transit Visa Exemption
For transit passengers of eligible nationalities — the US among them — entering through dozens of designated ports with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. This single scheme replaced the old shorter hour-tiers; stay is limited to designated areas of the entry region.
Business Visa (M Visa)
For commercial activities in China: trade negotiations, business meetings, attending fairs (including the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, the world's largest trade fair), site inspections and contract signings. An invitation letter from a Chinese business entity is required.
Student Visa (X1/X2)
X1 for long-term study (over 180 days) at Chinese universities — Peking University, Tsinghua, Fudan and Zhejiang among the most sought-after. X2 for short-term courses, language study and summer programmes under 180 days. Admission letter and JW201/JW202 form required.
Work Visa (Z Visa)
For employment in China with a valid work permit arranged by the employer. After entry, a residence permit must be obtained from the local Public Security Bureau within 30 days.
Family Visit Visa (S/Q)
Q1/Q2 for visiting Chinese relatives or long-term family reunion. S1/S2 for visiting foreigners who work or study in China. Invitation letter and proof of relationship required.
Guides
The Great Wall is not one wall but a network of fortifications stretching over 21,000 kilometres — the restored sections near Beijing alone offer a range of experiences, from the cable-car-accessible Badaling to the uncrowded ridgeline hike at Jinshanling at sunrise. The Forbidden City reveals five centuries of imperial splendour across 980 buildings on 72 hectares. Outside Xi'an, the Terracotta Army — over 8,000 life-sized warriors unearthed in 1974 — remains one of the defining archaeological discoveries of the twentieth century. Guilin's karst peaks and the Li River cruise are the landscapes of classical Chinese ink painting brought to life. Chengdu combines giant panda research bases with one of the world's great street-food cultures (Sichuan hotpot, mapo tofu, dan dan noodles). Zhangjiajie's sandstone pillars rise through mist in formations that make Jurassic geology feel alien. Shanghai packs the colonial-era Bund, the futuristic Pudong skyline and a gallery scene rivalling any in Asia into a single river bend. The Silk Road through Gansu and Xinjiang — the Mogao Caves at Dunhuang, the Flaming Mountains near Turpan, the Sunday market at Kashgar — is an overland journey through deserts, oases and Central Asian culture. Yunnan's rice terraces, Tibet's Potala Palace, Hangzhou's West Lake — China rewards not just one trip but a lifetime of returns.
China travel guide →
The full guide — the imperial axis, your Great Wall section, the megacities, the painted landscapes, the Silk Road and the two-week route.
Money in China →
Yuan, Alipay and WeChat Pay — the practical money guide.
Eating in China →
Eight kitchens read as a map — why geography explains the flavour, from ma la fire to dim sum precision.
Getting around China →
High-speed rail, payment apps and the firewall — the three systems to set up before you land.
Health & safety in China →
Genuinely low street crime, the one scam pattern worth knowing, water and altitude, and the numbers to call.
Cities & planning
Airports
Plan your trip
Booking links go to our partner Trip.com — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Regions
Hong Kong & Macao
Special Administrative Regions of China — separate entry rules: a China visa covers neither.
Embassies & missions
Europe · 14
Americas · 8
Oceania · 2
Africa · 1
- ArgentinaGuangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai · Beijing
- AustraliaChengdu · Guangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai +1
- AustriaChengdu · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai · Beijing
- CanadaChongqing · Guangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai +1
- ChileChengdu · Guangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai +1
- ColombiaGuangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai · Beijing
- FranceChengdu · Guangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai +3
- GermanyChengdu · Guangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai +2
- ItalyChongqing · Guangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai +1
- MexicoGuangzhou · Shanghai · Beijing
- NetherlandsBeijing
- New ZealandBeijing
- NigeriaBeijing
- PeruGuangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai · Beijing
- Saudi ArabiaGuangzhou · Beijing
- South KoreaBeijing
- SpainGuangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai · Beijing
- SwitzerlandChengdu · Guangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai +1
- United KingdomChongqing · Guangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai +2
- United StatesChengdu · Guangzhou · Hong Kong SAR · Shanghai +3
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit China?
Many nationalities — including most EU member states, the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Brazil — can now enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business or family visits; the policy is renewed periodically, so verify current eligibility before booking. US citizens aren't on the entry list, but can use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit when continuing to a third country. Work, journalism and long-term study still require a visa obtained in advance.
Does entering Hong Kong or Macau count as entering mainland China?
No — Hong Kong and Macau are Special Administrative Regions with entirely separate immigration systems, so entry there doesn't count as entry to the mainland, and continuing on to mainland China requires its own separate visa or visa-free eligibility.
Can I use my foreign credit card in China?
Not reliably on its own — digital payments dominate daily life via WeChat Pay and Alipay, but foreign Visa and Mastercard holders can now link their cards directly to both apps before arrival, which covers nearly every payment situation. Carry some cash as backup since ATMs are uncommon in rural areas.
Will my usual apps work in China?
No — the Great Firewall blocks Google, Gmail, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Twitter/X on Chinese networks, so most international apps won't load. Download offline maps and a Chinese translation app like Pleco before you arrive, and plan on WeChat as the universal local app for messaging, payment and ride-hailing.
Which section of the Great Wall should I visit?
Badaling is the most accessible and most crowded; Mutianyu offers the best balance of cable car access and atmosphere; Jinshanling suits hikers and photographers seeking quieter, partially restored sections; Simatai is the only section open for evening visits.
Do I need to book the Forbidden City in advance?
Yes — daily visitor numbers are capped and online booking is mandatory. Allow at least 3-4 hours, and consider combining the visit with Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace for a full day of imperial Beijing.
What's the best way to travel between Chinese cities?
China's high-speed rail network, the largest in the world, covers most intercity routes — Beijing to Shanghai is a matter of hours rather than a day. Domestic flights cover the rest, particularly the far west and inland mountain regions.
When should I avoid travelling in China?
Avoid Chinese New Year (dates vary, January or February) and Golden Week (October 1-7) — domestic travel peaks massively during both, and attractions, hotels and trains sell out weeks in advance. Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant weather overall.
Planning a trip to China? Check what you need to enter and apply online in minutes.
Treat this Visaja page as your starting point: verify the current rules directly with the official source before you submit an application.