China: main airports
China has thirty-five airports with active connections, reflecting the size and complexity of the country. The main international hubs are Beijing, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen; followed by dozens of airports covering every region of the country, from Tibet (Lhasa) to Xinjiang (Ürümqi), from coastal metropolises to inland cities.
China: recommended activities
China: visa and entry requirements
Since 2023, China has considerably expanded visa-free entry: by late 2026 it covers citizens of 77 countries (including most EU countries, the United Kingdom, Canada since February 2026, and many others), for tourist, business or transit stays of up to 30 days. A 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit regime is also in place for 54 nationalities at over 60 entry ports, useful for those with a long layover. This is a unilateral policy, renewed periodically and subject to change: always check whether your nationality is eligible and the up-to-date conditions on the official website of the National Immigration Administration before organising your trip, especially if you are not among the nationalities historically included.
China: safety
China is generally very safe for tourists, with violent crime against visitors rare. The usual precautions against petty theft in crowded areas (stations, tourist markets) are sufficient. Public surveillance is extensive: behave accordingly, avoiding photography near military or government installations. Tibet (Lhasa and the Tibet Autonomous Region) requires an additional special permit besides the standard visa, obtainable only through a licensed travel agency.
China: health situation
No vaccination is mandatory for those arriving from Europe. Air pollution can be significant in some northern cities (Beijing in particular) during winter: those with respiratory problems should monitor air quality indices. Private health facilities in large cities are of a good standard; travel insurance with medical coverage remains advisable.
China: currency, payments and connectivity
The currency is the yuan/renminbi (CNY). Since 2026, Chinese regulations explicitly protect the right to pay in cash where reasonable, but in practice almost all payments are made through the Alipay and WeChat Pay apps, which now directly support international Visa, Mastercard and Amex credit cards: activating both as soon as you arrive (by linking your card) is the most reliable strategy, with some cash as a backup for small vendors. Many Western sites and apps (Google, WhatsApp, Instagram) are blocked by the 'Great Firewall': a VPN is necessary to use them, but not for payment apps, which can in fact throw errors if the VPN is active during a transaction. For connectivity, the operators China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom sell prepaid SIM cards, often with passport registration. For driving, a foreign licence is generally not valid in China: a temporary Chinese licence or a chauffeur service is needed.
China: travel guides
Lanzhou: where the Yellow River meets the Silk Road
Hefei: the scientific gateway to the Yellow Mountains
Zhengzhou: the martial arts of Shaolin Temple
Kunming: lakes and eternal spring
Ürümqi: bazaars and mummies at China's edge
Nanjing: imperial walls and 20th-century memory
Xi'an: terracotta warriors and ancient walls
Lhasa: the Potala Palace on the roof of the world
Guiyang: Asia's largest waterfalls
Changsha: Orange Isle and Han treasures
Guangzhou in a few hours: tower and canals
Xiamen: the car-free island of Gulangyu
Chengdu: giant pandas and teahouse life
Sanya: China's Hawaii
Chongqing: skyscrapers suspended between two rivers
Fuzhou: temples and tea among the hills of Fujian
Harbin: Russian domes and winter ice
Wuhan: the Yellow Crane Tower on the river
One day in Shanghai: itinerary and highlights
Qingdao: German architecture and beer by the sea
Shenyang: the imperial palace of the Qing
Tianjin: the European concessions on the Hai River
Jinan: the city of sacred springs
Nanchang: the tower that inspired a thousand-year-old poem
Ningbo: the ancient port of the maritime Silk Road
Guilin: the mountains that inspired Chinese painting
Beijing: what to see in 1 day
Hangzhou: West Lake and Buddhist temples
Taiyuan: the gateway to Shanxi's ancient walled cities
Dalian: the pearl of the Yellow Sea
Shenzhen in a few hours: skyline and creativity
Nanning: the green gateway to Vietnam
Wenzhou: the cradle of Chinese entrepreneurs
Haikou: the tropical beach of southern China
China: airlines
