Traveling to China: Essential Information Before You Go
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Before booking your flight to China, three things need to be sorted out: how many days you are legally allowed to stay, how you will pay there, and how you will access the internet. The rest can be improvised. These three, however, cannot.
I live and work in China, and I regularly host importers who come to visit their suppliers or the Canton Fair. I always see the same mistakes. Some cost a few hundred euros. But one can cost you much more: exceeding your permitted stay. I know this firsthand.
1. Length of stay: the mistake I paid dearly for
Even with a European passport, you cannot stay in China as long as you want.
As a French citizen, my maximum without a visa is 30 daysThis means you must leave the country before the end of the 30th day, and no later than the 31st. From the 32nd day onwards, you are in an irregular situation. Not "a little late." You are breaking the law.
I made a mistake. I stayed home for two months, and I bitterly regretted it. Fines, wasted time, paperwork, and the constant stress of not knowing how it would all end. It's not an experience worth having to save on a round-trip flight to Hong Kong.
Things to do before leaving:
- Check the number of days allowed for your specific nationalityIt's not the same number for everyone, and the rules change regularly.
- Count the days from the day of entry, with the stamp in hand.
- If your stay is nearing its end, plan your exit Before to leave, not once you're there. A round trip to Hong Kong, Macau or Seoul solves the problem for a few dozen euros if booked in advance.
- Photograph your entry stamp as soon as you arrive at the airport. The date is the official one.
Penalties for exceeding the limit range from a daily fine to a ban from entering the country, with the risk of administrative detention depending on the duration. [TO BE VERIFIED: exact amounts and durations should be confirmed on the website of the Chinese immigration authorities]
If your country is not visa-exempt
Certain nationalities are required to apply for a visa. Apply directly through the official Chinese government website:
The application is easy to fill out, the response arrives fairly quickly, and it will cost you much less than going through a lawyer or intermediary agency. These intermediaries often charge several hundred euros to fill out a form that you can complete yourself in an hour.
One point that many are unaware of: China also offers a device for transit without a visa For travelers connecting to a third country, valid in a significant number of cities. If your itinerary allows, it's an option worth considering. [TO BE VERIFIED: duration and list of eligible countries; the rule has recently been expanded]
2. Money: cash, Chinese bank, or foreign card
You have three options, and the best thing to do is to combine them.
Bring cash and exchange it on site.
It's simple and efficient. You exchange money directly at the bank, not at airport exchange bureaus which take large margins.
I recommend ICBCThat's my bank. The exchange is quick and the fees are reasonable.
Be aware, however: beyond a certain amount in foreign currency, you must declare the funds to customs both upon entry and exit. Check the applicable threshold before traveling with a large sum of money. [TO VERIFY: current customs declaration threshold]
Open a Chinese bank account
This is the point that no one mentions, yet it is the most useful if you plan to return.
At ICBC you can Open a free account in one hour, simply by presenting your passport.You deposit your euros in cash directly there, and the money ends up on your Chinese card.
From there, everything becomes seamless: payments, transfers, top-ups to Alipay and WeChat Pay. And on your next trip, you arrive with an already active account.
Pay with your foreign cards
If you don't want to open an account, download Alipay And WeChatThen simply register your foreign card (or your Chinese card) in the app. It's set up in minutes and then you can pay everywhere.
Things to do before departure: Download and create your Alipay and WeChat accounts from your countryWhile you still have access to all app stores and an unfiltered network, creating a WeChat account from China without a sponsor is significantly more complicated.
3. WeChat: much more than a messaging app
In China, WeChat is the most important application. Everything goes through it.
Your conversations with suppliers. Your payments in stores and restaurants. Your reservations. Your contact sharing via QR code. And above all: access to a vast ecosystem of integrated mini-applications, replacing dozens of separate apps.
This is the point that confuses newcomers the most. You don't need to download ten Chinese apps — most are already accessible within WeChat.
I detail all the secrets of WeChat and Alipay in a video on my Instagram — [link to insert].
A practical tip: ask your provider for their WeChat contact information rather than their email address. Response times are vastly different.
4. The VPN: to be installed before arrival, without exception
Without a VPN, some of the services you use daily will not be accessible from mainland China: Western messaging services, social networks, certain professional and translation tools.
The VPN market is saturated, and quality varies greatly. Some work perfectly. Others constantly crash. Still others don't work at all. And some will give you access to WhatsApp and Instagram, but not TikTok.
Personally I use Simple LinkA Chinese VPN. It's the cheapest on the market and I've never had any problems with it. I highly recommend it.
Two absolute rules:
- Install it and test it before you leave. Once there, downloading a VPN becomes much more complicated.
- Get two, from different suppliers. Performance varies depending on the time of year and the city. Having a backup solution prevents you from being cut off from the world while traveling.
5. Taxis: the trap of the switched-off meter
Be careful. Many drivers don't use the meter and quote a flat rate that's much higher than the actual fare. Others are perfectly honest—the problem is you can't tell the difference beforehand.
This is particularly common in Yiwuwhere the flow of foreign buyers is constant and where some drivers have specialized in overcharging.
The solution is simple: use DiDi, the Chinese equivalent of Uber, accessible directly from WeChat. The price is fixed in advance, the route is planned, and you don't have to negotiate or explain your destination in Chinese.
If you absolutely must take a street taxi: show the address written in Chinese characters, and check that the meter is lit before starting. If it isn't, get out.
6. The details that change the stay
Some points that are systematically forgotten:
- An eSIM or a local SIM card. Without data upon landing, you can't activate your VPN, order a DiDi, or pay. Buy an eSIM before you leave.
- Maps and navigation. Western maps are unreliable in China. Use Amap Or Baidu Mapsboth accessible via WeChat.
- Your addresses in Chinese characters. Record the address of your hotel, suppliers, and warehouse in Chinese in your notes. An address in pinyin is useless to a driver.
- Registration with the police. If you are staying with a private individual rather than in a hotel, you must report your stay to the local police station within a few days of arrival. Hotels usually do this automatically.
- An electrical adapter. China uses 220V with type A and I plugs.
- Travel insurance covering medical care. International hospitals often require payment in advance.
- Business cards. They are still exchanged a lot during supplier meetings, and the absence of a card is frowned upon.
- Your samples. If you are traveling with samples in your luggage, check the customs regulations of your destination country. A sample is still considered an import.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can you stay in China without a visa? This depends entirely on your nationality. For French citizens, the maximum stay is 30 days: you must leave the country before the end of the 30th day, and no later than the 31st. On the 32nd day, you are considered to be in an irregular situation. Always check the rules applicable to your passport before booking, as the conditions change regularly.
How to apply for a visa to China without going through an agency? Apply directly on the official Chinese government website, visaforchina.cn. The process is simple, the response arrives quickly, and the cost is much lower than that of a lawyer or intermediary agency.
Can you pay with a foreign bank card in China? Yes, but not everywhere. The most reliable way is to register your foreign card with Alipay or WeChat Pay and pay by QR code, like the locals. Businesses that accept physical cards are still in the minority outside of international hotels.
Can a foreigner open a bank account in China? Yes. At ICBC, opening an account takes about an hour, it's free, and your passport is all you need. You can deposit euros directly and have the funds immediately available on your Chinese card.
Do you really need a VPN to go to China? If you want to maintain access to your email, social media, and usual work tools, then yes. Install and test it before you leave: downloading it once you arrive is much more difficult. Bring two copies, as reliability varies depending on the time of year.
How to avoid being overcharged for taxis in China? Use DiDi, accessible via WeChat: the price is fixed in advance and the route is tracked. This is especially recommended in Yiwu, where overcharging foreign buyers is common.
Are you planning a trip to China to visit your suppliers or attend the Canton Fair? We are based in Guangzhou and regularly host importers. For any questions about your trip, supplier meetings, or shipping your purchases, please contact us on WhatsApp at [phone number/email address]. +33 7 55 97 34 49.