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Home › China
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China

The world's oldest continuous civilisation — from Beijing's imperial grandeur and Shanghai's Art Deco skyline to Hong Kong's extraordinary harbour. A vast, complex, and endlessly rewarding destination.

Beijing
PEK · Capital International — main hub. Express trains to city from both terminals.
PKX · Daxing International — stunning Zaha Hadid terminal, south of city.
Shanghai
PVG · Pudong International — primary hub. Maglev to Longyang Rd: 8 min, 431km/h.
SHA · Hongqiao — domestic and regional, west of city.
Hong Kong
HKG · Hong Kong International — one of the world's best airports. Airport Express to Hong Kong station: 24 min, HK$115.
High-Speed Rail
China's G-train network is extraordinary — Beijing to Shanghai: 4h30. Book via trip.com. Domestic flights are extensive and affordable.
Mainland Currency
Chinese Yuan / Renminbi (CNY ¥)
~7.2 CNY = 1 USD. China is almost entirely cashless via WeChat Pay and Alipay.
Mobile Payments
Foreign visitors can now link international Visa/Mastercard to WeChat Pay and Alipay. Set up before arriving — cash is increasingly difficult to use in mainland cities.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong uses HKD (HK$) — ~7.8 HKD = 1 USD. Card-friendly. Octopus card covers all transit and many shops.
Tipping
Not customary in mainland China. Hong Kong follows more international norms — 10% in restaurants if service not included.
Mainland China
CST — China Standard Time
UTC+8 year-round. The entire country uses one time zone despite spanning 5 geographical zones.
Hong Kong
HKT — Hong Kong Time
UTC+8 year-round — same as mainland China.
Vs. US Eastern
Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong are all 13 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time (12 hours ahead in US summer).
Beijing
Best: Apr–May, Sep–OctAvoid: Jan–Feb (very cold), Jul–Aug (hot & smoggy)
Shanghai
Best: Apr–May, Oct–NovHumid: Jun–Sep Hot and very humid summers.
Hong Kong
Best: Oct–DecTyphoons: May–Nov Subtropical. Winters mild and dry (15–22°C).
Mainland Language
Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua)
English is limited outside major hotels and tourist sites. Download Google Translate offline before travelling.
Hong Kong
Cantonese is the local language but English is an official language — widely spoken throughout. English signage everywhere.
Internet in Mainland
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and most Western social media are blocked. Set up a reliable VPN before you leave home — it cannot be downloaded once in China.
Mainland China Visa
Most Western visitors (USA, UK, Canada, Australia) require a visa. Apply at your nearest Chinese Embassy. Processing: 4–7 business days.
Visa-Free Transit
Beijing, Shanghai offer 72–144 hour visa-free transit for connecting passengers. Check travelchinaguide.com.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong operates independently — most Western visitors enter visa-free for 90 days. No Chinese visa required for Hong Kong only.
General Safety
Very Safe Mainland China and Hong Kong are both very safe for tourists. Violent crime is rare.
Emergencies
110 — Police (mainland) · 120 — Ambulance (mainland) · 999 — All emergencies (Hong Kong)
Practical Tips
Air quality in Beijing can be poor — check AQI and carry a mask on high-pollution days. Keep a card with your hotel address in Chinese characters.

Destinations in China

Beijing

The imperial capital — the Forbidden City, the Great Wall at Mutianyu, Peking duck at Da D…

2 restaurants · 2 hotels · 4 attractions

Shanghai

The Bund, the French Concession, soup dumplings, and a skyline that rivals Manhattan — Chi…

3 restaurants · 2 hotels · 3 attractions

Hong Kong

One of the world's great harbour cities — Cantonese dim sum, Victoria Peak, the Star Ferry…

3 restaurants · 2 hotels · 4 attractions