Entry stack
Arrival by city
Official entry points
Common questions
Do I need a visa for China?
Many ordinary passports now qualify for 30-day visa-free entry for tourism, business, family visits, exchanges, or transit. The separate 240-hour transit scheme covers most other through-routes. Check eligibility by passport and itinerary before booking.
Check eligibility →Does my eSIM work in China?
Most international eSIMs work. Traffic routes through a foreign carrier outside the firewall, so Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram stay reachable without a VPN. A Chinese SIM does not.
Compare eSIMs →How do foreigners use Alipay or WeChat Pay?
Both apps accept Visa and Mastercard now. Install before you fly, link a foreign card, verify in-app. Alipay's International tab is the simplest path; WeChat Pay is the backup when Alipay declines.
Set up Alipay →Does Google Maps work in China?
Not reliably. Search and POIs are unstable on Chinese networks. Apple Maps works for foreign visitors; Amap is the local default. With a foreign-routed eSIM Google Maps becomes usable again.
See what works →How do I get from PVG (Pudong) to downtown Shanghai?
Maglev to Longyang Road is operator-published at around 7 minutes; Metro Line 2 to central Shanghai takes about 60 minutes; metered taxis are reliable from the official queue. See the airport guide for the current operator fares and full route matrix.
Pick a route →Do I need a VPN in China?
Not if you arrive with an eSIM that routes outside the firewall — Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram already work that way. If you plan to use a local Chinese SIM, install and test a VPN before you fly. VPN availability inside China changes over time, so verify yours still connects close to departure.
See eSIM options →