China Field Notes
Read before you go.
Before you go, Money · 31 October 2026How to pay in China as a tourist: Alipay, WeChat Pay, cards and cash (2026)
China runs on QR-code payments, but foreign visitors can now use them with their own Visa or Mastercard. Here's how to set it up before you fly, what it costs, and where your card works directly.
Visa, Before you go · 31 October 2026China visa-free entry in 2026: who qualifies, for how long, and what changes on 31 December
Most travellers from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea and much of Latin America and the Gulf can now visit China without a visa. US citizens can't, but they can use 240-hour transit. Here's how each scheme works.
Before you go, Tickets · 31 October 2026China attractions you must book in advance (and how to do it with a passport)
Many of China's biggest sights no longer sell tickets at the gate. Here is which ones need booking, how far ahead, and how to do it as a foreign visitor.