Updated 7 October 2026 · LocalKey consultant team
To plan a China trip in 2026, first check whether your passport is on China's 30-day visa-free list or needs a visa, set up mobile payment and roaming or a foreign eSIM before you fly, then build a route by high-speed rail around Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai. LocalKey can arrange your whole China trip.
Do you need a visa to visit China in 2026?
Under the National Immigration Administration (NIA) list as of 17 February 2026, ordinary-passport holders from 50 countries can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, and under the NIA transit policy of 20 August 2026, nationals of 57 countries passing through to a third country or region can use the 240-hour visa-free transit. If neither applies, for example a US citizen on a normal round trip, you need a visa before arriving, because the United States is not on the 30-day list.
Your entry channel depends on your citizenship and exact flight routing. Under the National Immigration Administration (NIA) unilateral policy, eligible nationalities include the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Japan. The Chinese Embassy in the US says in its visa-free FAQ (updated February 2026) that this policy runs until 31 December 2026 for 48 of the 50 countries. Check your passport in our visa-free countries tool and read our guide to the 30-day visa-free policy for how it works.
If your passport is not on the 30-day list but is one of the 57 transit countries, such as the United States, you can still visit without a visa when you pass through China on the way to a third country or region. As outlined in the NIA policy notice dated 20 August 2026, the 240-hour visa-free transit program allows transit travelers to enter through 65 designated ports across 24 provincial-level areas and remain for up to 10 days within permitted administrative boundaries. You need an ordinary passport and an onward ticket to a third country or region with a confirmed seat and departure date. Gansu, Xinjiang and Tibet are outside the permitted areas (NIA notice of 17 December 2024). Our 240-hour visa-free transit guide covers the permitted areas and ports.
Travelers who are not eligible for either the 30-day unilateral waiver or the 240-hour transit mechanism must apply for an entry visa before departure. The US Department of State country information page (last updated 12 March 2026) states that US citizens must obtain a visa prior to arriving in China and must hold a passport with at least six months of validity remaining. If you are traveling from the US, our page on travel to China from the USA walks through the tourist visa application and arrival. Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR operate separate entry systems from mainland China.
| Your situation | Entry option | Stay | Read next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport on the 30-day unilateral list (50 countries as of 17 February 2026, including UK, France, Germany, Australia, Canada, Japan) | Unilateral visa-free entry | Up to 30 days | Learn border conditions in our 30-day visa-free China analysis |
| Flying onward to a third country or region within 10 days (57 countries, NIA 20 August 2026, including US, UK, Canada) | 240-hour visa-free transit via 65 designated ports in 24 provincial areas | Up to 10 days (within permitted areas) | Check port boundaries in our 240-hour visa-free transit guide |
| US passport or other nationality not on the 30-day list traveling directly | Consular visa required before departure | Set on the visa | Review requirements in our travel from USA guide |
Since 20 November 2025, foreign nationals may complete China's arrival card online before departure on the NIA website, the "NIA 12367" app or mini programs, or fill it in on arrival by QR code, on-site devices or a paper card (Chinese Embassy in the US notice, 3 December 2025). You can review step-by-step submission instructions in our online arrival card guide. Regarding domestic lodging, the NIA Q&A dated 21 September 2026 says hotels register foreign guests' accommodation, while foreigners staying elsewhere, or their hosts, register within 24 hours of arrival, which can be done online through the NIA Government Service Platform.
How do you pay and get online in China?
According to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) travel advice updated 27 August 2026, cashless payments through smartphone apps such as WeChat or Alipay are almost universal, while outside major cities, credit cards are not always accepted and ATMs are limited. The FCDO also notes that authorities control internet access and that some services, including Google, Facebook, YouTube and X, are permanently blocked.
We suggest setting up mobile payment before you fly and carrying some cash as a backup, especially for trips outside major cities. Our overview of payments and essential travel apps covers wallet set-up and linking a foreign card.
China's cybersecurity laws require online products and services such as VPNs to be licensed by the Chinese government, so unlicensed VPN use isn't permitted (UK FCDO, updated 27 August 2026).
For mobile data, we suggest arranging international roaming with your home provider or buying a foreign eSIM data plan before you fly. Our guide to eSIMs and SIM cards for foreign visitors explains buying and activating one.
How do you get around China?
For most first trips, we suggest high-speed rail between cities, the metro within cities and ride-hailing for door-to-door journeys. Our 12306, metro and DiDi pages below explain each one step by step.
Between cities, we usually plan high-speed rail, for example linking Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai, and we suggest booking early in busy seasons. Our guide to booking train tickets via 12306 for foreigners covers ticket sales, seat classes and boarding.
Within cities, we suggest the metro for most sightseeing days. Our foreigner's guide to Chinese metro systems explains tickets, paying at the gates and changing lines.
For door-to-door trips, or when you have luggage, we suggest ride-hailing or a private car with a driver. Our guide to using DiDi for foreigners covers setting up an account and finding your pickup point.
Where should you go in China, and how much does a trip cost?
According to UNESCO (retrieved 7 October 2026), China has 61 World Heritage properties. For a first visit, we suggest Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai, which pairs imperial sites with modern city life.
The Great Wall, the Forbidden City in Beijing (Imperial Palaces) and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor in Xi'an were all inscribed in 1987. From Shanghai we often add Suzhou, and with more time Sichuan (Chengdu, Leshan and Emei) or the Silk Road to Dunhuang; because Gansu is outside the 240-hour permitted areas (NIA notice 17 December 2024), that route is not a transit-waiver trip. Our overview of where to visit in China compares places by trip type. For timing, see our month-by-month guide, and for full day-by-day routes, our China itineraries.
LocalKey publishes 2026 reference prices for each sample route, for Independent and Private Guided:
| Sample route | Days | Independent | Private Guided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai + Suzhou | 5 | From $1,400 per person | From $2,200 per person |
| Beijing + Xi'an + Shanghai | 9 | From $2,400 per person | From $3,800 per person |
| Chengdu + Leshan + Emei Mountain | 7 | From $1,900 per person | From $3,000 per person |
| Xi'an to Dunhuang on the Silk Road | 10 | From $2,800 per person | From $4,500 per person |
2026 reference prices, for 2 travelers sharing · international flights not included
Your final price depends on hotels, car arrangements and what you ask for — usually a little above this, sometimes more.
Our analysis of private China tour costs in 2026 explains what moves a quote up or down.
Is China safe to travel in 2026, and what if something goes wrong?
The US State Department rates China at "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" (China Travel Advisory, updated 3 September 2026). The UK FCDO (updated 27 August 2026) lists the emergency numbers as Police 110, Ambulance 120 and Fire 119.
The US State Department country page (last updated 12 March 2026) says to carry your passport and visa at all times.
Before you depart, review current government advisory levels in our China travel advisory 2026 overview. For daily health and local safety precautions, read our 2026 safety analysis. You can also save our emergency contacts for China on your phone to keep local emergency numbers within reach. Our first-time visitor checklist for China organizes documents, apps and packing into a pre-departure timeline.
Plan your China trip with LocalKey
LocalKey can arrange your whole China trip. It is your own China trip — planned, booked and backed. It is not a group tour; we build it around your dates, pace and interests.
We structure your arrangements into two distinct travel models depending on the level of on-the-ground support you prefer:
- Independent: You travel on your own with the LocalKey app and 24/7 backup. There is no full-time guide, and a local guide, airport pickup or a private car and driver are optional add-ons on demand.
- Private Guided: You travel with an English-speaking private guide and a private car throughout the trip.
Whichever format you choose, you travel on your own schedule. When you request a private itinerary through our team, a dedicated travel specialist designs the route 1:1 around your specific arrival dates, interests, and pacing, accompanied by 7×24 WeChat or WhatsApp support while you travel to resolve any daily questions or logistics. See our private China tours to start.
Sources
- National Immigration Administration (NIA) — Unilateral visa-free countries list, as of 17 February 2026 — verified_on 2026-10-07
- NIA — Visa-Free Transit Policies, 20 August 2026 — verified_on 2026-10-07
- NIA — 240-hour transit permitted areas notice, 17 December 2024 — verified_on 2026-10-07
- NIA — Q&A on online accommodation registration, 21 September 2026 — verified_on 2026-10-07
- Chinese Embassy in the US — FAQ on Visa-free Entry into China, updated February 2026 — verified_on 2026-10-07
- Chinese Embassy in the US — online arrival card notice, 3 December 2025 — verified_on 2026-10-07
- US Department of State — China international travel information, last updated 12 March 2026 — verified_on 2026-10-07
- US Department of State — China Travel Advisory, Level 2, updated 3 September 2026 — verified_on 2026-10-07
- UK FCDO — China travel advice, updated 27 August 2026 — verified_on 2026-10-07
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — China (61 properties), retrieved 7 October 2026 — verified_on 2026-10-07
- LocalKey — China itineraries and 2026 reference prices — verified_on 2026-10-07
