# ChinaPass｜中国生存包 > Live in China without a Chinese number. China travel guide: 21 Chinese cities (what to see, what to eat, when to go, how to book), 12 field-checked how-tos for the practical side of a China trip, and 56 verified answers to the questions travellers actually search for. Free to read in 10 languages, no sign-up. ChinaPass is also an offline-first app (Android today, iOS in development) that carries these guides, the phrasebook and the booking cards on your phone without a Chinese phone number. It ships as an offline package and updates over the air from https://chinapass.app/content/manifest.json. Camera and microphone are used only when the user runs a translation; see https://chinapass.app/privacy/ for the current data practices. ## Languages - English (default): https://chinapass.app/en-US/ - Español: https://chinapass.app/es-ES/ - Indonesia: https://chinapass.app/id-ID/ - 日本語: https://chinapass.app/ja-JP/ - 한국어: https://chinapass.app/ko-KR/ - Bahasa Melayu: https://chinapass.app/ms-MY/ - Русский: https://chinapass.app/ru-RU/ - ไทย: https://chinapass.app/th-TH/ - Tiếng Việt: https://chinapass.app/vi-VN/ - 简体中文: https://chinapass.app/zh-CN/ ## Travel guides (12 field-checked how-tos) - English (default) index: https://chinapass.app/en-US/guides/ - Español index: https://chinapass.app/es-ES/guides/ - Indonesia index: https://chinapass.app/id-ID/guides/ - 日本語 index: https://chinapass.app/ja-JP/guides/ - 한국어 index: https://chinapass.app/ko-KR/guides/ - Bahasa Melayu index: https://chinapass.app/ms-MY/guides/ - Русский index: https://chinapass.app/ru-RU/guides/ - ไทย index: https://chinapass.app/th-TH/guides/ - Tiếng Việt index: https://chinapass.app/vi-VN/guides/ - 简体中文 index: https://chinapass.app/zh-CN/guides/ ## City booking guides (21 cities) - English (default) index: https://chinapass.app/en-US/cities/ - Español index: https://chinapass.app/es-ES/cities/ - Indonesia index: https://chinapass.app/id-ID/cities/ - 日本語 index: https://chinapass.app/ja-JP/cities/ - 한국어 index: https://chinapass.app/ko-KR/cities/ - Bahasa Melayu index: https://chinapass.app/ms-MY/cities/ - Русский index: https://chinapass.app/ru-RU/cities/ - ไทย index: https://chinapass.app/th-TH/cities/ - Tiếng Việt index: https://chinapass.app/vi-VN/cities/ - 简体中文 index: https://chinapass.app/zh-CN/cities/ ## Travel FAQs (56 verified answers) - [Complete FAQ content in one file](/llms-full.txt): all 56 verified answers in English, plain markdown - [Complete FAQ content in one file](/es-ES/llms-full.txt): all 56 verified answers in Español, plain markdown - [Complete FAQ content in one file](/id-ID/llms-full.txt): all 56 verified answers in Indonesia, plain markdown - [Complete FAQ content in one file](/ja-JP/llms-full.txt): all 56 verified answers in 日本語, plain markdown - [Complete FAQ content in one file](/ko-KR/llms-full.txt): all 56 verified answers in 한국어, plain markdown - [Complete FAQ content in one file](/ms-MY/llms-full.txt): all 56 verified answers in Bahasa Melayu, plain markdown - [Complete FAQ content in one file](/ru-RU/llms-full.txt): all 56 verified answers in Русский, plain markdown - [Complete FAQ content in one file](/th-TH/llms-full.txt): all 56 verified answers in ไทย, plain markdown - [Complete FAQ content in one file](/vi-VN/llms-full.txt): all 56 verified answers in Tiếng Việt, plain markdown - [Complete FAQ content in one file](/zh-CN/llms-full.txt): all 56 verified answers in 简体中文, plain markdown - English (default) index: https://chinapass.app/help/ - Español index: https://chinapass.app/es-ES/help/ - Indonesia index: https://chinapass.app/id-ID/help/ - 日本語 index: https://chinapass.app/ja-JP/help/ - 한국어 index: https://chinapass.app/ko-KR/help/ - Bahasa Melayu index: https://chinapass.app/ms-MY/help/ - Русский index: https://chinapass.app/ru-RU/help/ - ไทย index: https://chinapass.app/th-TH/help/ - Tiếng Việt index: https://chinapass.app/vi-VN/help/ - 简体中文 index: https://chinapass.app/zh-CN/help/ ### Visas & entry - [Accommodation Registration in China for Foreigners: Hotels, Friends and Hosts](https://chinapass.app/help/police-registration-staying/): Hotels normally register foreign guests with the public-security authorities as part of check-in. - [China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: 57 Countries and All 65 Ports](https://chinapass.app/help/china-240-hour-transit-ports/): Citizens of 57 countries can transit China visa-free for up to 240 hours (10 days) when continuing to a third… - [China Arrival Card for Foreigners: How to File Online Before You Fly](https://chinapass.app/help/china-arrival-card-online-filing/): Since 20 November 2025 the National Immigration Administration lets foreign visitors file the China arrival ca… - [China Travel Policy Updates 2026: Visa, Transit and Ticketing Changes](https://chinapass.app/help/china-travel-policy-updates-2026/): 2026's changes so far: 240-hour visa-free transit expanded to 57 countries (20 August); the 50-country 30-day… - [China Visa-Free Countries 2026: The Complete 50-Country List](https://chinapass.app/help/china-visa-free-countries-2026/): Citizens of 50 countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits… - [Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free Entry 2026: The Complete 61-Country List](https://chinapass.app/help/hainan-30-day-visa-free-entry/): Citizens of 61 countries can enter Hainan province without a visa for up to 30 days, through any of Hainan's o… - [How to Extend a China Visa or Stay Permit: Steps Before Expiry](https://chinapass.app/help/china-visa-extension/): Apply for an extension before your current visa, stay permit or visa-free admission period ends. - [What Documents Do You Need to Travel to China: Passport, Visa, Arrival Card and Tickets](https://chinapass.app/help/documents-needed-to-travel-to-china/): Five things, in this order. ### Entry - [Do I need a visa for China in 2026?](https://chinapass.app/help/do-i-need-a-visa-for-china-2026/): It depends on the passport. - [How does China's 240-hour visa-free transit work?](https://chinapass.app/help/china-240-hour-transit-visa/): The 240-hour transit exemption lets holders of 57 nationalities stay up to 10 days in permitted areas without… ### Before you go - [Canton Fair 2026 Autumn Session: Dates, Phases and Buyer Survival Guide](https://chinapass.app/help/canton-fair-2026-buyer-guide/): The 140th Canton Fair (autumn session) runs 15 October – 4 November 2026 at the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzh… - [China trip itineraries: 7 days, 10 days, and a 240-hour transit route](https://chinapass.app/help/china-trip-itinerary/): Most first trips work best as a one-way line, not a loop: fly into Beijing, take the high-speed train to Xi'an… - [China's Public Holidays: The Full 2026 Calendar, and What February 2027 Looks Like](https://chinapass.app/help/china-public-holidays-calendar/): China has exactly seven statutory public holidays, and they are fixed by a State Council notice published once… - [Chinese New Year 2027 for Visitors: Dates, What's Known, and the Booking Math](https://chinapass.app/help/chinese-new-year-2027-travel/): Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February 2027 — the start of the Year of the Goat, with New Year's E… - [Mid-Autumn Festival 2026 in China: Dates, Mooncakes and Travel Notes for Visitors](https://chinapass.app/help/mid-autumn-festival-2026-for-visitors/): Mid-Autumn Festival 2026 runs Friday 25 September to Sunday 27 September — a 3-day public holiday with no make… - [What a China trip costs: verified ticket prices and daily budgets](https://chinapass.app/help/china-trip-cost/): China is cheap by Western European or North American standards, and unusually predictable: the big attractions… - [Which apps should I install before flying to China?](https://chinapass.app/help/china-travel-apps-checklist/): Install and verify a payment wallet, a local map, the rail app, a ride-hailing option and an offline translati… ### Booking - [China Attraction Ticket Release Times: When Every Major Site Opens Bookings (2026)](https://chinapass.app/help/china-attraction-ticket-release-times/): Every major Chinese sight releases tickets on a fixed countdown, and the clocks differ: the Forbidden City ope… - [China Golden Week October 2026: Booking Deadlines and Release Times](https://chinapass.app/help/china-golden-week-october-2026/): China's 2026 National Day Golden Week runs Thursday 1 October to Wednesday 7 October, with makeup workdays on… - [How do I book Forbidden City tickets as a foreigner?](https://chinapass.app/help/book-forbidden-city/): Book on the official international site intl.dpm.org.cn using your passport details, around 7 days ahead — the… - [How do I book Mutianyu Great Wall tickets as a foreigner?](https://chinapass.app/help/great-wall-tickets-mutianyu/): Book Mutianyu with your passport through the official Mutianyu channel or a mainstream ticketing app, a few da… - [How do I book Terracotta Army tickets with a passport?](https://chinapass.app/help/terracotta-army-tickets/): Book through the museum's official site or its WeChat channel with your passport, a few days ahead in peak sea… - [How do I reserve the Shaanxi History Museum in Xi'an?](https://chinapass.app/help/shaanxi-history-museum-booking/): Entry is free but daily slots are capped, so reserve a few days ahead through the museum's official channel wi… ### Transport - [12306 On-Sale Times by Station: When Train Tickets Actually Drop](https://chinapass.app/help/12306-station-on-sale-times/): 12306 sells tickets 15 days ahead, and the moment they drop depends on the departure station, not the arrival. - [Can I use the Shanghai metro with a foreign card?](https://chinapass.app/help/shanghai-metro-foreign-card/): Yes. Activate the Shanghai metro code inside Alipay's Transport tab using your bound international card, then… - [China Metro QR Codes for Foreigners: Every City's Best Method (2026)](https://chinapass.app/help/china-metro-qr-code-foreigner/): Foreign visitors have three routes into China's metros. - [China Train Stations with a Passport: Entry, Gates and E-tickets](https://chinapass.app/help/china-train-station-passport-entry/): Book through the official 12306 route that accepts your passport, complete identity verification before travel… - [How do I book China high-speed trains with a passport?](https://chinapass.app/help/book-12306-train-with-passport/): Register an account on en.12306.cn with your passport — the name must match your passport exactly. - [How do I use DiDi without a Chinese phone number?](https://chinapass.app/help/didi-without-chinese-phone-number/): You can register DiDi with an international phone number and switch the app to English, or skip registration a… - [How do I use the Beijing subway with a QR code?](https://chinapass.app/help/beijing-subway-qr-code/): Open Alipay, go to the Transport tab, choose Beijing and activate the metro code once — it uses your bound for… - [Why does 12306 verification fail for foreign passports?](https://chinapass.app/help/12306-verification-failed/): The three usual causes are: the name does not match the passport exactly, the account is new and needs one in-… ### Paying - [Alipay vs WeChat Pay for Foreigners 2026: Which to Set Up First](https://chinapass.app/help/alipay-vs-wechat-pay/): Set up both, with Alipay first. - [Can I use a Visa or Mastercard in China?](https://chinapass.app/help/can-i-use-visa-in-china/): Yes, but only in a narrow slice of places. - [Does Alipay work without a Chinese bank account?](https://chinapass.app/help/does-alipay-work-without-chinese-bank-account/): Yes. The international version of Alipay registers with a non-Chinese phone number, verifies identity with you… - [How do I link a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay?](https://chinapass.app/help/link-foreign-card/): Open Alipay or WeChat, go to the wallet's card section, add your international Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex or… - [How does the China departure tax refund work?](https://chinapass.app/help/china-departure-tax-refund/): Spend above the minimum threshold at a participating store in a single day, ask for the tax refund form and ke… - [Should I carry cash in China?](https://chinapass.app/help/should-i-carry-cash-in-china/): Carry ¥300–500 in cash. - [Using Chinese ATMs with a Foreign Card: Fees, Limits and Cash Backup](https://chinapass.app/help/cash-atm-foreign-card/): Use ATMs operated by established banks, check your own bank's foreign-currency and ATM fees before travelling,… - [WeChat Pay with a Foreign Card: Limits, Fees and Failed Payments](https://chinapass.app/help/wechat-pay-foreign-card-limit/): A foreign card may be linkable to WeChat Pay when the card, issuer and payment channel support it, but there i… - [What Foreign Cards Really Cost in China 2026: Fees, Limits and the Cheap Path](https://chinapass.app/help/foreign-card-fees-china/): Three costs stack when foreigners pay in China: the Alipay/WeChat 3% service fee on transactions over ¥200 (fr… ### Connectivity - [Are Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp and Google Blocked in China?](https://chinapass.app/help/blocked-apps-in-china/): On a local mainland network, Google services, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X are generally unavailable; Wh… - [Does Google Maps work in China?](https://chinapass.app/help/use-google-maps-in-china/): Google Maps will often load, but in mainland China its business data is thin and its coordinates use a differe… - [Does WhatsApp Work in China? The 2026 Answer for Visitors](https://chinapass.app/help/whatsapp-in-china/): No — WhatsApp is blocked on mainland China networks (hotel Wi-Fi, local SIM cards, public hotspots — all of it… - [Getting a Chinese Phone Number as a Foreign Visitor](https://chinapass.app/help/chinese-phone-number-foreigner/): Many short visitors can start with international roaming or a travel eSIM and may not need a mainland number. - [VPNs and blocked apps in China: what works, what is legal](https://chinapass.app/help/vpn-in-china/): Mainland China blocks Google, Facebook, YouTube and X permanently, and restricts internet access further aroun… - [What is the best eSIM for China in 2026?](https://chinapass.app/help/best-esim-for-china/): For most short trips, a travel eSIM installed before you board is the simplest option: no shop visit, no passp… ### Staying - [Buying Medicine in China: Pharmacies, OTC Rules and Delivery](https://chinapass.app/help/buying-medicine-in-china/): Pharmacies (药店, green cross sign) are dense in every Chinese city and common minor ailments — headache, diarrh… - [Can You Drink Tap Water in China? What Visitors Should Know](https://chinapass.app/help/drinking-water-in-china/): No — don't drink tap water in mainland China. - [How to Find Hotels in China That Accept Foreign Guests](https://chinapass.app/help/hotels-that-accept-foreigners/): Look for properties that explicitly say they accept international guests or passports, then message the hotel… - [Power Plugs in China: Which Adapter You Actually Need (220V, Types A, C, I)](https://chinapass.app/help/power-plugs-in-china/): China uses 220V/50Hz electricity with three socket types in circulation: Type A (two flat pins), Type C (two r… - [Receiving and Sending Packages in China: Hotels, Lockers and Cainiao](https://chinapass.app/help/china-parcel-delivery-pickup/): The easiest way to receive a package in China is to have it sent to your hotel front desk — they sign for you… - [What do I need for hotel check-in in China?](https://chinapass.app/help/hotel-check-in-passport-china/): Bring your passport — it is the only ID that will do. ### Food - [Do You Tip in China? The Short Answer and the Exceptions](https://chinapass.app/help/tipping-in-china/): No — tipping is not expected anywhere in China: not in restaurants, taxis, hairdressers or bars. - [How do I order food from a QR menu in China?](https://chinapass.app/help/order-food-qr-code-china/): Scan the QR code on the table, which opens the restaurant's menu inside Alipay or WeChat. ### Emergency - [I lost my passport in China — what do I do first?](https://chinapass.app/help/lost-passport-in-china/): Do it in this order: report the loss at the nearest police station and keep the loss report, contact your emba… ### Safety - [Is China safe for tourists? What actually goes wrong](https://chinapass.app/help/is-china-safe-for-tourists/): For most visitors China is a low-crime, low-hassle destination. ## Offline phrasebook - English (default): https://chinapass.app/en-US/phrasebook/ - Español: https://chinapass.app/es-ES/phrasebook/ - Indonesia: https://chinapass.app/id-ID/phrasebook/ - 日本語: https://chinapass.app/ja-JP/phrasebook/ - 한국어: https://chinapass.app/ko-KR/phrasebook/ - Bahasa Melayu: https://chinapass.app/ms-MY/phrasebook/ - Русский: https://chinapass.app/ru-RU/phrasebook/ - ไทย: https://chinapass.app/th-TH/phrasebook/ - Tiếng Việt: https://chinapass.app/vi-VN/phrasebook/ ## Download - English (default): https://chinapass.app/en-US/download/ - Español: https://chinapass.app/es-ES/download/ - Indonesia: https://chinapass.app/id-ID/download/ - 日本語: https://chinapass.app/ja-JP/download/ - 한국어: https://chinapass.app/ko-KR/download/ - Bahasa Melayu: https://chinapass.app/ms-MY/download/ - Русский: https://chinapass.app/ru-RU/download/ - ไทย: https://chinapass.app/th-TH/download/ - Tiếng Việt: https://chinapass.app/vi-VN/download/ - 简体中文: https://chinapass.app/zh-CN/download/ ## Contact - kexuejin@gmail.com - Privacy policy: https://chinapass.app/privacy/