China Travel Resources: Everything You Need to Book Your Trip

Last updated: March 2026

Planning a trip to China? These are the tools, apps, and booking platforms we actually use on every trip. No filler — just the resources that have worked for us across 6+ visits with our family.

After six trips to China — with kids in tow, navigating everything from bullet trains to back-alley noodle shops — we've figured out what tools you actually need and what's just noise. This page is the shortcut we wish we'd had before our first trip.

Every recommendation here is something we've personally used. Some links are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you book through them. This helps us keep creating free travel content.

Booking Your Trip

Hotels & Accommodation

Trip.com — Our go-to for booking hotels in China. Trip.com consistently has the widest selection of Chinese hotels, including smaller boutique properties that don't appear on Western booking platforms. Prices are often lower than Booking.com for the same room, and the app works seamlessly inside China. We've booked every hotel through Trip.com since our second trip.

Browse our tested hotel picks for specific cities:

For tips on navigating Chinese hotel booking platforms, read our guide to booking hotels in China.

Flights

We typically fly Air China from Zurich, but for comparing prices across airlines, we use flight comparison tools to find the best deals. Direct flights from major European hubs to Beijing or Shanghai are usually the most convenient option.

Train Tickets

Trip.com — Also our top pick for booking train tickets. You can book high-speed rail tickets in English, which is a huge advantage since the official Chinese railway site (12306) is in Chinese only. Book popular routes 2-4 weeks ahead, especially during holidays.

Essential reading:

Tours & Activities

Klook — Best for booking skip-the-line tickets, day tours, and activities in China. We use Klook for attraction tickets (like the Forbidden City) and airport transfers. The app works well inside China.

GetYourGuide — Good alternative for guided tours, especially multi-day options and experiences with English-speaking guides.

Viator MB — Another solid option for tours and experiences. Worth comparing prices with Klook for the same tour.

Travel Insurance

Don't skip travel insurance for China. Medical care is good in major cities but can be expensive for foreigners, and you'll want coverage for trip disruption. Make sure your policy covers medical evacuation and the specific activities you're planning (such as hiking at altitude in Tibet or Yunnan).

Essential Apps & Setup

These are the apps you need to download and set up before you arrive in China. Don't leave this for the airport — some take time to configure.

Payments

China is essentially cashless. You need mobile payments set up to pay for everything from restaurants to metro rides to street food.

  • AliPay — Our primary payment app. Link it to a Wise card for the best exchange rates. → Complete AliPay setup guide
  • WeChat Pay — Secondary payment option. WeChat is also essential for messaging and booking services. → Complete WeChat guide

Google Maps doesn't work well in China. You need alternatives:

  • Amap (高德地图) — The most accurate navigation app in China, especially for walking directions and public transport.
  • Baidu Maps — Good alternative, slightly better for driving directions.

→ Best Google Maps Alternatives for China

Transport

  • DiDi (滴滴) — China's ride-hailing app (like Uber). Essential for getting around when metro isn't an option. → How to Use DiDi in China

→ Complete Guide to Public Transport in China

Translation & Communication

English is limited outside international hotels. A good translation app is essential.

→ Best Translation Apps for China

Internet Access

Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and most Western social media are blocked on Chinese WiFi and local SIM cards. Your options:

  1. Data roaming on your home SIM — The simplest solution. If your mobile plan includes China data roaming, everything just works. No VPN needed. This is what we do.
  2. eSIM — If roaming is expensive on your plan, an international eSIM is the next best option.
  3. VPN + local SIM — Cheapest for data-heavy use, but requires a VPN for Western apps.

→ How to Access Google in China

Before You Go

Visa & Entry Requirements

China currently offers visa-free entry for citizens of many countries (including most EU nations, UK, US, Australia, and more) for stays up to 30 days. Check the latest requirements for your nationality:

→ China Visa Requirements 2026: Complete Guide

Complete App Checklist

For a comprehensive list of every app you should have on your phone before landing in China:

→ Must-Have Apps for a Trip to China

Itinerary Planning

Not sure where to go or how to structure your trip? Start here:

Language Learning

You don't need Mandarin to travel in China, but even a few words make a huge difference in how people respond to you. Here's what we use:

  • Pimsleur Chinese — The audio course that actually stuck for us. Great for learning conversational Mandarin during your commute or while doing chores. → Our Pimsleur Review

We're also documenting our journey of teaching our kids Chinese — including resources and strategies that work for families.

Traveling with Kids

China is far more family-friendly than most people expect. Here are our essential family travel resources:

Why Trust Our Recommendations

We're not a faceless review site. We're a Swiss-Chinese family who has traveled to China six times (and counting), including with a baby and toddler. Our recommendations come from actual experience — hotels we've slept in, apps we've fumbled with at 2am in a taxi, and trains we've ridden with a screaming child.

Our blog has been featured in the Lonely Planet 2025 China guidebook, and I (Magda) speak Mandarin at HSK3+ level, which means we navigate China independently without tour groups or guides.

When I recommend something, it's because it genuinely made our trips easier or better. When something didn't work, I say that too.

Ready to Start Planning?

🏨 Search hotels on Trip.com
🚂 Book train tickets
🎫 Book tours & activities on Klook
📧 Join our email list for trip planning tips and destination updates

Have a question about planning your China trip? Get in touch — we love helping people plan their first China adventure.