China Travel Guide for Foreigners

Visa-Free Entry Options

China has expanded visa-free access significantly. Depending on your nationality and travel plans, you may not need a visa at all:

• 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: Citizens of 55 countries (including US, UK, Canada, Australia, EU nations, Japan, South Korea) can enter China without a visa for up to 10 days if you have a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. ChengduShuangliu (CTU) and Tianfu (TFU) are qualifying ports. You must enter and exit through the same city.
• 30-Day Mutual Visa-Free: Citizens of certain countries (check the latest list as it expands annually) can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism.
• L (Tourist) Visa: If you don't qualify for the above, apply at your nearest Chinese consulate 4-6 weeks before travel. You'll need a passport valid 6+ months, completed application form, proof of accommodation, and flight itinerary.

Important: The 240-hour transit requires an onward ticket to a different country — a return flight to your home country does NOT qualify. Transit between Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan counts as staying in the same country.

Getting to Chengdu

Two Airports — Know the Difference

This catches out more travelers than anything else. Chengdu has two airports, 50-70km apart (Tianfu is roughly 50km from downtown, Shuangliu about 16km):

• Shuangliu (CTU): The original domestic airport. 16km south of city center. Metro Line 10 reaches it in 15-30 minutes (¥6). Handles mostly domestic flights. If you're flying domestically within China, you'll likely land here.
• Tianfu (TFU): The massive new airport opened in 2021. 50km south of city center. Metro Line 18 reaches it in 40-50 minutes (¥10). Handles ALL international long-haul flights plus premium domestic routes. If you're flying in from overseas, you'll land here.

Always confirm your arrival airport code before booking hotel pickup or transport. Landing at the wrong one costs 1.5+ hours of extra travel.

High-Speed Rail Connections

Chengdu East Railway Station is the main high-speed rail hub:

• Chongqing: 1.5 hours (¥154-246 second class)
• Xi'an: 4-5 hours (¥263-317 second class)
• Jiuzhaigou: ~2 hours by high-speed rail to Huanglongjiuzhai Station (¥141-159 second class), then 1.5-2 hour shuttle bus (¥51) to the park entrance. Total 4-4.5 hours.
• Mount Emei: 1 hour (¥65 second class)
• Leshan: 1 hour (¥54 second class)

Book via Trip.com (English interface) or the official 12306 app. Tickets open 15 days in advance and popular routes sell out during holidays.

Getting Around Chengdu

• Metro: About 14 lines covering every district and major attraction. Trains run 6:30 AM - 11:00 PM. Pay via Alipay transportation QR code — no need to buy physical tickets. Key lines: Line 3 (Panda Base), Line 4 (Kuanzhai Alley), Line 10 (Shuangliu Airport), Line 18 (Tianfu Airport).
• DiDi (Taxi): China's ride-hailing app. The English interface lets you set pickup/dropoff in pinyin or English. A ride across the city costs ¥20-50; from Tianfu Airport to downtown is ¥120-180.
• Shared Bikes: Meituan and Hello bikes are everywhere. ¥1.50-3 for a 30-minute ride. Great for short hops between neighborhoods.
• Walking: Chengdu's core (Jinjiang, Qingyang districts) is very walkable. Kuanzhai Alley, People's Park, and Jinli are all within 20 minutes' walk of each other.

Digital Payments

China is effectively cashless. Here's how to pay as a foreigner:

• Alipay: Download the app, register with your phone number, and link your international credit/debit card (Visa/Mastercard/JCB). Complete identity verification (passport scan + selfie). The green QR code works for everything: restaurants, metro, taxis, street vendors, convenience stores. This is your most important app.
• WeChat Pay: Similar setup to Alipay. Some merchants prefer one over the other. Having both is ideal but Alipay alone covers 95% of situations.
• Cash: Carry ¥200-500 as emergency backup. Some small street vendors near temples may prefer cash. Bills are available at any ATM ( look for Bank of China or ICBC).

Weather & When to Visit

• Spring (March-April): 15-25°C, mild, occasional rain. Best time for panda viewing — the base is quiet and the pandas are active in the mild weather.
• Summer (June-August): 28-38°C, very humid, frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Escape to Mount Qingcheng (5°C cooler) or Dujiangyan. Not ideal for sightseeing.
• Autumn (mid-Oct to early Nov): 10-20°C, golden light, clear days. The best overall season. Jiuzhaigou's autumn colors peak in October.
• Winter (Dec-Feb): 3-10°C, grey and damp, rarely freezes. Low season = fewer crowds and cheaper hotels. Chengdu's teahouses are atmospheric in winter.

Avoid: Chinese New Year (late Jan/Feb, many restaurants closed for a week) and the first week of October (National Day Golden Week — everything is packed).

Connectivity & Apps

• VPN: Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube are blocked in mainland China. Download and configure a VPN (Astrill, ExpressVPN, or Let'sVPN) on all your devices before arriving. Test it works before leaving home.
• Translation: Google Translate with offline Chinese pack, or Apple Translate. Camera-translate feature works on menus and signs.
• Maps: Google Maps works with VPN (slightly offset in China due to regulations). For reliable local maps: Apple Maps (in China) or Amap (高德地图) if you can read Chinese.
• Communication: WeChat is essential — it's how businesses, hotels, and restaurants communicate. Download it before arrival.

Cultural Notes

• Pace: Chengdu moves slower than Beijing or Shanghai. Afternoon teahouse sessions, mahjong games, and 4-hour dinners are normal. Embrace it.
• Teahouse Etiquette: You're welcome to sit alone or join strangers' tables. Refilling someone else's cup before your own is a friendly gesture. Ear cleaning (采耳) is a legitimate local service — ¥30-60 for a surprisingly relaxing experience.
• Bargaining: Expected at markets and tourist stalls (Jinli, Kuanzhai Alley souvenir shops) — start at 40-50% of the asking price. Not appropriate at restaurants, supermarkets, or the metro.
• Sichuan People: Generally more laid-back, louder at the dinner table, and quicker to joke than northern Chinese. They take pride in their food, their dialect, and their slower lifestyle.