China Travel Questions Answered: 5 More Tips & Insights from Real Travelers

At FindChinaTour, we gather tips and insights from real travelers time and time again. Today, we’re covering questions about dress codes, payment solutions, weather apps, internet access, and immigration entry forms. If you have any other questions, leave a message at the end of the article, and we’ll be happy to answer them.

1. What to Wear and Pack for My China Trip?

Good news—there’s no strict dress code in China! Shorts and vest tops are fine almost everywhere. The real thing to watch is the weather. In central and southern China, summer brings hot, humid days that can turn a casual stroll into a mini sauna. Light, breathable fabrics, good sun protection, and comfy shoes or sandals will be your best friends.

The only time you’ll need to cover up is when visiting a religious site like a mosque—just as you would anywhere else in the world. Shoulders and knees should be covered, and a scarf works perfectly for both. Pro tip: keep one in your bag and you’ll always be ready.

Another tip? Travel light and buy as you go. After all, most clothes are made in China! The only catch is that if you’re a size 55(EU) or 2X(US), local sizes tend to run small—so it’s worth packing your favourite go-to outfits from home, or you can talk with FindChinaTour assistance for us to get one and deliver it to you.

2. How to Stay Connected in China?

For hassle-free internet, we recommend an eSIM from eflysim.com. It comes with a built-in VPN so you can still use all your favourite apps without restrictions. We’ve also tested Holafly, and it worked perfectly, too. No fiddling with SIM cards, no hunting for Wi-Fi—just land and connect.

3. What’s the difference between WeChat and Alipay?

There isn’t much difference between the two. Both let you pay vendors, order rides, and explore tons of mini-apps. Think of WeChat as WhatsApp that learned to handle your wallet, and Alipay as Apple Pay that picked up some chat skills. WeChat Pay is accepted almost everywhere, but you can also use Alipay to chat and send money to friends. Best idea? Grab both—one might save you if the other acts shy. Don’t speak Chinese? No problem! WeChat’s translation feature works like magic—you can type in English and show locals the Chinese version of what you mean.

4. Do I Need a Weather Forecast App?

It’s always smart to check the weather before heading out. You probably don’t want to clutter your phone with a bunch of extra apps for just one trip. Since you’ll already have WeChat (a must-have for travelling in China), use its built-in search bar. Type “天气预报” (that’s “weather forecast” in Chinese) to see rainfall, storm, and temperature updates for your area—no extra downloads needed.

Can’t remember how to write “weather forecast” in Chinese? Just use WeChat’s built-in translation feature—type weather forecast in English and it’ll give you “天气预报.” Likewise, if you want the forecast for your destination, like Changsha, search “长沙天气预报”.

5. What Forms Do I Need to Fill Out Upon Arrival?

You can fill out a form available on a counter in the immigration area. Besides your personal information, like name and passport number, you will need to provide:

• Arrival flight/train/vessel number (e.g., CA150)
• Cities you plan to visit in China
• Residence information in China – the detailed address or hotel name (e.g., JW Marriott Hotel)

It’s helpful to have all this information written down on a piece of paper so you can quickly transfer it while waiting in line at immigration.

In Chongqing, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhejiang province, you now also have the option to fill out the visa form online.

We hope this article is helpful for travelers planning to visit China. Subscribe to get the latest tips and information! For travelers on a tight schedule, send us a message on WhatsApp. Our team supports independent travelers as well as those looking for bleisure trips. We also work with local travel agencies on fixed itineraries. As a responsible travel platform, we ensure that both our team and partners deliver the highest quality experiences.