China Travel Guide for Foreigners

240-Hour (10-Day) Visa-Free Transit

Who: Citizens of 55 countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, most EU, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, etc.)
Where: Enter via Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) — also Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and 30+ other ports.
Rules: Must have onward ticket to a third country/region within 240 hours. Can travel within the broader transit region — not just the city of entry.
Process: Fill out the arrival card on the plane, walk to immigration, show your onward ticket — the officer will ask a couple of basic questions (mine asked "Where are you going after Xi'an?" and "How long?"), then you get a temporary entry permit stamped in your passport. No pre-application needed. The whole thing took me maybe 10 minutes at XIY.
Critical: "Third country" includes Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan. A flight XIY → HKG → home qualifies. XIY → PEK → home does NOT.

144-Hour (6-Day) Visa-Free Transit

Similar to above but for specific port combinations. Check current official rules if your nationality is not on the 55-country list or if your route uses a different port pair.

30-Day Mutual Visa Exemption

Countries: Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Japan (reinstated 2024), Korea (reinstated 2024), plus others added periodically.
Terms: 30 days per entry, multiple entries allowed, for tourism/business/family visits. No transit requirement — you can enter directly and fly home from anywhere in China.

Standard L (Tourist) Visa

If none of the visa-free options work for you, you'll need to apply at a Chinese visa center in your home country. I've done this too — it's straightforward but requires some paperwork: hotel booking confirmation, flight itinerary, bank statements. Processing takes about 4 business days standard (2-3 if you pay for express). Valid for 3 months from issue for single/double entry, or up to a year for multiple entry. Not the most exciting way to spend an afternoon, but worth it.

Alipay (Tourist Version)

Setup: Download Alipay (international version) → Register with phone number → "Tour Pass" or "International Card Binding" → Add Visa/Mastercard/JCB/Discover/Diners Club → Verify with 3D Secure.
Metro: Alipay → "Transport" → Select city → Generate QR → Scan at gate.
Limits: ¥50,000/year for foreign cards (plenty for tourists). No Chinese bank account needed.

WeChat Pay (Wallet)

Setup: Download WeChat → Register → Me → Wallet → Add Card → Enter international card → Verify.
Metro: WeChat → Search local metro mini-program → Generate QR.
Advantage: Works inside WeChat ecosystem (ordering at restaurants via mini-programs, splitting bills with friends).

Chang'an Tong (长安通) Transit Card

Xi'an's local transit card. Buy at any metro station with ¥20 deposit + recharge. Works on all metro lines and buses. Offers a small discount on fares. Accepts passport for purchase — a good backup if your phone dies.

Pro Tips

• Set up BOTH Alipay and WeChat Pay — some merchants prefer one
• Add cards BEFORE arriving; SMS verification may not work on roaming
• Keep ¥500-1000 cash for emergencies (small vendors, taxis if phone dies)
• Screenshot your payment codes — works offline for a limited time

Xi'an Metro

8+ lines covering all major attractions. Key tourist lines:
• Line 2 (Red): North-South spine — Bell Tower, Yongning Gate (City Wall), Xiaozhai
• Line 3 (Purple): Muslim Quarter, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Qujiang
• Line 9 (Orange): Direct to Terracotta Army Museum (Huaqingchi Station)
• Line 14 (Light Blue): Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY) ↔ city center
• Line 8 (Loop): Interchange hub connecting all major routes
First train ~6:00 AM, last ~11:00 PM-11:50 PM. Fare: ¥2-10 by distance. English announcements and signs throughout.

High-Speed Rail (CRH/CR)

China's high-speed rail system is genuinely one of the best things about traveling here — it's clean, punctual, and the trains make a low hum that I've come to find weirdly relaxing. Xi'an North Railway Station is a major hub (accessible via metro Lines 2/4/14). Key routes:
• Beijing: 4.5 hr, ~¥515 — I took this one on a Friday afternoon and the scenery shifts from loess plateau to flat farmland to the outskirts of Beijing. Fascinating.
• Chengdu: 3.5 hr, ~¥263 — tunnels through the Qinling Mountains, then suddenly you're in Sichuan. Dramatic.
• Lanzhou: 3 hr, ~¥175 — follows the Yellow River for stretches, worth a window seat.
• Mount Hua (Huashan North): 30 min, ~¥55 — easiest day trip ever. You're there before you finish your coffee.
• Luoyang (Longmen Grottoes): 1.5 hr, ~¥100
• Zhengzhou: 2 hr, ~¥240
Book through Trip.com or the 12306 app (Chinese-only interface, so Trip.com is easier for foreigners). You'll need your passport for both booking and boarding. Arrive at least 30 minutes early — the security check can back up, especially on weekends.

Ride-Hailing & Taxis

DiDi: China's Uber. International app version in English. Pay via Alipay/WeChat.
Taxis: Metered, flag fall ~¥9-11. Most take Alipay/WeChat. Have destination in Chinese ready.
Tip: Metro is faster during rush hour. DiDi "Express" cheaper than "Premier".

Getting to Terracotta Army

Multiple options from Xi'an city center (40 km east):
• Metro + Bus: Line 9 to Huaqingchi Station, Exit C, then bus 602/613 (~1 hr total, cheapest)
• Tourist Bus: Bus 306 (游5) from the square east of Xi'an Railway Station (~¥7, 1.5 hr)