China

And Special Administrative Regions

China is the second-largest country by population and fourth by area. It is also one of the largest exporters of goods and culture. Since ancient times, China has been a powerhouse of innovation and society. It’s impossible to cover everything in this country, but we’ll try!

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NOTE: China is a vast country with complex geopolitics. Hong Kong was handed back by Britain in 1997, and Macao by Portugal in 1999. They are both Special Administrative Regions, with more autonomy than mainland China, although China fully governs them. China also claims the island Formosa, known as Taiwan. Since the two split in 1949, Taiwan has operated completely independently politically, militarily, and economically. As a result, we included Hong Kong and Macao with China, but have chosen to treat Taiwan as a separate country.

Language

China of course speaks Chinese. Many people do not realize that Chinese is not a single language, but a large family of many diverse regional languages and dialects. Roughly three fourths of the country speaks Mandarin, the standard language of the country. This comes with the simplified Chinese characters introduced in the 20th century to standardize the language. However, Mandarin has many regional dialects. Additionally, Cantonese is spoken by a sizable minority of Chinese especially in Hong Kong and Macao.

Demographics

Over 1.4 billion people call China home, so naturally the population is extremely diverse. The largest people group is the Han Chinese, but at only one-third of the population, the rest of the country consists of hundreds of minority groups with Turkish, Mongolian, Tibetan, and even European heritage. China famously has no state religion, but many mistakenly believe that no religion is practiced there. Many Chinese still practice traditional Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and even small pockets of Islam and Christianity.

Weather

China is the 3rd largest country in the world, and therefore has vast changes in weather from season and province. From the tropics in Hainan to the frozen tundra of Inner Mongolia, and the vast windswept Gobi desert. The country experiences all four seasons, and depending on your location you may experience pleasant dry weather or extreme hot and cold temperatures.

Public Transit

China has perhaps the most comprehensive and effective network of intercity and metro transit in the world. Over 50 cities have metro systems, and China holds 9 of 10 of the world’s most extensive networks. Additionally, all cities have extensive bus and intercity bus networks. China boasts the world’s most extensive high-speed rail network, connecting nearly every city. Ride-hailing is convenient and cheap, using Didi taxi through the Alipay app. If you’re traveling for weeks, or just a layover, you’ll have many easy transit options available.

China FAQ

China is a developed economy with a relatively stable currency and high-quality services. Therefore, traveling in China is more expensive than “budget” destinations in South East Asia. However, China is cheaper than other Easy Asian countries like Japan and Korea. You can find good food quite cheap, and hotels and transportation are generally very affordable.

Mainland: Along with Korea and Japan, China is one of the safest countries in the world, with petty and violent crime rates half of those in the US in 2024. In cities, high police and security presence contribute to safer environments. Activities like shopping, handling cash, walking at night, and navigating crowded areas are generally safe.

NOTE: Low crime rates don’t mean China is free from safety concerns. The country ranks lower than most developed nations on the Human Development Index and very low on the Global Peace Index, due to issues like oppression of religious and minority groups and controversial military actions. The US advises caution due to cases of arbitrary detainment, so staying aware of laws and regulations is recommended.


Special Administrative Regions: Hong Kong and Macao are exceptions, governed with more autonomy and Western systems. This makes them generally safer in terms of police and military intervention.

Mainland: English literacy is low in China, given its massive size. Mandarin is the second most spoken language after all, so many will never require it. That being said, in large cities like Beijing and Shanghai, many more people are likely to speak English fluently. And even more people can speak basic English. Hotels, popular restaurants, airports, and busy tourist areas are likely to have some English services available in these cities.

Special Administrative Regions: In both Hong Kong and Macao, English literacy is significantly higher. As much as 70% of the population can read and write English, due to the former occupation from Great Britain. Macao is not as literate in English as Hong Kong, however, due to the nature of the city and its attractions, it is incredibly likely that everyone at resorts, casinos, or other attractions you may visit will have English proficiency.

China is a vast country with many diverse climates. The south reaches into the tropics, with sweltering humid summers and lovely dry winters. Beijing in the north experiences hot summers and freezing winters with several months of snow. Therefore, it’s hard to say when will be the best time to visit. Generally, March through May and September through November have seasonable temperatures and low rain, making these ideal times for most of the mainland locations.

Mainland: Maybe. In the past, most Western countries required a lengthy visa process. A transit visa was introduced that allowed many citizens to visit for up to 3 days in several cities, while on a long layover. However, in late 2024 China announced greatly increased visa-free transits, which can be claimed on arrival and last for up to 10 days. The list of countries eligible has expanded, as well as the cities and provinces allowed for travel. This means that for many people, this is the easiest time to visit China in many years.

Special Administrative Regions: No, most likely not. Hong Kong and Macao have long accepted many countries on visa-free visits for up to 30 days, making this the easiest and most convenient way for most people to see a piece of China.

Historically paying by card in China has been challenging. Many businesses do not accept Visa or Mastercard, as China’s own UnionPay has been preferred. Recently many more establishments have accepted Visa, Mastercard, and even American Express, however, we HIGHLY recommend you use AliPay instead. This app accepts many types of cards and allows you to pay hands-free on your phone by scanning a QR code. Almost every single business in the country uses AliPay, and we think it is the easiest way to pay in China. Additionally, the app has a ride-hailing function, making taxis a breeze.

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