15 China Travel Mistakes Tourists Always Make

I live in Beijing, and I keep seeing first-time visitors make the same 15 mistakes. Here is each one, and how to avoid it. 1. COMING DURING A MAJOR HOLIDAY Chinese New Year, May Day and National Day are the worst: train tickets sell out and hotels get expensive. July and August are also busy. Check the official holiday calendar before you book. 2. TOO MANY CITIES Every time you move, you lose most of a day. If your trip is short, pick fewer cities and give each one enough time. 3. RELYING ON GOOGLE MAPS Some places are missing or outdated. Amap works much better, and Apple Maps is another option on iPhone. Save the Chinese name and address of your hotel, major attractions and railway stations before you fly. 4. NOT BOOKING AHEAD Popular attractions like the National Museum of China can be fully booked days out. Book the two or three places you care about most first. 5. GOING TO THE WRONG TRAIN STATION Big cities have several major railway stations, sometimes on opposite sides of the city. Check the full station name on your ticket, not just the city name. 6. MISUNDERSTANDING "CASHLESS" Most payments go through Alipay or WeChat Pay, not tap-to-pay cards. Set up both before you arrive, link more than one bank card, and keep some cash as backup. Full video on paying in China is linked at the bottom. 7. TOO MUCH IN ONE DAY Distances are big and each attraction takes longer than you expect. The Forbidden City alone can fill three or four hours. Plan one major attraction per day. 8. CHOOSING THE WRONG HOTEL LOCATION Close to one famous sight is not the same as convenient. Look at the nearest subway station, how easily you can reach the rest of your itinerary, and what the neighborhood is like. 9. EATING RIGHT OUTSIDE THE ATTRACTION Restaurants at the gate are usually more expensive. Open Dianping, which is like a Chinese Yelp, and look for lots of reviews, high recent ratings and a local crowd. Or ask someone who lives there. 10. EATING EVERYTHING ON DAY ONE Long flights, jet lag, and a sudden wave of oil and spice can overwhelm your stomach. Eat as much local food as you can, just start slow the first day or two. 11. DRINKING TAP WATER Brushing your teeth with it is fine. For drinking, use bottled water or boil it first. 12. LEAVING YOUR PASSPORT AT THE HOTEL High-speed trains, money exchange, SIM cards and some major attractions need the original passport. A photo on your phone will not work at the Forbidden City or the Terracotta Army. 13. TREATING CHINA AS ONE PLACE In October, Beijing already needs a jacket while Guangzhou still feels like summer. Once you have chosen your route, treat every stop as its own destination. 14. LETTING YOUR PHONE DIE Your phone is your map, wallet, translator and taxi app. Carry your own power bank and cable. If you fly within China, the power bank needs a CCC mark, so buy one after you arrive. 15. ASSUMING EVERY TOILET HAS PAPER Many public toilets provide it, but some do not. Keep a small pack of tissues and a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you. Chapters: 0:00 The mistakes I keep seeing 0:31 Coming at the wrong time 1:11 Too many cities 1:44 Relying on Google Maps 2:23 Not booking ahead 3:04 The wrong train station 3:41 Misunderstanding "cashless" 4:23 Too much in one day 5:09 The wrong hotel location 5:55 Where not to eat 6:22 Trying too much, too fast 6:52 Tap water 7:13 Passport rules 7:52 China is not one place 8:42 A dead phone 9:18 Toilet paper 9:51 Your first trip, made easier Part of my China guide series for first time visitors: getting around Beijing, what to book ahead, where to stay, how to pay, and how to save money. New guides regularly. How to pay in China:    • How to Pay in China as a Foreigner: Subway...   Where to stay in Beijing:    • Where to Stay in Beijing: 6 Best Areas by ...   #chinatravel #china #beijing #traveltips #FirstTimeInChina #beijingtravel