China

Top 5 Orte

1. Great Wall (Mutianyu or Badaling) · Beijing

   Restored sections reachable as a day trip from Beijing; Mutianyu is usually less crowded.

2. Forbidden City (Palace Museum) · Beijing

   Vast imperial palace complex; tickets must be booked online in advance with your passport.

3. Terracotta Army · Xi'an

   Thousands of life-size clay soldiers guarding the first emperor's tomb.

4. The Bund and Yu Garden · Shanghai

   Colonial-era riverfront facing the Pudong skyline, plus a classical garden nearby.

5. Li River and Yangshuo · Guilin / Yangshuo

   Karst mountain scenery best seen by river cruise, bamboo raft or bike.

Unterwegs vor Ort

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  Metro (pay with Alipay / WeChat transit QR)

  Big cities have large, cheap metro networks. Most accept the Alipay or WeChat Pay transit QR code at the gate; single tickets from machines also work. Bags are security-scanned at entry.

• Fahrdienst-App

  DiDi

  China's main ride app; has an English interface, accepts foreign phone numbers and foreign cards, and is also available as a mini-program inside Alipay. Uber does not operate in mainland China.

• Taxi

  Metered taxis

  Cheap compared to Europe. Insist on the meter and ask for a receipt with the taxi number. Avoid unmarked cars and touts at stations and airports.

• Züge

  High-speed rail (12306 / Trip.com)

  Fast, punctual trains between major cities. Book on the official 12306 app (English version) or an agency like Trip.com; your passport is your ticket and is checked at the gate.

• Bikesharing

  Shared bikes (Meituan, Hello Bike, Didi Bike)

  Dockless bikes everywhere in cities, unlocked by scanning a QR code with Alipay or WeChat; very cheap per ride.

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  Amap (Gaode) / Baidu Maps

  Google Maps is blocked and inaccurate in China. Amap has an English mode and is the most reliable for walking, transit and taxi routes.

Geld und Bargeld

Währung: CNY · Chinese yuan (renminbi)

Mobile payment (Alipay and WeChat Pay) is almost universal, and foreign Visa/Mastercard can now be linked to both. Alipay adds a 3% fee on single payments above 200 CNY with a foreign card (varies, check in app). Foreign cards work at big hotels and malls but rarely at small shops. Carry some cash for rural areas and as a backup. Counterfeit 100 CNY notes circulate, even from some ATMs; check notes and use bank ATMs.

Wechselkurs nach CNY prüfen

Trinkgeld

Tipping is not customary in mainland China and is usually not expected in restaurants, taxis or shops. Staff may be confused or decline a tip. The main exceptions are tour guides and drivers on organised tours, and some international hotels.

Nützliche Sätze

• 买单 (mǎi dān) The bill, please.
• 可以用支付宝吗？ (kěyǐ yòng zhīfùbǎo ma?) Can I pay with Alipay?
• 不用了，谢谢 (bú yòng le, xièxie) No need, thank you.

Umgangsformen

• Carry your passport: it is needed for hotels, train tickets, many museum bookings and police checks.
• Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice; it resembles incense at funerals.
• Hand over and receive business cards and money with both hands as a sign of respect.
• Queues can be loose and pushy at stations; stand your ground politely.
• Avoid political discussions (Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Tiananmen) in public and online.
• Dress modestly in temples and do not photograph monks or inside halls where signs forbid it.
• Bargaining is normal in markets and small shops, not in malls or supermarkets.

Maschen und wie du damit umgehst

• Tea house or bar invitation

  Wo: Beijing (Wangfujing, Tiananmen), Shanghai (Nanjing Road, The Bund)

  So funktioniert’s: Friendly young people practising English invite you to a tea ceremony, bar or massage; the bill is hundreds of dollars and staff threaten you until you pay.

  So vermeidest du es: Decline invitations from strangers to go to a venue they choose. If stuck, call 110.

• Art student gallery

  Wo: Beijing and Shanghai tourist areas

  So funktioniert’s: So-called art students invite you to their exhibition and pressure you into buying mass-produced paintings at high prices.

  So vermeidest du es: Politely refuse and walk on.

• Unlicensed taxis and touts

  Wo: Airports, train stations, tourist sites

  So funktioniert’s: Drivers in unmarked cars quote high flat fares or overcharge; in rare cases robberies have been reported.

  So vermeidest du es: Use the official taxi queue or DiDi. Insist on the meter and note the taxi number.

• Counterfeit banknotes

  Wo: Taxis, markets, change given in cash

  So funktioniert’s: Fake 100 or 50 CNY notes are passed as change, or a driver swaps your real note for a fake and says yours is fake.

  So vermeidest du es: Pay by Alipay/WeChat where possible; use small notes; check change.

• Rickshaw or tuk-tuk price switch

  Wo: Beijing hutongs and tourist sites

  So funktioniert’s: A low price is agreed, then the driver says it was per person or in another currency and demands much more.

  So vermeidest du es: Agree the total price in writing on your phone before setting off, or use DiDi.

• Fake QR codes

  Wo: Parking meters, bikes, shop counters

  So funktioniert’s: Stickers with a fraudulent QR code send payment to a scammer or lead to phishing pages.

  So vermeidest du es: Check the payee name in Alipay/WeChat before paying; scan bike codes only through the official app.

• Commission shopping on cheap tours

  Wo: Low-cost day tours (Great Wall, Guilin and others)

  So funktioniert’s: Very cheap tours spend hours at jade, silk or tea shops where guides earn commission and pressure you to buy.

  So vermeidest du es: Book reputable tours that state 'no shopping stops'.

Sicherheit

• Serious crime against foreigners is rare; keep an eye on belongings at tourist sites, stations and crowded areas.
• Physical fights carry fines or detention regardless of who started them; walk away from disputes.
• Drink spiking has been reported: do not leave drinks unattended or accept drinks from strangers.
• Avoid unmarked or unmetered taxis, especially at night.
• Set up a VPN, translation app and payment apps before arrival; many Western apps are blocked.
• Traffic is the biggest daily risk: e-scooters ride silently on pavements and cars turn on red.

Wie verbreitet Englisch ist

Limited outside international hotels, airports and some big-city tourist sites. Download a translation app and save hotel addresses in Chinese characters.

Quellen

• GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: China, safety and security
• Wikivoyage: China
• LTL: Alipay for foreigners
• China Travel Radar: Alipay for foreigners (3% fees)
• One Mile at a Time: Chinese hotel service charge and taxes
• Wikipedia: List of tipping customs by country
• PlugVoltage: China power outlets

Wir prüfen diese Guides anhand offizieller und bekannter Quellen, aber Regeln und Preise ändern sich. Etwas ist veraltet? Schreib an support@tourits.app.