China
Última revisión:
Por ahora, esta guía está en inglés. Los títulos están traducidos.
- Capital
- Beijing
- Moneda
- CNY · Chinese yuan (renminbi)
- Idiomas
- Mandarin Chinese, Regional languages (Cantonese, Shanghainese and others)
- Enchufes
- Tipo A, C, I · 220 V
Números de emergencia
Los 5 mejores lugares
- Great Wall (Mutianyu or Badaling) · Beijing
Restored sections reachable as a day trip from Beijing; Mutianyu is usually less crowded.
- Forbidden City (Palace Museum) · Beijing
Vast imperial palace complex; tickets must be booked online in advance with your passport.
- Terracotta Army · Xi'an
Thousands of life-size clay soldiers guarding the first emperor's tomb.
- The Bund and Yu Garden · Shanghai
Colonial-era riverfront facing the Pudong skyline, plus a classical garden nearby.
- Li River and Yangshuo · Guilin / Yangshuo
Karst mountain scenery best seen by river cruise, bamboo raft or bike.
Cómo moverse
Transporte público
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.
App de transporte
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.
Trenes
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.
Bicicletas compartidas
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.
Transporte público
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.
Dinero y efectivo
Moneda: 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.
Propinas
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.
| Restaurantes | No tip. Some upscale and hotel restaurants add a 10-15% service charge (varies), which replaces any tip. |
|---|---|
| Cafeterías y bares | No tip expected. |
| Taxis y apps de transporte | No tip; pay the metered fare. DiDi has no tipping by default. |
| Hoteles | Not expected in most hotels. International hotels may add a service charge to the bill; porters at luxury hotels may accept a small tip (10-20 CNY). |
| Tours y guías | Tipping private guides and drivers on organised tours has become common, often around 100-200 CNY per day for a guide and less for a driver (varies by tour company). |
| Comida a domicilio | No tip. |
Cargo por servicio: lo que hay de cierto
Higher-end hotels have long added a service charge (traditionally 10-15%) plus VAT to room and restaurant bills, shown as a separate line. Some sources describe the total surcharge reaching around 15-22% (varies). It is set by the hotel, not a tip pool you can direct. Ordinary restaurants usually have no service charge.
Tácticas de presión que conviene conocer
Tip pressure is rare. On organised group tours, guides may push guests toward commission shops (jade, silk, tea) or optional extras; you can politely decline to buy. Say 'Bù yòng, xièxie' (no need, thanks).
Frases útiles
- 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.
Normas de cortesía
- 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.
Estafas y cómo actuar
Tea house or bar invitation
Dónde: Beijing (Wangfujing, Tiananmen), Shanghai (Nanjing Road, The Bund)
Cómo funciona: 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.
Cómo evitarlo: Decline invitations from strangers to go to a venue they choose. If stuck, call 110.
Art student gallery
Dónde: Beijing and Shanghai tourist areas
Cómo funciona: So-called art students invite you to their exhibition and pressure you into buying mass-produced paintings at high prices.
Cómo evitarlo: Politely refuse and walk on.
Unlicensed taxis and touts
Dónde: Airports, train stations, tourist sites
Cómo funciona: Drivers in unmarked cars quote high flat fares or overcharge; in rare cases robberies have been reported.
Cómo evitarlo: Use the official taxi queue or DiDi. Insist on the meter and note the taxi number.
Counterfeit banknotes
Dónde: Taxis, markets, change given in cash
Cómo funciona: 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.
Cómo evitarlo: Pay by Alipay/WeChat where possible; use small notes; check change.
Rickshaw or tuk-tuk price switch
Dónde: Beijing hutongs and tourist sites
Cómo funciona: A low price is agreed, then the driver says it was per person or in another currency and demands much more.
Cómo evitarlo: Agree the total price in writing on your phone before setting off, or use DiDi.
Fake QR codes
Dónde: Parking meters, bikes, shop counters
Cómo funciona: Stickers with a fraudulent QR code send payment to a scammer or lead to phishing pages.
Cómo evitarlo: Check the payee name in Alipay/WeChat before paying; scan bike codes only through the official app.
Commission shopping on cheap tours
Dónde: Low-cost day tours (Great Wall, Guilin and others)
Cómo funciona: Very cheap tours spend hours at jade, silk or tea shops where guides earn commission and pressure you to buy.
Cómo evitarlo: Book reputable tours that state 'no shopping stops'.
Seguridad
- 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.
Nivel de inglés
Limited outside international hotels, airports and some big-city tourist sites. Download a translation app and save hotel addresses in Chinese characters.
Fuentes
- 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
Revisamos estas guías con fuentes oficiales y conocidas, pero las normas y los precios cambian. ¿Ves algo desactualizado? Escribe a support@tourits.app.