Solo Travel in China: Here’s What You Need to Know Before Going

You might be wondering, is China safe for solo travel? I have to say yes, it is, but the real question is, is China GOOD for solo travel?

China is really coming up more and more these days as a bucket-list place to travel. I was actually so excited to visit and was trying to figure out if I should get a visa to stay for 2 months, so I could explore the country extensively. There are so many insane looking places in China, and I wanted to see them all. It’s a huge country, so I knew it would take a while to cover all the spots I dreamed of seeing.

But due to my last-minute travel nature, I didn’t think I’d be able to get my visa in time. So I decided I’d get a taste of China and travel on the 10-day transit visa. As long as you fly in from one country and out from another, you get 10 days visa free in China. Now, if you’re a Brit or Canadian citizen, the rules just changed, and you can visit for 30 days visa-free!

I flew into Chongqing from Bangkok, and let me tell you, this country was not the easiest to visit. This comes from someone very experienced in traveling. I’ve traveled solo to 20+ countries, and I’ve been to 50+ countries overall. While I did love China and it’s 100% safe, solo travel in China is not that simple. In fact, I cut my trip short because I felt so overwhelmed there. Let me tell you more in this detailed guide on how to travel solo in China. So you can come prepared and not make any mistakes.

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Is Solo Travel in China Safe?

Absolutely, China is 100% safe for solo travel. The Global Times even called it one of the safest countries in the world. With that being said, I never felt uncomfortable in China. I could walk alone at night and not feel scared. There is low crime and few cases of firearm, etc. I noticed security checks in many places I went. To get on the metro, you needed to put your bags through security. There were police enforcement in busy places as well. However, I have to caveat that although China is one of the safest countries I’ve travelled in as a solo traveller, it’s also one of the most mentally demanding. The language barrier is real, and the logistics of getting anywhere were hard for me.

Is China Good for Solo Travel?

China isn’t the easiest place for solo travel, even for experienced solo travelers. But I think it mainly depends on where you go and how prepared you are. It’s very rewarding once you get over the initial challenges, and many travellers end up loving the experience.

At the time of writing, I only have Chongqing as a baseline for this post. In my experience, it’s noticeably more challenging to get around than in many other cities in China. The city is built across multiple levels, with roads, walkways, and metro stations stacked vertically, which can make even short journeys feel surprisingly complicated.

From speaking to other travellers, it’s clear that logistically, cities like Shanghai and Beijing are generally much easier to navigate, with clearer layouts and more straightforward transport connections.

That said, I have to admit, despite the learning curve, Chongqing is genuinely one of the coolest cities I’ve ever been to.

The Bad

My first solo trip to China was challenging because I started in a city like Chongqing, which is more difficult to navigate (in my opinion). I had planned to visit Yangshuo afterward, but I decided to end my trip early and go to Hong Kong. Hong Kong is full of English speakers and does not block Google, etc. My main struggle in Chongqing was getting around with maps, which often sent me to the wrong place.

One example was me trying to find this photo spot in Chongqing at Longmenhao Old Street (pictured above). But I didn’t have the exact spot pinned, and when I asked people, they just said go to Longmenhao Old Street. When I got there, there were so many levels, and I saw all sorts of cool viewpoints, but I really wanted to find this spot. Then, I’d ask for help, and no one could help me due to the huge language barrier. In Chongqing, I would estimate only about 3% of the population speaks English. By comparison, in Shanghai or Beijing, it might be closer to 12%. So a bit better, but still a low amount.

You might think, “Well, there is Google Translate and Google Maps.” But Google is banned in China. I downloaded a whole new set of apps before my visit, which I will share later. But it took a day or two to get used to using them. The Great Firewall also blocks social media apps like Instagram and TikTok.

I spent a long time running around, hoping to make it to the particular photospot before sunset. Eventually, a kind security man guided me to the spot up some hidden steps.

Even though I thought I was prepared with apps set up, eSIMs, VPNs, and payment information, the reality was that things did not always work smoothly. My Holafly eSIM, normally reliable, sometimes stopped working. I recommend getting Airalo as I hear it’s more reliable in China (you can save 15% with code joujoutravels). On a day trip to Wuhan, I lost data completely, so I could not use Google Translate or Alipay. My advice is to download Google Translate’s offline language tool and carry some cash as a backup.

I also got lost in Raffles City for 45 minutes while trying to reach the Skywalk. I asked everyone with Google Translate, and most people did not know or sent me to the wrong floor. Eventually, I found it, but I was so frustrated.

Chongqing is different because it is vertical and layered. Streets, alleys, and buildings are stacked on top of each other. Even locals get lost. There is a square, Kuixing Square, where it looks like you are on the ground floor, but you are actually on the 22nd. It was such a unique place to see. The city’s very hilly, has endless stairs, and everything is multi-level in layout, so if you can imagine it makes navigation a bit confusing; however, it’s also so stunning to see.

Even the hotel Wi-Fi was not reliable at times. I kept forgetting my browser bar was tied to Google, which did not work, so I had to switch to Bing or a VPN. Many VPNs are blocked, so be sure to set up one that works ahead of time. I tried Nord VPN, and it didn’t work – I hear you might have to tweak some settings for it to work. My friends had success using Express VPN.

All in all, I felt overwhelmed at times. Between learning the apps, navigating multi-level streets, and ordering meals solo in a foreign language, it was a lot. But I also know that with the right preparation, these challenges become part of the adventure.

The Good

China is very safe and a super interesting country to visit. Despite the language barrier and getting around issues I had, everyone was extremely friendly and helpful in China.

For example, I was eating alone at a restaurant, and a lady and her daughter decided to bring me a free bubble tea and smiled after giving it to me. It was really sweet. I guess they saw me alone and wanted to make me feel welcome. Moments like that really showed me the kindness of strangers and made the experience feel personal and heartwarming, despite being in a completely unfamiliar place. It reminded me that simple gestures can cross any language barrier.

Additionally, I didn’t know how to order hot pot or even eat it. I never tried it before and felt like a fool ordering it solo. It’s the kind of thing you typically order as a group or with a friend. But hot pot is huge in China, and of course, I wanted to try it. I tried it for the first time at Huangyu Mingkaorou. After explaining to the staff that I was new at it, they helped me order everything and showed me what to do step by step. It was really nice!

China is simply an incredible country, full of so many surprises. I really loved my visit, but I wanted to warn you of the difficulties I had while traveling here solo so you can be better prepared. Would I go again? Absolutely. And I will be much more prepared.

Best Cities for Solo Travel in China

Beijing and Shanghai will be the easiest to navigate solo – they are the two most visited and touristic cities. While language can still be a problem, more English is known here than in other cities in China.

Beijing – Full of amazing history, iconic sites like the Forbidden City and Great Wall, and walkable old neighborhoods. Rating: 5/5

Shanghai – Modern, easy metro system, and stunning riverfront walks. Rating: 5/5

Chengdu – A relaxed city full of cute pandas, teahouses, and friendly locals. It’s a great spot for slow travel. Rating: 4.5/5

Xi’an – The highlights include its ancient city walls, Terracotta Warriors, and Muslim Quarter. It’s a very cultural city, and everything is walkable. Rating: 4.5/5

Lijiang – Beautiful UNESCO old town with cobbled streets. Located close to the mountains. Rating: 4.5/5

Yangshuo – Stunning landscapes where you can do various activities like river cruises, biking, and hiking. Rating: 4/5

Hainan (Sanya) – Full of tropical beaches, resorts, and sunny weather Rating: 4/5

Worst Cities for Solo Travel in China

Zhangye Danxia – Rainbow mountains, dramatic landscapes, great for day trips and photography. However, limited public transport and accommodation options. Rating: 3.5/5

Harbin (winter) – Insane Ice festivals and snowy towns. But the cold weather (-25 °C) can make travel less enjoyable and even make your electronics die instantly. Sparse English can be challenging. Rating: 3/5

Chongqing – Amazing cityscape and food, but the complex vertical layout makes navigation tricky. Rating: 3/5

How to Prepare for a Solo Trip to China

Get Your Visa

As of February 2026, travelers from the United Kingdom and Canada can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism.

If you’re from other countries, such as America, you will need a visa or if you’re traveling for under 10 days, you can travel visa free with the 240-hour transit visa option. The way it works is if you fly into one country and out of another country (for example: US – China – Thailand). You can’t do round trip US – China – US under the transit visa. You must also use an eligible city and port of entry.

Once you arrive, head to the police desk to get the transit visa. To speed things up, be sure to fill out the online arrivals card and make sure to do so accurately. I accidentally left off my flight number on the way back, and I had to redo the form when I arrived. It wasn’t submitting when I re-did it, so I had a bit of an issue, and it took me a while to get through. But others who had their form filled out fine were able to get through in 5 minutes.

However, if you want to stay longer than 10 days and you’re from a country such as the United States, you’ll need to apply for a standard tourist visa (L visa). The process for that is applying online through this official website, waiting 1-2 days for the form to be approved, then making an in-person appointment. You will submit your passport, and it will be kept until your visa is completed. This process takes 4-7 working days, and you can pay extra to speed it up.

Use Alipay for payments

Cash is not a thing in China! Everyone wants you to pay using Alipay. So it’s super important that you download it ahead of time and tie your credit card to it. There were also a few checks it wanted from me, like scanning my face and passport. Don’t forget to do all this ahead of time to avoid stress. Regular credit card payments are not accepted. However, if your wifi/data stops working (it happened to me!), I’d carry some small bills to pay vendors. Just note: most of them won’t have much change for you so be sure you have enough smaller bills.

Many restaurants also require you to order your food through Alipay or WeChat. It is often not in English and can be confusing to order so it will take some time to get used to that as well.

You can also set up a transit card on Alipay so that you can get around by train or public transportation. The staff in the metro was able to help me set this up quickly before I got on the metro. For reference, there is a tab within an Alipa,y and you can just go through the prompts..

Prepare for the extreme language barrier

The toughest part for me was the language barrier. Literally, no one knows English. So if I struggled finding my way or had a question about the menu, I could not really get by. Google Translate and Baidu Translate did help, however, it got very exhausting translating every single conversation. Especially since if I was asking for directions, but Google translate they would reply before I could get them to voice their answer in the app. This can be really challenging, especially as a solo traveler, so be mentally prepared for getting around due to the lack of English spoken in the country.

Use aMap for directions

Normally, a language barrier is fine because I can find my way with Google Maps but since Google Maps is not updated and not used in China, I really struggled to find my way around. You have to use an app called aMap, which I hated because it was not very user-friendly. I did change the language to English in the settings, but sometimes it wouldn’t find the English name so you might have to type in the Chinese name and navigate that way. I would not advise using Google Maps even with a VPN as it’s not up to date.

Get a reliable VPN

I tried to use Nord VPN, but sadly, it did not work. I heard that you can change some settings to get it to work, but I didn’t even bother. My friends have had success with the VPN express VPN. Just make sure you have a reliable one. I was told I didn’t really need a VPN with an eSIM because the eSIM includes the VPN, while this is true, and my WhatsApp and Instagram worked using my Holafly eSIM, things like TikTok still did not work. I could never get TikTok to work so I had to survive without it. I love TikTok because it always helps me find unique things to do in every city that I go to. They do have a different version of TikTok in China, but I was unable to download it as a foreigner. It’s called Douyin.

The VPN is handy if you’re working on a laptop, especially because Google, Gmail, ChatGPT, and other websites will not work on the Wi-Fi from your hotel or any café in China. You can also hotspot so that you can work on your computer from your mobile device in case you don’t get the VPN.

Use Wechat to communicate with locals

Note: WhatsApp doesn’t work, without a VPN or an eSIM. WeChat is a way of communication in China. Your hotel will often ask you to add them on WeChat so that they can message you. And as I mentioned earlier, you will need it to order food sometimes. The menu and ordering system is sometimes funneled through WeChat. To set up WeChat, you will also need someone who is already on WeChat to validate your account.

Taxi rides should be ordered from Didi

Another app you need is Didi, similar to Uber. Uber is not available in China. So if you need a ride, use Didi, it’s super cheap too!

Get Local Tips via Rednote

There is very little information on most cities in China for Westerners. I usually do my research by googling, looking on Pinterest, or checking out TikTok. Since these apps are not used in China, it’s difficult to get information there. I was able to find many hidden gems using Red Note, which is an app that is use widely for social media in China and other Asian countries.

Go on Tours with Bilingual Locals

If you want to feel more comfortable in China alone, I’d recommend doing tours with bilingual locals. I recommend finding a tour off of GetYourGuide or Viator. They will know English and take care of all the logistics for you! I also recommend joining my FB group, Girls Who Wander Solo to see if there are any other travelers visiting China at the same time. It’s a great resource I built to connect other travelers together.

Learn some Mandarin Phrases

Learning a few basic Mandarin phrases can make a huge difference when traveling solo in China. Even if you’re not fluent, simple greetings, polite expressions, and key questions can help you navigate daily interactions, show respect, and sometimes even get better service.

Here are some phrases to keep handy with how to pronounce it:

• Hello / Hi: 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) — nee how
• Thank you: 谢谢 (Xièxiè) — shieh-shieh
• Excuse me / Sorry: 对不起 (Duìbùqǐ) — dway-boo-chee
• Yes / No: 是 (Shì) — shir / 不是 (Bù shì) — boo shir
• How much is this?: 这个多少钱？ (Zhège duōshǎo qián?) — juh-guh dwor-shaow chien?
• Where is…?: …在哪里？ (… zài nǎlǐ?) — … dzai nah-lee?
• I don’t understand: 我不懂 (Wǒ bù dǒng) — waw boo dong
• Take a photo for me? 帮我拍照好吗？ (Bāng wǒ pāi zhào hǎo ma?) — bahng waw pie jow how ma?

Know the emergency numbers

​​​ When traveling solo in China, it’s important to be prepared for emergencies. While most areas are generally safe, knowing the local emergency numbers can save precious time if you ever need help.

Keep these numbers handy on your phone or written in your wallet so you’re ready for any situation:

• Police: 110
• Fire: 119
• Ambulance/Medical: 120
• Traffic Accidents: 122
• Tourist Assistance (some cities): 12301

Get Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is something I used to skip but I highly recommend getting it. In case you have to go to the hospital or get care, you will be covered. I recommend SafetyWing. It’s great because you can even buy it when you’re already abroad. Also, it’s monthly instead of yearly so you can cover yourself only when traveling if you prefer.

Carry your Passport with you

It is common in China to carry your passport with you. It’s needed to get into attractions. I needed mine to get into Wulan National Park. And if the police stop you it’s your form of identification.

How to get Solo Travel Photos in China

One thing you absolutely don’t have to worry about when traveling to China is getting good photos. There are practically photographers at every landmark waiting to take your photo, and no, it’s not a scam. For as little as one dollar a photo, you can hire someone on the spot to take your photo, and they will instantly AirDrop it to you after. I actually did this twice, and it was so convenient. I didn’t have to depend on bringing my tripod around all day. The photo above was taken by one of the photographers. You can pick how many photos you want. Even if you want just one photo for about $1-2, you can do that as well.

Although I did take some of my own photos because that is my job, I thoroughly enjoy it. There were some occasions where it would have been difficult to set up a tripod in a crowd, and this really helped me out.

Read my full guide on how to take photos solo and check out what camera gear I use!

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide is useful for planning your solo trip to China or even your trip to China in general, as there are more tips in here about getting around in general. I have to say it was a difficult one for my first time in China, but don’t let that discourage you from visiting. It’s probably not that hard, but I was feeling overwhelmed, and that can muddy up things for me. Also, Chongqing is harder to navigate and less English is spoken than in more touristy destinations like Shanghai and Beijing.

My top tips are just to be prepared and know that it won’t always be easy. If I were to do it again, I’d probably go on more organized tours so I wouldn’t have to struggle so much with the language and getting around. My go-to for tours is GetYourGuide or Viator. If you can visit China with a friend or on a group trip (Gadventures does great group tours!), I do recommend it, as it can be a harder place to visit alone.