China Travel Guide for Americans

The ExploreChina Holidays travel guide is your essential starting point for a premium China holiday from the United States. U.S. citizens require a Chinese tourist (L) visa for most visits — ExploreChina Holidays can help with the application. The best months to visit are April to May (cherry blossoms in Beijing) and September to October (clear skies at the Great Wall); July and August are hot and humid, and December to February is cold in the north but ideal for Harbin and Sichuan. Pack layered clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a universal power adapter (China uses Type A, C and I outlets at 220V), any prescription medication in original packaging with a doctor's letter, and a VPN if you need secure access to Western apps. Currency is the renminbi (RMB); ATMs are widely available and Alipay/WeChat Pay dominate payments — we recommend bringing a small amount of cash and setting up Alipay TourPass before you arrive. For connectivity, an eSIM (Airalo, Holafly) or local SIM is far cheaper than roaming. The tap water is not safe to drink — drink bottled or boiled water. English signage is common in major cities but download the Pleco translation app and have your hotel address in Chinese characters. ExploreChina Holidays is backed by China Travel Service (CTS), founded in 1928 — contact our team for tailored advice.