Business travel · China · 2026

Essential Tips for Your Business Trip to China

Visa and entry, payments, connectivity, transport, and practical preparation for UK business travellers.

1. Visa and Entry Requirements

The entry situation for UK nationals changed significantly in February 2026. From 17 February, UK passport holders can enter mainland China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days, covering tourism, family visits, and business purposes such as meetings, negotiations, and site visits. The policy runs on a trial basis until 31 December 2026.

A few things worth knowing before you assume you're covered:

Hong Kong and Macau are separate. The visa-free policy applies to mainland China only. If you are travelling onward from either territory into the mainland, the same visa-free rules apply at the border crossing, but entry is processed separately.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your intended date of entry, with at least one blank page available for the entry stamp.
The 30-day clock starts on arrival. If your stay will exceed 30 days, you will need to apply for the appropriate visa in advance.

Travelling to China to work? Visa-free entry does not apply. Receiving payment, providing a service, or performing in any capacity requires a Z visa (work visa) paired with a short-term work permit — regardless of how long you plan to stay. This is one of the most common misunderstandings among British nationals since the visa-free policy came into effect. Read our full guide to China short-term work visas for UK nationals →

Tip: if you are not sure whether your trip falls within the visa-free policy, it is worth checking before you book. The line between a business visit and paid work is less obvious than it sounds.

2. Staying Connected: eSIM and SIM Cards

Reliable mobile connectivity is non-negotiable for most business travellers, and China's network situation is different from what most UK visitors are used to.

Before you travel: eSIM

The simplest option for short trips is to set up an eSIM before you leave the UK. Unlike a physical SIM, an eSIM is installed digitally on your device and can be activated the moment you land — no queuing at an airport counter, no registration process in Mandarin, no risk of arriving without a working number.

We offer eSIM plans specifically designed for travel to China, with a range of data packages to suit different trip lengths and usage needs. Explore our China eSIM plans →

On the ground: physical SIM cards

If you prefer a physical SIM, the three main operators are China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. SIM cards can be purchased at international airports and in phone stores. You will need your passport to register, as this is a legal requirement for all SIM purchases in China.

Coverage and speeds

4G coverage is extensive across major cities and transport corridors. Download any essential files, documents, or offline maps before boarding long-distance trains, where signal quality can be less consistent.

3. Cashless Payments in China

China operates almost entirely on mobile payments. WeChat Pay and Alipay are accepted everywhere that matters for business travel — hotels, restaurants, transport, taxis, shops, and street food stalls. Cash is rarely useful and in many places actively inconvenient; most urban vendors no longer carry change.

Set up Alipay before you fly. It supports linking to a UK card and is the more straightforward option for international visitors. Getting it working from the UK takes minutes; doing it on arrival, without a Chinese number, takes considerably longer.

Set this up before you fly. The two dominant platforms are Alipay and WeChat Pay, both available via the App Store or Google Play. Aim to have at least one working and funded before you board.

4. Transport and Getting Around

Between cities: high-speed rail

China's high-speed rail network is one of the most extensive in the world. For journeys between major cities — Beijing to Shanghai, Shanghai to Guangzhou, Shenzhen to Hong Kong — it is almost always faster door-to-door than flying once airport transit time is factored in. Trains are punctual, comfortable, and considerably less stressful than domestic flights.

Tickets can be booked through the official platform at 12306.cn, though the interface is primarily in Mandarin. English-language third-party booking services are available if you prefer a more straightforward experience.

Within cities: ride-hailing and public transport

Didi is the dominant ride-hailing app and works similarly to Uber. Setting it up in advance using a UK phone number and international payment card is straightforward and highly recommended — it makes getting around cities considerably easier without needing to flag down a taxi or navigate a bus route.

Metro systems in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and most other major business destinations are modern, reliable, and inexpensive. Journeys can be paid for via Alipay or WeChat Pay.

Taxis remain an option, but drivers in most cities outside Shanghai speak little English. Having your destination written in Chinese characters, or using a navigation app to show the driver, is advisable.

5. Hotels and Accommodation

Foreign nationals are required by law to register their accommodation with the local public security bureau. In practice, registered hotels handle this automatically on check-in. The important point is that not all hotels in China are licensed to accept foreign guests — this is particularly relevant in smaller cities or when booking through less familiar platforms.

For business travel, established international chains and recognised business hotels are the safest choice. If you are booking through a local platform or staying in serviced apartments, confirm in advance that the property can legally accommodate foreign nationals.

6. Internet Access and Communication

Many of the platforms UK business travellers rely on daily — Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Instagram, and most Western news sites — are inaccessible in mainland China. This is a regulatory matter, and it applies regardless of your network or device.

Before you travel, make sure you have:

An alternative to WhatsApp. WeChat is the dominant messaging platform in China and is widely used for business communication. Install it before departure and share your ID with key contacts in advance.
Offline maps downloaded for the cities you will be visiting. Google Maps does not function in mainland China; Apple Maps has limited coverage. Amap (高德地图) works well and has English-language options.
Documents and files saved locally or in a non-Google cloud service. Google Drive and Docs are inaccessible.
Translation tools installed and tested. Google Translate works in offline mode if language packs are downloaded before entry.

On VPNs: in practice, the vast majority of foreign business travellers and expats in China use a VPN — it is the standard way to maintain access to Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, LinkedIn and other blocked services. Install and test your VPN before you travel, as a paid service with obfuscation features is considerably more dependable than a free one.

If your trip to China falls outside the visa-free policy — whether you're travelling to work, staying beyond 30 days, or simply want to make sure you're covered — speak to our China visa specialists. We'll work with you to put together the most efficient application plan for you and your team.