Nepali Yatri | Prakash Pokhrel

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Mobile Payments Are Essential

China is about 80% cashless. Download and set up both Alipay and WeChat Pay before arriving, as they are accepted virtually everywhere including taxis, street vendors, and restaurants. Both apps now allow foreigners to link international Visa, Mastercard, or AMEX cards directly without a Chinese bank account. Transaction limits for international cards are approximately CNY 6,000 per transaction and CNY 50,000 per month.

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VPN and Internet Access

Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and most Western social media are blocked in China. Download and install at least two paid VPN apps before boarding your plane, as you cannot download them once inside China. Even with a VPN, these services can be slow and unreliable. WeChat is the primary messaging app used in China.

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Currency

The local currency is the Renminbi (RMB), commonly called yuan (CNY). Banks offer better exchange rates than airports or hotels. Bring your passport for any currency exchange at banks. While mobile payments dominate, carry some cash (CNY 500-1,000) for small vendors, rural areas, and as backup.

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Transport and Bullet Trains

China's high-speed rail network is world-class and connects major cities quickly: Beijing to Shanghai in 4.5 hours, Beijing to Xi'an in 4.5 hours. Book tickets via the Trip.com app or at train station ticket counters with your passport. The metro systems in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities are efficient, clean, and cheap. Use DiDi (China's Uber equivalent) for taxis.

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Language Barrier

English is not widely spoken outside major tourist areas and international hotels. Download offline translation in Google Translate or use Baidu Translate (which works without VPN). Having your hotel address written in Chinese characters is essential for showing taxi drivers. Learning basic phrases like 'ni hao' (hello), 'xie xie' (thank you), and 'duo shao qian' (how much) is very helpful.

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Visa and Entry

China has expanded its transit visa-free policy for many nationalities, allowing 72-144 hour visa-free stays for transit passengers at major airports. For longer stays, apply for a tourist visa (L visa) at a Chinese embassy before travel. Some nationalities benefit from unilateral visa-free entry. Check the latest policy for your passport before booking.

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Beijing - Forbidden City and Tiananmen

📍 Beijing

Start at Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public square, and enter the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) through the Meridian Gate. Spend 3-4 hours walking through the 980 buildings of the imperial complex, from the Hall of Supreme Harmony to the Imperial Garden. Exit through the north gate and climb Jingshan Park for a bird's-eye view back over the golden rooftops. Evening walk through the Wangfujing Night Market to try scorpion skewers, jianbing, and lamb kebabs.

Great Wall at Mutianyu

📍 Beijing

Depart early for Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, about 90 minutes from central Beijing. This section is less crowded than Badaling with well-restored watchtowers and forested mountain scenery. Hike the wall for 2-3 hours between towers 1 and 23. Take the toboggan ride down for a fun descent. Return to Beijing and visit the Temple of Heaven, where emperors prayed for good harvests. Walk through the surrounding park to see locals practicing tai chi, playing erhu, and dancing.

Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors

📍 Xi'an

Take a 4.5-hour bullet train from Beijing to Xi'an. Head directly to the Terracotta Army Museum, 40 km east of the city. Explore Pit 1 (the largest with 6,000 warriors), Pit 2 (cavalry and archers), and Pit 3 (the command center). Allow 3 hours to appreciate the scale and detail of the 2,200-year-old army. Return to Xi'an and walk atop the 14 km Ming Dynasty City Wall, one of the best-preserved ancient walls in China. Evening visit to the Muslim Quarter for hand-pulled noodles and lamb paomo soup.

Xi'an to Guilin

📍 Xi'an / Guilin

Morning visit to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a 7th-century Buddhist tower with city views from the top. Fly to Guilin (2 hours). Afternoon stroll along the Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic waterway system in central Guilin. Climb Elephant Trunk Hill, the iconic karst formation on the Li River. Evening walk along Zhengyang Pedestrian Street for local Guilin rice noodles (mifen), the city's signature dish served in savory broth with pickled bamboo shoots.

Li River Cruise to Yangshuo

📍 Guilin / Yangshuo

Board a Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (4-5 hours), floating past some of China's most iconic karst landscape: towering limestone peaks draped in mist, bamboo groves, and water buffalo grazing along the banks. The stretch between Nine Horse Fresco Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal is the scenery depicted on the 20 yuan banknote. In Yangshuo, rent a bicycle and ride through the countryside to Moon Hill, a natural arch in a limestone peak. Evening visit to West Street for shopping and nightlife.

Shanghai - The Bund and Old City

📍 Shanghai

Fly from Guilin to Shanghai (2.5 hours). Walk along The Bund, the waterfront promenade lined with grand colonial-era buildings, with views across the Huangpu River to the futuristic Pudong skyline. Cross to Pudong and ascend the Shanghai Tower, the world's second-tallest building, for views from the 118th floor observation deck. Afternoon visit to the Yu Garden, a classical Ming Dynasty garden with rockeries, pavilions, and koi ponds. Browse the adjacent Yuyuan Bazaar for xiaolongbao at the famous Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant.

Shanghai - French Concession and Departure

📍 Shanghai

Morning walk through the French Concession's tree-lined streets, visiting the Tianzifang art district with its galleries, cafes, and boutiques tucked into renovated shikumen (stone gate) houses. Explore the Xintiandi entertainment district and visit the First National Congress of the CPC site for historical context. Afternoon visit to the Jade Buddha Temple to see the two jade Buddhas brought from Burma. Final shopping at Nanjing Road, one of the world's busiest shopping streets stretching 5.5 km. Enjoy a farewell dinner of Shanghainese hairy crab (in season) or red-braised pork.

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Peking Duck

Crispy-skinned roast duck carved tableside and wrapped in thin pancakes with scallions and hoisin sauce.

Kung Pao Chicken

Stir-fried chicken with peanuts, dried chillies, and Sichuan peppercorns in a savory-sweet sauce.

Xiaolongbao

Delicate steamed soup dumplings filled with hot broth and seasoned pork, originating from Shanghai.

Mapo Tofu

Soft tofu cubes simmered in a fiery Sichuan sauce with minced pork and numbing peppercorns.

Hot Pot

Communal simmering pot of spicy or mild broth where diners cook meats, vegetables, and noodles.

Jianbing

Popular breakfast crepe made from mung bean batter, filled with egg, crispy wonton, and savory sauces.

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Info: This is placeholder data. Real expense details will be updated soon.

S.No	Details	Date	Amount	Currency	Amount (NPR)	Remarks
1	—	—	—	—	140	Visa & Documents
2	~300/night	—	—	—	1,200	Accommodation
3	~150/day	—	—	—	600	Food & Dining
4	—	—	—	—	120	Transport
5	—	—	—	—	200	Transport
6	—	—	—	—	500	Transport
7	—	—	—	—	400	Activities
8	—	—	—	—	100	Connectivity
9	—	—	—	—	35	Insurance
10	—	—	—	—	200	Miscellaneous
11	—	—	—	—	120	Transport
12	—	—	—	—	—	USD 175 + CNY 3,440
	Total		0.00		3,615

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Security Overview

Security Ranking

76/100

Steady

China currently trends toward low-to-moderate caution across the main government travel advisories we track.

Refreshed 04 Apr 2026

Risk Level: Moderate Awareness
General Notes: Major cities are generally orderly, but travelers should account for strict local laws, digital platform restrictions, and administrative requirements in some regions.
Common Scams: Common issues include tea-house or art-gallery billing scams in tourist districts, taxi overcharging in transit hubs, and counterfeit ticket sellers near attractions.
Advice: Use official ticket channels and licensed transport, keep passport/visa information accessible, and prepare offline tools for navigation/translation. Follow local regulations carefully.

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Great Wall of China

The Great Wall stretches across northern China with restored sections near Beijing that offer historic fortifications and mountain views.

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Forbidden City Beijing

The Forbidden City is a vast imperial palace complex in central Beijing, showcasing Ming and Qing dynastic architecture and history.

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Terracotta Warriors Xian

The Terracotta Army near Xian is an archaeological site featuring thousands of life-sized warrior figures from China's first imperial era.

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Li River Guilin

The Li River route between Guilin and Yangshuo is famous for karst peaks, rural river scenery, and classic southern China landscapes.

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The Bund Shanghai

The Bund is Shanghai's iconic waterfront promenade, where colonial-era facades face Pudong's modern skyline across the Huangpu River.

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Visa Information

Below is a summary of how I entered, whether through a visa or another permitted route.

Visa Required: Yes
Process Time: 4-5 working days
Duration: 30 days per entry
Cost: NPR 3,900 service fee (visa charge waived for Nepali citizens)

Required Documents

Prepare these before applying

Valid passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank pages)
COVA online application form (printed and signed)
Recent passport-size photo (white background)
Round-trip flight booking
Hotel reservation or invitation letter
Bank statement (proof of funds)

Apply Online →

Notes

Travelled to China 3 times: 1. Day pass at Khasa border (Tibet region) — no visa needed, border day pass only. 2. November 2025 — Single-entry L (tourist) visa. Documents approved online first via COVA, then passport submitted at Chinese Visa Application Service Center, Kamaladi, Kathmandu. 3. March 2026 — Double-entry L visa. Same process: document approval first, then passport submission. NPR 3,900 service fee, no visa charge for Nepali citizens.

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