GENERAL
We're honored that you would take time out of your busy schedules to join us on our special day, especially considering the difficulty in traveling all the way to Beijng!
We've put together some helpful information on arranging travel to China.
We recommend purchasing flights 4-6 months out for the best prices. You may also need a travel visa to enter China. If you do, we recommend you apply at least 1-2 months prior to the wedding. Please read the visas section below for more info.
TRAVEL VISAS
Depending on your travel plans, you may or may not need a Chinese visa.
China offers a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy which allows you to spend up to 10 days in China without a Chinese visa, as long as you fulfill certain requirements. With this policy, you must enter and exit from different countries (layovers do not count). For example, you could do U.S. → China → third country. The order does not matter; third country → China → U.S. would also work. Essentially, as long as you are entering China from one country, and exiting China to a different country than the one you originally came from, then your trip qualifies. (Taiwan and Hong Kong both qualify for the visa-free policy!)
Upon entry, you must show your confirmed flight ticket (with date and assigned seat) to the third country (the flight must depart within 240 hours of your arrival). With the visa-free transit policy, you must stay within the “allowed areas.” Most major cities fall within the allowed areas, but double check if you're planning to visit other regions in China.
If you're not planning on utilizing the visa-free transit policy, all U.S. citizens are required to have a tourist visa to enter China. The process to get a visa requires quite a bit of info, so please make sure you apply at least 1-2 months in advance. You will need your travel information (e.g., flight info + accommodations) in order to apply for a visa. You can change that info afterward, but you'll need it to submit your visa application. You may need to visit a Chinese consulate, which are located in major American cities (e.g., LA, SF, NY), so please plan accordingly if you're not near one. The cost for a single-entry visa is the same as a 10 year visa, s we recommend getting the 10 year visa so you can come back in the future!
PAYMENT
Please get the AliPay app; it's a prominent vendor with a digital wallet that you can connect your credit card to. AliPay is also the wallet to use for public services like trains and buses. Some merchants exclusively accept AliPay.
Please note, some merchants won't accept cash or credit card. Even street vendors might require AliPay or WeChat Pay these days.
The AliPay app also has DiDi, China's version of Uber, so make sure you download it and set up your profile beforehand. You'll need to enter your credit card and passport info before you can use it.
Larger vendors like hotels, high-end restaurants, and luxury shopping malls mostly accept Visa and Mastercard, but it's kind of a crapshoot so we recommend having AliPay and some Chinese cash ready as a backup.
ACCESSING THE INTERNET
To access restricted sites in China (e.g. Google, YouTube, Instagram, etc.), you'll need to either set up international data or use a VPN.
To set up international data on your phone plan, contact your carrier and have them set up international data and calling for you. Usually, you can set up either a daily or monthly payment plan. On data, you'll be able to access all the sites you'd be able to access in the U.S. This method is pricier than the VPN method (below), but it's very straightforward.
Alternatively, you can download a VPN prior to arrival. With a VPN, you'll be able to access all the restricted sites as well. You will need to install it on your mobile device and laptops prior to arrival in China.
There are many VPNs that work. Astrill VPN ($30/mo) is generally considered the best, but feel free to do your own research and find one that works best for you. We've linked an article below that has more info on the best VPNs for use in China.
ExpressVPN, NordVPN, PrivateInternetAccess (PIA), and Surfshark will not reliably work (if at all) in China, so avoid using any of these.
If you're on Wi-Fi in China, you won't be able to access restricted sites, regardless of whether or not you have international data or a VPN set up. So if you don't need to access restricted sites, feel free to use the hotel Wi-Fi. Otherwise, you're better off using international data or VPN.
MESSAGING
The following apps are restricted and inaccessible without a VPN or international data: WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Gmail.
Please install and create an account on WeChat ahead of your trip. We'll create a group chat for all guests in attendance and can answer any questions there as well.
WeChat also has a digital wallet called WeChat Pay, which you may find useful as some vendors only accept WeChat Pay. Make sure to link it to your credit card prior to arrival!
Andy's WeChat ID is andymurrayhsu. Molly's is MollySunisthebest.
GETTING AROUND
DiDi is China's version of Uber. It's in every major city and is highly reliable, cheap, and safe. But you'll only be able to access it as a mini-app via the Alipay app. Please download the Alipay app (you'll need it for any purchases in the country) and you'll be able to call vehicles on DiDi. You can also hail taxis and pay with cash to get around.
Public transportation is also clean, reliable, and very affordable. Use Apple Maps for directions and transportation times (Google Maps isn't as accurate), and Alipay for payment.
FLYING IN
The main airport in Beijing is Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Most international flights will land you here. It's 28 km / 17 mi away from the hotel. Without traffic, it's about a 35 min car ride from the airport to the hotel. We recommend purchasing flights 4-6 months out for the best prices, but we encourage you to keep an eye on rates for the 6+ months leading up to the wedding.
EXPLORING BEIJING
As the capital of China, Beijing is filled with incredible historic sites, and a short trip to the Great Wall. As a bonus, you can stay at 5-star hotels and eat Michelin-starred food for a fraction of the price you'd pay in the U.S. (The Ritz Carlton is only around $200/night!)
Beijing is massive, and because of its size and spread-out nature, it's not super walkable, so you'll need to get around via public transit or taxi/DiDi. It's also an incredibly safe city (same is the case for China overall).
Also, when visiting most historic sites in Beijing, you'll need your passport to get through security, so we advise bringing it with you during any tours or excursions. You'll also need your passport to get tax refunds while shoppings, so we recommend carrying it around with you. Just don't lose it :)
We'll put together a full guide for things to do, places to eat, where to stay, etc. in the coming months!
TRAVELING WITHIN CHINA
We highly recommend exploring more of China beyond Beijing while you're here! Here are some recommendations for other places worth visiting:
Great Wall of China: about 1.5-2 hours from Beijing by car, making it a great day trip from Beijing (don't miss the fun toboggan ride!)
Shanghai: the NYC of China, great for shopping, art, food, coffee, bars, and nightlife, 4.5 hours from Beijing by bullet train
Suzhou: the Venice of China with its many canals running through the city, also known as China's garden city, just 30 min from Shanghai by bullet train
Xi'An: one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals, and home to the famous Terracotta Army, 5 hours from Beijing by bullet train
Zhangjiajie: home to the stunning Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, where the movie Avatar was filmed, encompassing forests, rivers, waterfalls and 2 large natural land bridges, a 3-hour flight from Beijing
Chengdu: considered by many to be the food capital of China and one of the best food cities in the world, also home to many panda bases, 7.5 hours by bullet train or a 3-hour flight
Hong Kong: a distinctly more international/Western city, home to dim sum, endless shopping, and a beautiful harbor, a 4-hour flight from Beijing (note: prices in HK are notably higher vs. mainland China)
Hainan: the Hawaii of China, a beautiful tropical island in the south of China that's also famous for Hainan chicken, a 4-hour flight from Beijing
China has an amazing high-speed rail system to connect you to many of these cities/regions from Beijing. It's affordable, comfortable, and has numerous options throughout the day (trains depart almost every 15 minutes).
There are two websites you can use to book train tickets: Ctrip (Trip.com) or 12306 (12306.cn/en/index.html). They have all of the train options listed and accept international credit cards. Note that you'll need your passport information in order to book travel online. You'll also need to carry your passport in order to board any train.