Are you planning your first solo trip to China or simply curious about what solo travel in China is like? You’re in the right place!
I lived in China for about a year back in 2019, and I absolutely fell in love with the Asian way of life and the beauty of the country.
China is so much more than the austere image often portrayed in the news (at least in Italy). For me, China represents exceptional natural beauty, ancient and fascinating traditions, and the profound sense of safety I felt from the first to the last day of my time there.
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That said, I want to be completely honest: going solo in China without speaking Chinese requires careful planning and preparation.
In this post, I’ll share all my insights as someone who has lived and traveled extensively throughout China so you can feel confident in planning and enjoying your trip to the fullest.
- Is China safe for solo female travelers?
- 1. Itinerary for a Solo Trip to China + How Many Days You Should Stay
- 2. Best Time for Traveling to China
- 3. Internet Connection in China
- 4. Booking your accommodation
- 5. Transportation from the Airport
- 6. Eating out Solo in China
- 7. Visiting Sights Solo in China
- 8. Getting around in China as a Solo Traveler
- 9. Helpful App to Download if You’re Traveling Solo
- 10. Meeting Other Foreign Travelers or Expats in China
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Is China safe for solo female travelers?
I believe that the feeling of safety is subjective; what feels safe to me may be perceived very differently by someone else. However, solo travel in China can be considered safe for female travelers.
Petty Crimes & General Women’s Safety
In China, I never felt in danger of petty or serious crimes, and I generally felt safe as a woman. Any type of crime is discouraged, as the extensive CCTV camera system extends even to the more remote areas.
I’m one of the clumsiest people I know—the kind who accidentally leaves her carry-on backpack open on the subway. However, I never felt my clumsiness was a problem there. I personally never encountered or heard of any petty crimes. Just use your common sense when navigating busy streets or subways.
When it comes to women’s safety, you won’t encounter any issues during the day in any corner of China. I felt just as safe at night. I often returned home on my electric scooter every weekend at 4 a.m. and always felt secure.
Small Culture Shocks
As a foreign solo traveler, the only unusual thing you might notice is people staring at you, but it’s simply curiosity.
For many of these individuals, especially children, you may be the first foreign traveler they meet in person. So, don’t be rude if they ask to take a picture; they’re just very surprised and happy to see you!
One of the reasons I love living in China is that people genuinely want to help you if you encounter a problem, and they will go out of their way to do so.
This creates a reassuring sense that there’s always a solution, which is incredibly comforting when you’re in a place where almost no one speaks English.
1. Itinerary for a Solo Trip to China + How Many Days You Should Stay
When visiting a new country, I always try to include locations that allow me to discover its different facets. China is a perfect example. It’s a vast country covering 9.6 million km², with 23 provinces and incredible diversity.
China is modern, dynamic but also rural, traditional, and rich in history. While we know about its highly populated cities, people sometimes forget its authentic and hidden rural villages and natural beauty.
To truly discover the multiple facets of China, I suggest planning at least two weeks for your trip. This will allow you to experience both the urban life and the ancient traditions of villages that continue to live in the past.
This one could be a good 2-week first-trip itinerary, including Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin, and Guangzhou.
If you have only one week, you can choose this itinerary, which includes Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing.
If, on the other hand, this isn’t your first trip to China and you’d like to skip the big cities for a more off-the-beaten-path experience, consider exploring the Gansu region for seven to ten days.
You can also go down the backpacker route from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, Guilin, Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang. The Yunnan region is so worth exploring if you have already been to China and know how to navigate it.
If you have more time available and can plan a three-week to thirty-day tour of China—especially now that the country has extended the free visa option to 30 days for some of us—you can combine some of the tours mentioned above or check out this article about hidden gems for a dose of travel inspiration.
2. Best Time for Traveling to China
No matter the location of your stay, April is a great month to plan your solo trip to China.
Here, the weather varies significantly between the north and the south. However, April is a good month whether you’re looking to explore the mountain landscapes of the north or the tropical jungles of southern Yunnan.
Additionally, April is a great time to travel in terms of prices, as it’s considered shoulder season (kids are in school, and people are at work), with no major holidays around.
3. Internet Connection in China
As a solo traveler, it’s essential to stay connected and able to communicate with your family and friends back home.
As you know, our Western social media platforms and standard search engines are blocked in China.
However, you can easily overcome this issue by purchasing and installing an eSIM. Airalo is a great option for an international trip where you won’t be staying longer than a month. For longer stays, purchasing a local SIM may be more price-efficient.
You won’t need a VPN if you purchase an eSIM like these. You need to ensure it’s installed and running before your departure and activate it once you land in China.
However, remember that not all phones support eSIMs. If so, you can purchase a local SIM at the airport.
If you plan on purchasing a local SIM at the airport, make sure to download and install a VPN before landing in China, as you’ll have a hard time downloading one once you’re there.
NordVPN and ExpressVPN are the best options. I used ExpressVPN during my time in China. I could always make high-quality WhatsApp or FaceTime calls and connect to all our Western social media platforms.
4. Booking your accommodation
I’ve always used Booking.com for booking hotels and hostels in China, and it has (almost) never disappointed.
Brief story time: Once, during my Gansu tour, one of our hostels was not allowed to welcome foreigners, so the staff moved us to another place without prior notification. On the same tour, however, one of the hostels we had booked didn’t even exist!
If you’re traveling along the popular routes, you shouldn’t encounter a similar problem. However, be aware that not every hostel or hotel can accommodate foreigners in some areas.
Make sure to communicate with your accommodation’s staff prior to your arrival and book hostels and hotels with many reviews.
You’ll be fine if you stay at international hotel chains, but this is something to remember if you’re venturing into more remote areas.
5. Transportation from the Airport
In China, you won’t need to book a private driver or worry about encountering scammy people at the airport.
While there will definitely be private drivers trying to encourage you to go with them and charge you double what you should pay, all you have to do is say no (不要, bù yào in Chinese) and head straight to the official taxi pickup area. There, you’ll find licensed taxis with meters.
In China, just pronouncing one or two words in chinese will make people think you know what you’re doing, discourage them to even try to scam you and make them more incline to help you.
When it comes to communicating with the driver, have your address written clearly in Chinese characters, and you might want to add (这里, zhè lǐ, the Chinese way to say “here“).
In this blog post, you can find more tips on overcoming the language barrier when traveling to China without speaking Chinese.
Alternatively, you can download DIDI, the Chinese version of Uber, to avoid the language barrier altogether.
6. Eating out Solo in China
China is one of those places where you won’t feel weird eating solo. It’s completely normal! You can download a TV series to watch, read, journal, or people-watch.
There’s so much to learn about Chinese culture just by observing how people enjoy their meals. For example, did you know that round tables are so standard in China because people like to share their food? The round table makes sharing much easier!
China is a place where you definitely won’t go hungry. There are plenty of Chinese and international food options and various restaurant styles.
I advise trying as many dishes as possible, even those that don’t look particularly inviting. My favorite dishes include kung pao chicken and fried Eggs with rice and tomato. As snacks, I love bao zi and rou jia mo.
If you’re wondering, “Eh? What is she talking about?” check out this foodie’s guide for all my tips on finding the best dining spots, ordering food without speaking Chinese, and my favorite Chinese specialties!
7. Visiting Sights Solo in China
When it comes to sights, I’d like to differentiate between two types: the major tourist attractions, which are mainly located near cities and easily accessible, and the more remote natural locations, which are not as easy to reach and often in regions where public transportation is less developed.
Major tourist Sights
I’m referring to renowned locations like the Forbidden City in Beijing, the Panda Research Base in Chengdu, and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an.
These are just a few tourist attractions worth visiting when traveling to China, and they are relatively easy to reach due to their popularity and location.
By using websites like Rome2Rio or Google Maps, you can easily find information on buses, trains, or subways to your destination.
Plan to book a guide or read up beforehand when visiting major sites like the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, or Terracotta Warriors. Understanding their history and key highlights will make your visit much more interesting, rather than wandering aimlessly.
Remote Natural Locations
Here, I’m referring to Mount Fangjing in Guizhou, the Mogao Grottoes in the Gansu region, and some of the best sections of the Great Wall.
To save time and effort, you can always book guided tours with operators like GetYourGuide or Trip, which offer many options in various locations.
If you’re a backpacker and want to test your DIY travel planning skills, you’ll meet your match in China, as reaching these places alone may require a bit more effort.
Option 1: “Hiring” a driver for the day
Ask your hotel/hostel’s staff (in advance) if they have any contact information for trusted drivers you can hire for the day.
With the help of Google Translate, a hotel staff member, and your bargaining skills, you can arrange for a driver to take you around for the day, possibly making multiple stops, and bring you back to the hotel.
You can also try the risky option to see if a taxi driver you meet the morning of your day trip can be booked as a private driver for the day. You agree on a price, and he will drive you around. That’s what I did when traveling through the Gansu region.
Option 2: Investigate Bus Routes
Investigate bus routes on Rome2Rio or ask the staff at your hotel or hostel for information. Travel times may be longer than expected, so be prepared for unexpected stops or events.
8. Getting around in China as a Solo Traveler
Subway
The subway is undoubtedly the easiest way to travel in Chinese cities. It is safe and serves nearly every corner of the city.
Ticket vending machines and the subway system generally have English signs, so you’ll always know where you are.
Purchasing tickets is simple. You will be asked to select the quantity and the fare. You can easily find the fare in your Metro app or even by using Maps on your iPhone. Just enter your destination and starting point, select “directions by subway,” and your fare will be displayed along your route.
High-Speed Trains
I love traveling by high-speed train in China. It’s fast, efficient, and surprisingly comfortable. Seats are much better than any flight’s economy class seats, and most train stations are near the city centers.
Once you’re at the station, head straight to the gate, but keep an eye on the big screen in front of you. Your train number will appear there, signaling when it’s time to move forward and go through passport control.
Skip the automatic ID check, as those machines only work with Chinese IDs. Instead, head to the manual document check, where a staff member will process your passport. Book your train tickets in advance on Trip.
Taxis
Taxis are convenient for getting around cities in China, especially when traveling from airports or train stations to your accommodation and when visiting more remote areas.
To avoid scams, get into a legitimate taxi with proper signage and a turned-on meter.
Since many drivers may not speak English, having your address written in Chinese characters can be helpful for them to read.
Lastly, while most drivers accept digital payments, it’s a good idea to carry some cash just in case your app or internet connection fails.
Buses
Buses are more affordable than taxis, especially if you need to reach remote areas. Use apps like Rome2Rio, Google Maps, or Apple Maps to understand which bus to take.
Don’t hesitate to ask your hotel or hostel staff to verify whether a specific bus goes to your desired destination; it’s always better to be sure.
When you arrive at the bus station, show the driver your destination written in Chinese to confirm you’re boarding the right bus. They will reply with their typical “OK,” one of the only English words they know.
Remember, triple-checking is the way to avoid ending up somewhere completely different than what you planned!
9. Helpful App to Download if You’re Traveling Solo
Below are some life-saving apps that may be useful during your time in China:
- Google Translate: Immediate Chinese translation
- Pleco: Chinese-English dictionary great for translating words
- Alipay: Ideal for digital payments through scanning a QR code
- DIDI: Chinese Uber to book taxi rides
- Baidu Maps: You don’t need it, but it’s just to ensure you have a plan B in case Google Maps or iPhone Maps don’t work.
- Sherpa’s: Food delivery service with English interface
- Trip: To book your train tickets, store them, and book your guided tours
- Booking: To keep track of your hotels’ contacts and addresses
- XE: To Check exchange rates if you need to withdraw money.
10. Meeting Other Foreign Travelers or Expats in China
In China, you won’t see many other Western faces, and when you do, it can feel quite strange, almost as if you’re not accustomed to it anymore.
Since COVID, it’s even less common to meet foreign travelers in major cities, but it’s still possible if you know where to look. Naturally, the further from the big cities, the harder it will be to find other foreigners.
“International Studies” Universities
These universities host a large number of international students for both short and long stays.
In these spots, you’ll probably find coffee shops and parks where students gather and study. I was among those students, and often, even while sipping coffee by myself, I ended up meeting someone new.
The expat community in China is relatively small, so no matter who you meet, they’ll likely be happy to chat and may even share some insights into local life.
Guided Tours
Guided tours are another great way to connect with other solo travelers who might also be exploring independently.
Hostels
Staying in hostels to meet other foreign travelers can be somewhat tricky, as some hostels are mainly frequented by Chinese travelers.
To increase your chances of meeting foreigners, check the reviews. If a hostel features many reviews from international guests, it’s a good sign that it’s well-known to foreigners and may offer services like English-speaking staff and organized tours.
Expats Bars
Expat bars are where I met expats and international travelers in Xi’an.
Depending on your destination, you can search for popular expat bars online and consider stopping by for a drink. Just be sure to read updated reviews, as it’s common for places in China to close or relocate.
Traveling to China alone is possible and rewarding. Compared to other Asian destinations, you just need to plan carefully and be flexible due to the language barrier. Even though I speak Chinese and know China pretty well, I’ve always encountered unexpected events, and that’s the beauty of it all.
I hope these travel tips help you plan the most fun and adventurous solo trip to China!
If you’re craving even more information, check out this travel guide. It covers everything you need to know about traveling to China, from helpful phrases to learn to the most normal culture shocks.
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