A business trip to China in 2026 is easier than ever for Europeans: most EU citizens can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, and foreign cards now work in Alipay and WeChat Pay. The trip still requires preparation, because daily life runs on Chinese apps, many Western services are blocked and supplier meetings follow their own etiquette. This survival kit covers what to set up before you fly and how to work efficiently on the ground.
Key takeaways
- Ordinary passport holders from France and most EU countries can stay in China up to 30 days per entry for business until 31 December 2026.
- China's online arrival card, available since 20 November 2025, can be filled in before landing via the NIA 12367 app or a mini program.
- Alipay and WeChat Pay accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards; transactions above RMB 200 typically carry a 3 percent fee.
- Google, WhatsApp and most Western social networks are blocked on local networks; an eSIM or roaming plan from a foreign carrier keeps them accessible.
- WeChat is the standard channel for talking to suppliers, sending photos and confirming orders.
- High-speed trains connect the main sourcing hubs: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Yiwu, Shanghai and Ningbo.
Do you need a visa?
For most European importers, no. China's unilateral visa-exemption list, last updated in early 2026, covers 50 countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Austria, Sweden and most other EU members, plus Switzerland, Norway and the UK. Holders of ordinary passports can stay up to 30 days per entry for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit. The policy runs until 31 December 2026.
A few EU nationalities were not on the list in 2026, so check the National Immigration Administration list for your passport. Alternatives are the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, which requires an onward ticket to a third country or region (Hong Kong counts), and the M business visa, which requires an invitation letter.
Visa-free entry covers meetings, trade fairs and factory visits, but not paid work in China. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months. For trade-fair-specific details, see our Canton Fair registration, badge and visa guide.
Which apps should you install before you fly?
Install and test these at home, where app stores and verification codes work smoothly.
| Need | App | Tip |
|---|
| Payments | Alipay | Verify your passport and link a Visa or Mastercard |
| Messaging and payments | WeChat | Needed for supplier chats; add WeChat Pay as backup |
| Taxis | DiDi (or inside Alipay) | Has an English interface and shows the fare upfront |
| Maps | Amap or Baidu Maps | Far more accurate than Western maps in China |
| Translation | A translation app with offline Chinese and camera mode | Useful for menus, signs and product labels |
| Trains | 12306 or Trip.com | Book high-speed trains with your passport |
| Arrival | NIA 12367 | Fill in the online arrival card before landing |
| Connectivity | Your eSIM provider's app | Activate before departure |
How do payments work for foreigners?
China is largely cashless, and QR payments are used everywhere from taxis to street food. Since 2024, the two big wallets have opened to foreign cards, and Ant Group raised the single-transaction cap for foreign cards to about 5,000 US dollars and the annual cap to about 50,000 US dollars. Limits and fees change, so check the app before you travel.
- Install Alipay and register with your foreign mobile number.
- Add your passport details and complete identity verification.
- Link a Visa or Mastercard; your bank may ask for 3D Secure confirmation.
- Make a small test payment before leaving Europe if possible.
- Repeat in WeChat Pay as a backup.
Practical points:
- Payments of RMB 200 or less are typically fee-free; larger ones usually carry a 3 percent fee.
- Carry RMB 500 to 1,000 in cash for emergencies and small vendors.
- Hotels and many large stores accept international cards directly.
- Do not use these wallets to pay suppliers for orders; use bank transfers to company accounts, as explained in how to pay Chinese suppliers safely.
How do you stay connected?
On Chinese networks and hotel Wi-Fi, Google (Gmail, Maps, Drive), WhatsApp, Instagram and many news sites are blocked. The most common solution for business travellers is an international eSIM or the roaming plan of a European carrier, because data is routed abroad. Data packages for 7 to 15 days typically cost between 10 and 40 euros.
Before departure, download offline copies of contracts, specifications and presentations, and give your key suppliers a WeChat ID rather than an email address: many Chinese sales teams answer WeChat within minutes and email within days.
How do you get around between sourcing hubs?
| Route | Mode | Typical time |
|---|
| Hong Kong West Kowloon - Guangzhou South | High-speed train | About 50 min |
| Guangzhou - Shenzhen | High-speed train | About 30-40 min |
| Shanghai Hongqiao - Yiwu | High-speed train | About 1 h 40 min to 2 h |
| Hangzhou East - Yiwu | High-speed train | About 30-40 min |
| Guangzhou - Shanghai | Domestic flight | About 2 h 15 min |
| Shanghai - Ningbo | High-speed train | About 2 h |
Trains are punctual and comfortable; book a few days ahead during peak periods such as the Canton Fair or the October Golden Week (1-7 October). Bring your passport, which serves as your ticket. Within cities, metros are cheap and signposted in English, and DiDi is the easiest way to reach factories in industrial zones.
If your trip includes Yiwu, our Yiwu market guide explains the districts and buying process.
What business etiquette should you follow?
Business relationships in China, often called guanxi, are built on trust and repeated contact.
- Business cards: offer and receive them with both hands, and take a moment to read the card.
- Hierarchy: greet the most senior person first; decisions often sit with the boss, not the salesperson.
- Meals: suppliers may invite you to lunch or dinner; accept when possible, as it builds trust. Toasting is common; you can toast with tea.
- Saving face: avoid criticising someone publicly. Raise problems privately and calmly, with facts and photos.
- Gifts: a modest specialty from your region is welcome. Avoid clocks and sets of four.
- Written confirmation: verbal agreements are not enough; confirm everything in writing after the meeting.
How should you prepare a factory visit?
A factory visit is the best way to verify a supplier. To make it useful:
- Confirm the visit and the exact address a few days in advance, in Chinese.
- Ask to see the production line for your product, raw material storage and the quality control area.
- Check that the company name on the gate matches the business licence and the bank account.
- Count production lines and workers, and ask about current clients exporting to Europe.
- Take photos (with permission) and write a short visit report the same day.
Our first-visit checklist has a packing list that also works for factory trips, and our Canton Fair 2026 complete guide explains how to combine the fair with factory visits.
How Cina helps
Cina's China survival kit guide, available in Cina resources, goes deeper into apps, payments, transport and etiquette for business travellers. The supplier directory helps you plan factory visits by region, and the warehouses in China directory lists consolidation and storage options near the main hubs. When it is time to ship, the freight forwarders directory helps you compare logistics partners.
Conclusion
A productive China business trip comes down to three things set up in advance: entry rights, payment apps and connectivity. With visa-free access for most EU citizens through 2026, foreign cards in Alipay and WeChat Pay, and fast trains between hubs, practical barriers have never been lower. Focus your energy on meeting suppliers face to face, verifying factories and confirming everything in writing.
