Why I Recommend Traveling in China: The Surprising Comfort of a Surveillance Society, and Reasons to Go

Whenever I say "I'm thinking of going to China," the reply is always "Isn't it dangerous?" or "Won't you get arrested?"

I've traveled to many places around the world. In China, I spent a month visiting 11 cities.

In this article, based on that experience, I'll write about the appeal and reality of traveling in China, along with the preparation you need and what to watch out for before you go.

Conclusion

Having been to many countries, the destination I feel I can recommend to anyone is China.

As you know, it has plenty of famous sights, and beyond that, it offers an environment where you can get around comfortably. On the other hand, it does require some unusual preparation before you go.

I'll cover the good points on safety, language, money, and transportation, and then the things you should know before you go.

Cities Are Safe Thanks to Surveillance Cameras

A chick doctor walks with a relieved face down a wide street at night, watched over by many surveillance cameras lined up on every lamppost

First, safety. Having actually been there, I felt that the cities are safer than Japan's busy downtown districts.

The reason is simple: there are surveillance cameras everywhere. The moment you land at the airport, you're greeted by so many cameras that you can't help laughing.

They're all over the city streets, of course, and even along the roads there are cameras at regular intervals that flash brightly, something like speed cameras. My honest impression was, "With that much surveillance, nobody would even feel like doing anything wrong."

You Don't Need English or Chinese

In a crowded daytime market, a chick doctor raises one hand in a quick greeting, and little birds of different colors smile and wave back

Next, language. You can get around even if you speak neither English nor Chinese.

Many people say they're worried about being understood. In reality, English is almost never understood. Young people in the cities may be a different story, but with people on the street, it's best to assume that even "hello" won't get through.

But there's no need to worry. I traveled for a month knowing only "ni hao" and "xie xie," and had no problems at all.

A little bird of a different color running a street stall holds out a smartphone and uses gestures to try to understand the chick doctor's order

For one thing, automation is even more advanced than in Japan, so you hardly ever need to talk to staff in the first place.

For another, there's the people. You can think of the Chinese mentality as being close to that of the Japanese.

When I traveled in Europe, conversations went ahead on the assumption that I spoke English. If I couldn't, things got quite difficult, and people often wouldn't wait for me.

In China, the other person will take out their own phone and use a translation app for you. They'll also wait while you get yours ready. If you're stuck, you can just use a translation app, and gestures work too.

Low Prices and Cashless Payments

A chick doctor has a large round table with a whole Peking duck all to themselves, pressing their hands together in satisfaction

Moving on to money: prices are low, and you can pay with QR code payments.

First, prices are low. When I went in 2025, they were as follows.

Peking duck restaurant: about ¥3,000 for a whole table to myself
Ritz-Carlton (Chengdu): about ¥30,000 per night
Water (500 ml): about ¥20
Taxi: between ¥1,000 and ¥2,000, even all the way to the airport

At a budget hotel's coin laundry, a chick doctor holds a smartphone up to a small square pattern beside the washing machine, smiling with their coin purse set aside

And it's completely cashless. From the coin laundry at a budget hotel to street stalls by the roadside, you can pay with a QR code. The hassle of cash that you feel at street stalls in Taiwan or Southeast Asia simply doesn't exist.

Cheap High-Speed Trains to Everywhere

A chick doctor gazes excitedly out the window of a speeding high-speed train at a range of mountains with strange rock formations, a suitcase beside them

The last of the good points is transportation. China is crisscrossed by high-speed rail lines, so you can travel smoothly to the major tourist spots. Even Beijing to Xi'an (about 1,100 km, roughly the distance from Tokyo to Kagoshima in southern Japan) costs around ¥10,000.

Also, there are direct flights to China from all over Japan, and getting there is much cheaper than going to Europe.

Be Careful With Preparation Before You Go

At home before departure, a chick doctor sits by an open suitcase, carefully setting things up with a smartphone and a credit card laid out side by side

From here on are the things you should know before you go. Compared with traveling in places like Southeast Asia, you need some slightly unusual preparation.

Payment App (Alipay or WeChat Pay)

Almost nobody uses cash. Some shops accept credit cards, but many don't, and even when they do, your card sometimes won't work.

What people use instead are QR code payment apps, and honestly, without one you can't get by. Even at shops where you can't use your card directly, you can pay by linking your card to the app. You don't need to load money in advance.

A chick doctor holds a small shopping bag and a large shopping bag in each hand, comparing them, planning to pay for the small one with a smartphone and the large one with a card

I was even able to link a Mercard (a JCB card issued by the Japanese flea-market app Mercari) to Alipay, so most cards should work.

I think either Alipay or WeChat Pay is fine. I tried both, and personally found Alipay simpler and easier to use.

Alipay's fee is free for payments under 200 yuan (about ¥4,000) and 3% above that. Your card's own fees apply separately. You'll rarely spend over 200 yuan at a shop, and when you do, cards are often accepted, so I recommend paying by card in those cases.

Internet Access (Google Doesn't Work)

A chick doctor holds up a smartphone in front of a towering stone wall, looking at a small glowing globe at the end of a narrow tunnel running under the wall

In China, Google and other services you use in Japan are blocked. To use them, you need a VPN that routes your connection through servers in other countries. Look into this and sign up before you leave.

For maps, Google Maps is useless, so you'll need local apps such as Baidu Maps. These can be downloaded even after you arrive.

Passport (Carry It at All Times)

In the baggage screening line at a station entrance, a chick doctor hands over a passport and places a suitcase on the inspection machine

Boarding high-speed trains and entering tourist sites involves airport-level security checks: a passport scan and a baggage inspection. You'll be asked for it in many places, so carry it with you at all times.

WeChat (Contacting Your Hotel)

WeChat (Weixin) is a messaging app. Some hotels use WeChat to communicate before and after check-in, for things like letting them know your arrival time or sharing the Wi-Fi password.

Power Banks on Domestic Flights

At an airport security checkpoint, a staff member, a little bird of a different color, takes away a small power bank while the chick doctor's shoulders slump

Since June 28, 2025, power banks without the 3C mark (China Compulsory Certification) can't be brought onto domestic flights in China. This measure followed fires on board aircraft, and such power banks are confiscated at security. Mine was confiscated for this reason.

International flights (Tokyo → Beijing) are fine, but you'll get caught on domestic flights (such as Beijing → Chengdu). For getting around within the country, high-speed trains are the safer choice.

A Comfortable Destination If You Prepare

On top of an old city wall, a chick doctor holds nothing but a smartphone, looking out with satisfaction over the wall path and cityscape stretching into the distance

To sum up, China is a destination that's safe, doesn't require the language, has low prices, and lets you travel everywhere by high-speed train.

There seem to be a lot of caveats, but the payment app, internet access, passport, WeChat, and power bank can all be taken care of with preparation before you leave.

The key is whether you can get your payment app and internet access sorted out before departure. As long as you're prepared, China is a surprisingly comfortable and exciting place to travel.

Don't dismiss it before you've tried it. Please visit at least once.