🇨🇳 China
Visa-free for Australians — a policy change most people missed.
China added Australia to its unilateral visa-free list in 2024, and stays now run to 30 days. The bigger planning issue isn't the border, it's connectivity and payments: Google, WhatsApp and most Australian apps are blocked, and daily life runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay.
Your China trip setup
22 things Australians need to sort. Tick them off as you go.
Entry requirements
Visa-free (unilateral policy for Australians)Up to Up to 30 days per entry View detailsConnectivity
Compare 8 plansFrom $9 Compare eSIMsTravel insurance
Compare 5 policysFrom $20 Compare insuranceMoney & payments
Compare 5 cards0.43% – 0.65% conversion fee Compare cardsAirport transfer
PVG → ShanghaiFrom $1.50 Compare optionsDriving
IDP not validDrives on the right Compare car hireTravel essentials
No adapter neededTap water: not safe to drink View guideThings to do
Compare 5 experiencesFrom $60 Explore activitiesChina at a glance for Australians
Best time to visit
April – May and September – October
Avoid Golden Week (first week of October) and Lunar New Year — domestic travel volumes are extraordinary.
10h 30m to Shanghai from Sydney (direct)
Health & safety
Smartraveller: Exercise a high degree of caution
No reciprocal agreement. International-standard hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai are expensive and require payment upfront.
Emergency: 110 police / 120 ambulance
Money
Foreign credit cards are accepted at international hotels and little else. Alipay and WeChat Pay run everyday life.
Available at major banks. Bank of China and ICBC ATMs are the most reliable for foreign cards.
Tipping: Not customary and sometimes refused. High-end hotels and tour guides catering to foreigners are the exception.
Language & culture
Mandarin Chinese
English: Limited outside international hotels — translation apps are essential
Capital: Beijing
Australian dollar to Chinese yuan (renminbi)
¥4.81 CNY per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates — the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
Where Australians go in China
Shanghai
Beijing
Guangzhou
Chengdu
Xi'an
China FAQs for Australian travellers
Do Australians need a visa for China?
Not for stays up to 30 days. China added Australia to its unilateral visa-free list in 2024, covering tourism, business and family visits. The policy has been extended repeatedly and currently runs through the end of 2026, but because it's unilateral it can change — confirm before you book.
Will my phone work in China?
It will connect, but Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook are blocked on Chinese networks. An international roaming eSIM usually routes traffic through a gateway outside China so those services keep working — check the provider says so explicitly. A local Chinese SIM won't.
How do I pay for things in China as an Australian?
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and link your Australian Visa or Mastercard before you leave. Both now accept foreign cards, and almost all everyday transactions run through them. Cash is increasingly refused and foreign credit cards are only accepted at international hotels.
Do I need a power adapter for China?
Usually not. Chinese sockets commonly use the Type I plug, the same shape as Australia's, and often accept several pin types. Voltage is 220V, close enough to Australia's 230V.
Can I drive in China on my Australian licence?
No. China doesn't recognise International Driving Permits at all. You'd need a temporary Chinese permit, available at some airports and vehicle administration offices. Most visitors use Didi, the metro and high-speed rail instead.
Watching China?
We'll email you if the visa, arrival card or entry fee rules change for Australian passport holders travelling to China.