One of the biggest things holding people back from visiting China is the language barrier. But not speaking Chinese doesn’t mean you can’t travel around the country.

What if I don’t speak Chinese?

At airports, train stations, and major tourist attractions, you’ll find English signs to help you navigate.

The main apps you’ll use in China — WeChat, Alipay, AMap, and Trip.com are all available in English.

Translation tools such as Apple Translate are useful for everyday communication. You can use voice translation for conversations and camera translation for signs and menus.

It’s a good idea to download an offline language pack before your trip so you can still use it when your internet connection isn’t working.

In big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, you’ll also meet people who speak English. And trust me, Chinese people are usually very willing to help when they see a confused foreigner, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Save names and addresses in Chinese

Save both the English and Chinese names and addresses of your hotel and the places you plan to visit. When you need help, you can simply show it to a driver or someone nearby.

Learning a little Chinese

You can travel around China without speaking Chinese, but knowing even a little will make the experience more personal and much more fun:

• Hello.
  Nǐ hǎo. - or simply say “hello”, people in China use it too. :)
  你好。

• Thank you.
  Xièxie.
  谢谢。

• Excuse me / Sorry.
  Bù hǎoyìsi.
  不好意思。

• No, thank you.
  Bú yòng le, xièxie.
  不用了。

• Wait a moment.
  Děng yíxià.
  等一下。

• See more phrases you can use at a restaurant →

You don’t have to be fluent, and your pronunciation doesn’t need to be perfect — people will appreciate the effort and often be more excited to talk to you.

So don’t let the language barrier hold you back. Once you’re here, you’ll find ways to communicate. You might get lost, but you’ll figure it out. There will be problems, but there will also be people willing to help.

What to expect from people

The people you meet may end up being one of the most memorable parts of your trip.

After visiting China, many of my students tell me the same thing: they didn’t expect Chinese people to be so warm and welcoming.

If someone sees you looking confused, they may come over and ask whether you need help. Even if they don’t speak English, they will still try. They might use a translation app, point you in the right direction, or even walk you to where you need to go.

Maybe hospitality is just in our DNA. There’s a famous saying by Confucius:

• 有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？
  Yǒu péng zì yuǎnfāng lái, bù yì lè hū?
  Isn’t it a joy to have friends coming from afar?

You’ll often experience that sense of hospitality in China. People may offer you tea, share food with you, or simply be excited that you chose to visit their country.

Hospitality and curiosity

You should also be prepared for the other side of that hospitality: curiosity.

People may look at you, try to start a conversation, ask to take a photo with you, or ask personal questions such as how old you are.

They usually aren’t trying to make you uncomfortable. They’re simply curious. But if you don’t want to take a photo or answer a question, it’s perfectly fine to say no.

Cultural differences

Some visitors worry that they’ll accidentally say or do something offensive.

You don’t need to be too nervous about this. People understand that you’re visiting from another country and won’t expect you to know every custom. As long as you’re polite and respectful, you’ll be fine.

I believe people who choose to visit China are already open-minded and willing to learn. When something feels unfamiliar or strange, try to see it as part of the experience—an opportunity to understand the culture better. After all, that’s part of why we travel.