Travelling to China from Australia. The Lowdown

China is one of the oldest civilisations on Earth and draws millions of tourists from around the world each year. With its millennia of history showcased across many key sights around the country, tourists can also experience China’s extraordinary industrial growth by getting lost in some of the world's largest megacities.

While Australians had to stop visiting China during the pandemic, the borders are back open to Australian tourists who want to see some of the world's greatest sites. Let us take you through a guide of how to travel to China from Australia as a tourist.

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China entry requirement for Australians and Australia residents

While booking a flight to China is relatively easy, the entry requirements to meet for Australians requires a bit more effort. Here's what you need to know.

Do Australians or Australia residents need a visa to visit China

All Australian citizens require a visa to visit China even as a tourist.¹ The only nationalities that can enter mainland China visa-free are those from Singapore, Brunei or Japan.² This means Australian residents will need to apply for a visa to visit China and processes will vary on the passport held.¹

Customs in China

There are strict laws around how much foreign currency can be brought in and out of China. All amounts over $5,000 USD in any currency must be declared and shown to a customs officer.

You also must not leave China with more than $10,000 USD. When entering China and travelling around, you should always have your ID on you to show on request.¹ Make sure to check for updated information of custom requirements before you leave.

How to apply for Visas, e-visas or entry permits

To make the process of applying for a visa as streamlined as possible, you must be prepared. There are many visas available to visit China for various purposes, so choosing the right one is crucial.

To travel to China as a tourist, you’ll need to apply for an L Visa. The hardest part of the visa process is making sure you have all the correct documents. Here is a list of documents you’ll need³:

• Original passport
• Copy of your passport
• Application form
• Photo meeting the required specifications
• Your last passport if issued after 2015
• Copies of previous Chinese visas
• Itinerary of your trip (hotels, tours, or air tickets)
• Invitation letter
• Payment authorisation form (mail only)

For Australian residents that do not hold an Australian passport, you should have a copy of your Australian Visa or VEVO ready to attach to the application. The invitation letter is a key document to check over to make sure that it has all the necessary details to be assessed. Each invitation letter should contain³:

• The applicants full details
• All information about the visit including purpose, arrival and departure
• Any relations with the inviting entity or individual
• Source of financial means to cover trip
• Inviting entities full details

To apply, you can either make your application in person or send your application via mail to a Chinese Visa Service centre. It is recommended to apply at least a month before you visit China.⁴

In person application

There are six visa service centres that you can choose to apply in person. You can visit a centre in⁵:

• Brisbane
• Sydney
• Adelaide
• Canberra
• Perth
• Melbourne

No appointment is required. Urgent applications can be processed in person as long as you visit a centre before midday. You’ll be asked to provide your fingerprints and will be given a time to come back and pick up your passport. It usually takes around 4 working days to have your application processed.⁴

By mail

If you want to mail your application to a visa service centre, be sure to have sufficient time to receive your passport back. Postal applications can take 10 working days to be processed. Queensland residents are exempt from having to provide their fingerprints and have the option to choose a two-way postal service.⁶

Costs for entry and required permits

The cost of a Chinese visa for Australian citizens depends on how fast you want your application processed, how many entries you need and whether you apply in person or by mail.

Here's a breakdown of the different fees in Australian Dollars – AUD.⁷

Entries	Standard processing	Express processing	Rushed processing	Mail
Single	$94.50	$175	$194	$116.50
Double	$117.50	$197	$217	$139.50
Multiple over 6 months	$139.50	$184.50	$239	$161.50
Multiple over 12 months	$152	$242	$284	$206.50

Fees as of 20th June 2024

For Australian residents who hold another passport, the fees will vary depending on where your passport is from.

Vaccinations required to travel to China from Australia

There are certain vaccinations that you should get before travelling to China that sit outside the routine vaccinations. These vaccines include⁸:

• Hepatitis A
• Japanese encephalitis
• Typhoid

On top of these vaccines, the Australian Government Smartraveller website advises you to pay attention to potential health risks depending on the time of year or where you travel to in China¹. You can see the full list of health concerns here.

Note also that during the warmer weather, the risk of contracting malaria grows significantly across a range of provinces.

As of the time of writing, there are no COVID-19 requirements to enter China.¹

Flying to China from Australia

There are 13 direct flight routes from Sydney, 7 from Melbourne and 2 from Brisbane. Depending on where you fly will determine the flight times. Flights to the capital Beijing are between 11 and 12 hours, depending on your port of departure in Australia. Here are the direct routes you can travel from Australia.

Departure city	Routes available
Sydney	Beijing Qingdao Guangzhou Hangzhou Jinan Nanjing Shanghai Shenzhen Wuhan Haikou Chengdu Chongqing Zhengzhou Xiamen
Melbourne	Beijing Qingdao Guangzhou Shanghai Haikou Chengdu Xiamen
Brisbane	Guangzhou Shanghai

There are other routes available departing from other cities in Australia. Since COVID, the number of flights and routes from Australia to China are expanding, but are still not at pre-pandemic levels.¹

Currency in China and accepted payment methods

The currency used in China is the Chinese Yuan (CNY) or its official name, the Chinese Renminbi (RMB). China is quickly moving towards a cashless society where digital wallets and cards are the preferred payment method. You may need to have some cash ready though if you venture into any rural areas or visit some of the local markets.¹

English spoken

The official language in China is Mandarin. However there are different dialects across the country. Aussie tourists will find that English is only available at some of the major tourist sites, and can pose a barrier when getting around.

Useful apps to have before travelling to China

There are several helpful apps that should be downloaded before you leave Australia.

WeChat

WeChat is a must have app when travelling within China. WeChat is used for social media, mobile payments and instant messaging. It is especially useful to make contact with locals about tours or experiences.

Waygo

You’ll quickly realise soon after you touch down that you’ll be surrounded by a language that you don't recognise or understand. Waygo is an extremely useful app that can translate Mandarin to English. This will definitely come in handy when you want to translate any signage or menus.

Baidu Maps

For reasons we’ll explain shortly, you are going to need an app that helps stop you from getting lost. Baidu maps is an app that uses artificial intelligence to find the best routes to get you from A to B, or get you to where you need to be.

DiDi

DiDi is the Chinese equivalent ride-sharing app that is a great app to have when you need to get across the city quickly or aren’t up for public transport.

Dianping

If you want a way to suss out the best restaurants or be able to quickly find shops or other services, this app lets you check out the best reviewed options in Chinese cities.

You may be wondering why you can’t just use Facebook or Google maps on your trip instead of downloading the Chinese alternatives. One thing that may surprise you about China is that your usual apps like Facebook, Youtube, and Google are inaccessible. This could mean a brief social media hiatus for you to really get into Chinese culture.

Top tourist locations in China

Due to the sheer size of the country, there is plenty to see and do for tourists. For first time visitors though, it's always good to see the top tourist locations that put China on travellers bucket lists. Some of these include:

• The Great Wall of China
• The Forbidden City
• Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum
• Summer Palace
• The Bund in Shanghai
• Leshan Giant Buddha

These are just a handful of standout tourist locations. China’s rich, long history means that each region and major city is filled with unique experiences and historical sites.

Hidden “non-touristy” locations to visit

If you’re the type longing for experiences away from the big crowds, you’ll be pleased to know that there is an endless list of non-touristy locations to visit across China. You could visit:

• Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
• Xi Lake
• Jiuzhai Valley National Park
• Xunliao Bay
• Fenghuang Ancient Town

These locations, and others that sit largely outside the major known cities of China may require more planning to get to. If you do choose to travel to a non-touristy or unusual area in China, you should first check if it is open to foreigners, especially if near any military areas.¹

Local etiquette or customs to respect

Wherever you travel that the locals speak a different language to you, it’s always nice to learn the basic phrases. Politeness and respect for elders or seniority is highly valued in Chinese culture.

Safety in China

Overall China is a safe country to visit, but you should exercise extra caution on your trip. You should be aware of a few things that could impact your trip.¹

Scams & Petty Crime

While violent crime is not a big issue for tourists, petty crime such as pickpocketing occurs in crowded areas or transport hubs. Scams targeting visitors are also a big issue in China. A common scam to watch out for is when someone asks you to practise speaking English with them.¹

Natural Disasters

Various regions across China can experience natural disasters and severe weather such as¹:

• typhoons
• earthquakes
• tsunamis

While these events are unpredictable, typhoons tend to be seasonal. You can research the best time of year visit to best avoid any weather related trip disruptions.

Getting around in China

Getting around China is relatively easy with plenty of transport options that are suitable for all types of budgets. Taxis, buses and train systems operate in all large cities. Similarly, you can travel by land transport to move between towns and cities or choose to fly on one of the many Chinese domestic airlines.¹

Keep in mind before you leave

Before any overseas travel, there are a few things to do before you leave. You should:

• Check the official Australian travel advisory SmartTraveller
• Inform your bank of your overseas travel plans
• Buy travel insurance to cover unforeseen issues¹

Also give your friends or family your planned itinerary and overseas contact details.

China embassy addresses and contacts in Australia

Here is where you can find the China Embassy and Consulates in Australia.

Embassy or Consulate	Address	State	Phone
Embassy of the People's Republic of China	15 Coronation Dr, Yarralumla	ACT	+61 02 6228 3998
Consulate-General	39 Dunblane Street, Camperdown	NSW	+61 02 85958064
Consulate-General	75-77 Irving Road , Toorak,	VIC	+61 03 9822 0604
Consulate-General	Level 9, 79 Adelaide Street , Brisbane, QLD 4000	QLD	+61 07 3210 6509
Consulate-General	83 Fifth Avenue , Joslin, SA 5070	SA	08 8268 8807
Consulate-General	45 Brown Street , East Perth, WA 6004	WA	+61 08 9221 7513

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Sources:

1. Smart Traveller China
2. China Embassy Visa for China
3. China L Visa process
4. China Visa FAQs,
5. China visa process
6. China Visa Mail
7. China Visa fees
8. Australia Health travel vaccines

Sources checked on: 20 June 2024