What foreign travellers actually need to check for a domestic flight.
Foreigners can book and board domestic flights in China using their passport. Enter the name and number exactly as they appear in the passport, and present the passport original at the airport as your ID. Baggage allowances vary by airline and fare class, so the reliable move is to check the conditions of the specific flight you booked.
Yes. Foreign travellers can book and board domestic flights using passport details. The important part is entering the English name and passport number exactly as printed.
A single wrong letter can cause trouble at the check-in desk. Confirm that the ticket matches the passport precisely before paying.
Conditions vary a lot by route, time and fare, so it pays to check these at the booking stage.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Baggage allowance | Differs by fare class |
| Cabin bag size | Oversize means a fee at the airport |
| Airport transfer time | Airports can be far from the city |
| Change and refund terms | In case your dates move |
Domestic baggage rules can differ from international ones, and even within an airline they follow the fare class. Cheap fares in particular sometimes exclude checked baggage.
Liquid limits for cabin bags apply much as they do internationally. Power banks usually cannot go in checked baggage and are cabin-only, so sort your bag before you leave.
Domestic check-in in China runs on the passport original. It is easy to assume a domestic flight needs no passport, but for a foreign traveller the passport is the ID.
Domestic formalities are quicker than international, but large Chinese airports are wide and walking takes time. Arriving two hours before departure is a sensible baseline.
Check-in counters and gate locations are available on the airline app or airport signage.
In China, high-speed rail is often the better choice. Airports tend to sit far from the centre, and check-in plus transfers add up.
For long distances or difficult terrain, flying is clearly faster. Real itineraries usually mix the two.
| Situation | Usually better |
|---|---|
| Between cities, within 4-5 hours | High-speed rail |
| Long distance or rough terrain | Flight |
| Airport far from the city | High-speed rail |
| Tight schedule | Flight, with minimal city transfer |
Intercity legs usually mix air and rail, and getting the booking order wrong pushes the whole itinerary back. An operator running its own vehicles and guides in China, such as JoyoTour, works out which mode suits each leg and books it alongside the rest.
JoyoTour offers pickup in whichever Chinese city you arrive, and links cities by high-speed rail and domestic flights, including the transfer from airport or station to your hotel.
Updated: 2026-10-08 · Getting around
Yes. Book with passport details and present the passport original at the airport, making sure the English name and number match exactly.
For a foreign traveller the passport is the ID. Bring the original.
It depends on the airline and fare class. Budget fares may exclude checked baggage, so check your specific flight.
Usually cabin only, not in checked baggage. Sort your bags before departure.
You can hail a taxi on the street in China, but using a ride-hailing app is far safer: you set the destination on a map and the app handles the fare and the payment, which removes most of the language problem and much of the room for dispute.
Read the answerChina does not have a tipping culture in the sense most travellers know. Tipping in restaurants and taxis is not the norm and no service charge is added to the bill. Thanking your guide and driver is entirely up to you and never required, and costs not included in your quote should not be asked for at all.
Read the answerThe right measure is not how many cities you list but how much time transfers eat. Distances in China are long, and every extra city costs roughly half a day of travel. For a first visit, two cities in 7 to 9 days is a reasonable start; focusing deeply on one region works in 5 to 7 days.
Read the answerAim to start at least two to three months ahead. The usual order is to fix flights first, then build hotels and intercity travel around those dates. Chinese public holidays compress availability sharply, so either avoid those windows or start much earlier.
Read the answerAlways re-check the latest conditions on the official sites before you travel.
Message us on WhatsApp or email with the basics and your dedicated planner will send a draft itinerary and estimate within 24 hours.
There is no form here. Use the channels below and your dedicated planner will reply personally.