First Time in Sichuan? 15 Things to Know Before You Go

So you've booked your flights to Chengdu. You've seen the panda videos. You've heard the hot pot legends. But Sichuan operates on its own rhythm — and the gap between what travel blogs tell you and what actually matters on the ground can be wide. Here are 15 things we tell every first-time client, distilled from 40 years of watching travelers get it right (and sometimes wrong).

1. China Runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay — Cash Is Awkward

China is a cashless society. Street vendors, taxi drivers, even temple donation boxes use QR codes. Set up Alipay International before you leave home — link your foreign credit card (Visa/Mastercard work), complete identity verification, and you're set. WeChat Pay also works but has stricter verification for foreigners. Carry ¥500 cash as backup, but you'll likely never use it.

2. Get Your VPN Sorted Before Departure

Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, Gmail, Google Maps — all blocked without a VPN. Install and test your VPN before you leave your home country. AstrillVPN and LetsVPN are the most reliable inside China. Download the apps, pay for a month, and confirm it works at home first. You cannot download VPN apps once you're inside China (their websites are blocked). If your VPN fails, you'll be offline from your usual digital life for the entire trip.

3. eSIMs Are Easier Than Physical SIMs

Skip the airport SIM card shuffle. Services like Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad offer China eSIMs with generous data (5–20 GB) starting around $8. They route through Hong Kong or Singapore servers, which means they bypass the Great Firewall — your Instagram and WhatsApp work without a VPN on these eSIMs. Activate before you land, or connect to airport Wi-Fi to activate. If you need a local phone number (for Didi ride-hailing verification, for example), get a physical China SIM, but know that it won't bypass the firewall.

4. Google Maps Doesn't Work. Use These Instead.

Google Maps is wildly inaccurate in China — streets are offset by hundreds of meters. Use Apple Maps (if you have an iPhone — it uses local map data and works perfectly), Baidu Maps (Chinese-only but extremely accurate), or Amap / Gaode Maps (also Chinese-only). For public transit directions in English, Metroman covers Chengdu's ever-expanding metro system.

5. English Is Rare — Download a Translation App

Outside of 5-star hotel lobbies and the Panda Base ticket counter, English speakers are scarce. Restaurant menus, street signs, and taxi drivers operate entirely in Chinese. Download Google Translate (offline Chinese pack before you go), Pleco (the best Chinese-English dictionary), or iTranslate. The camera translation feature — point your phone at a menu and see English overlaid on screen — is a game-changer. Also, save your hotel's address in Chinese characters as a screenshot for taxi drivers.

6. Altitude Is Real — Plan Your Itinerary Accordingly

Chengdu sits at a comfortable 500m (1,640 ft). But within a few hours' drive west, you're in the Tibetan Plateau — Kangding at 2,560m, Tagong at 3,700m, and some passes above 4,500m (14,800 ft). Altitude sickness hits fast if you drive straight up. Headaches, nausea, and shortness of breath are common above 3,000m. Build in an acclimatization day. If you're heading to Jiuzhaigou (2,000–3,000m), spend a night in Chengdu or Songpan first. Drink water constantly, avoid alcohol the first night at altitude, and tell your guide immediately if you feel unwell.

7. Toilets: Carry Your Own Paper (and Nose)

Chinese public toilets are ubiquitous but basic. Most are squat-style. Toilet paper and soap are rarely provided — pack a small pack of tissues and hand sanitizer in your day bag. In rural areas and highway rest stops, conditions can be challenging. Western-style toilets exist in hotels, nicer restaurants, and major tourist sites, but don't count on them everywhere. This isn't a complaint — it's just reality, and being prepared makes it a non-issue.

8. Tipping Doesn't Exist — And It's Not Rude Not To

There is zero tipping culture in China. Not in restaurants, not for taxi drivers, not for tour guides (unless you booked through a Western platform that explicitly adds tips). Leaving money on the table will confuse people — they'll chase you down the street to return it. If you want to show appreciation to a guide, a small gift from your home country goes further than cash.

9. Chopstick Etiquette: Don't Stick Them Upright in Rice

A few quick rules so you don't accidentally offend at the dinner table: Never stick chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice — this resembles incense at a funeral and is deeply taboo. Don't point at people with chopsticks. Don't spear food (chopsticks are for pinching, not stabbing). When serving yourself from shared dishes, use the serving chopsticks (公筷, gōng kuài) if provided — this is standard post-COVID practice. And yes, slurping noodles is completely normal.

10. Hot Pot Spice Levels: "Slightly Spicy" Doesn't Mean What You Think

Sichuan cuisine isn't just spicy — it's málà (麻辣): the combination of chili heat and Sichuan pepper numbness that makes your lips tingle. When a local says "not very spicy" (不太辣, bù tài là), they mean "only mildly numbing." If you're spice-sensitive, say "wēi là" (微辣, micro-spicy) or ask for yuānyāng guō (鸳鸯锅) — the split pot with one side mild broth, one side spicy. Pro tip: drink warm tea, not cold beer, to cool the burn. Cold drinks make the oil congeal in your mouth.

11. Train Tickets: Book Early, Bring Your Passport

China's high-speed trains are world-class — Chengdu to Chongqing in 1.5 hours, Chengdu to Xi'an in 3.5 hours. But tickets sell out days in advance during holidays and weekends. Book through Trip.com (formerly Ctrip) or 12306.cn (the official site, English version available). You'll need your passport number to book, and you must carry that same physical passport to the station — digital copies aren't accepted at the gate. Tickets open for sale 15 days before departure. Set a reminder.

12. Hotels Register You With the Police — It's Normal

Every hotel in China is required by law to register foreign guests with the local Public Security Bureau (PSB). They'll scan your passport, take a photo, and file the registration. This is routine and applies to every foreign traveler. Small, budget guesthouses sometimes lack the license to host foreigners — if you're booking independently, look for "accepts foreign guests" (接待外宾) or book through a platform that filters for it. If you need a visa guide, our 144-hour visa-free guide covers entry requirements in detail.

13. Don't Drink the Tap Water — Ever

Tap water in China is not potable, including in Chengdu. Even locals boil it or drink bottled water. Hotels provide complimentary bottled water (usually 2 bottles per day). Buy extra at convenience stores — a 1.5L bottle costs ¥3–5 (under $1). Use bottled water for brushing your teeth too. Ice in reputable restaurants and hotels is made from filtered water and is generally safe.

14. Power Banks Are Your Best Friend

Your phone is your map, translator, payment method, camera, and ticket wallet — and you'll be using it constantly. Bring a high-capacity power bank (10,000mAh+) and a charging cable. Shared power banks (rentable from kiosks in malls and restaurants via Alipay) are everywhere in cities, but in rural Sichuan and national parks, you're on your own. Also: China uses Type A and Type I plugs (220V, 50Hz). A universal adapter is handy but most modern chargers handle the voltage range.

15. Comfortable Shoes Are Non-Negotiable

You will walk more than you think. Chengdu's metro stations are enormous. Jiuzhaigou has 50km of boardwalks. The Panda Base covers several square kilometers. Western Sichuan involves walking at altitude. Wear broken-in walking shoes or trail runners. Leave the fashion sneakers at the hotel. Your feet will thank you on day three when you've clocked 25,000 steps by lunchtime.

You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone

We've been helping travelers navigate Sichuan since 1985 — before smartphones, before high-speed rail, before most of these tips even existed. When you book with Panda Journeys, you get all this local knowledge built into your itinerary, plus a 24/7 English-speaking contact on the ground. No scrambling, no surprises, just Sichuan done right.

Read next: Best Time to Visit Jiuzhaigou · Top 10 Chengdu Food Experiences · How Much Does a Sichuan Tour Cost?