Entry: 30 days without a visa
- Canadian passport holders can visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit. The policy started on February 17, 2026 and runs until at least December 31, 2026.
- Travelling in 2027? Check that the policy has been extended before you book. Hong Kong has its own rules: Canadians can visit visa-free for up to 90 days.
- Hotels register your stay with the local police when you check in, which is required within 24 hours of arrival. If you stay with family or friends, you have to register yourself.
Flights from Canada
- From Vancouver: Air Canada and Air China to Beijing, Air Canada and China Eastern to Shanghai, and China Southern to Guangzhou, plus flights to Chengdu, Xiamen, Shenzhen and Qingdao. Air Canada adds Vancouver to Guangzhou from May 2027.
- From Toronto: Air China and Hainan Airlines to Beijing, Air Canada and China Eastern to Shanghai, and China Southern to Guangzhou.
- From other cities, trips usually connect in Vancouver, Toronto or Hong Kong. For southern China, flying into Hong Kong and taking the high-speed train to Guangzhou or Shenzhen is worth comparing.
Set up your phone before you fly
- Mobile payment is the norm. Download Alipay or WeChat Pay and link your Canadian credit card before you leave; you'll pay by scanning QR codes almost everywhere.
- Many Google services, and some social media and messaging apps, are blocked. Download offline maps, a translation app with offline languages, and copies of your bookings before you land.
- Carry a little cash in small notes as a backup, and only exchange money at banks or approved counters.
Getting around
- High-speed trains connect the big cities quickly: Beijing to Shanghai takes about four and a half hours. You need your passport to buy tickets and to board.
- Metros in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are fast, cheap and signposted in English.
- Didi is the main ride-hailing app, and it works in English.
Halal food and mosques
- Halal food is easy to find in Chinese cities. Look for the green 清真 (qīngzhēn) sign, which marks halal restaurants, many of them run by Hui Muslims. Lanzhou beef noodle shops, with hand-pulled noodles, are everywhere.
- Beijing: the Niujie area in Xicheng, around the historic Niujie Mosque, is full of halal restaurants and bakeries.
- Guangzhou: the Huaisheng Mosque in Yuexiu is one of the oldest mosques in China.
What to book ahead
- The Forbidden City sells tickets online in advance under your passport name, and it's closed on most Mondays.
- The Great Wall: Mutianyu is the easiest well-restored section to reach from Beijing for a day trip.
- Shanghai: walk the Bund along the river, visit the Yu Garden, and see the city from Lujiazui across the water.
- Avoid the holiday rushes. Lunar New Year (February 6, 2027) and the Golden Week holidays in early May and early October are the busiest times for trains, sights and hotels.
See the lowest fares and cheapest months
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Where to stay, data and getting around
Our guides: Beijing travel hub · Travel insurance for Canadians
Our guides: Shanghai travel hub
Our guides: Guangzhou travel hub
Related guides
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Common questions
Do Canadians need a visa for China?
Not for short trips right now. Canadians can visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit, under a policy that started on February 17, 2026 and runs until at least December 31, 2026.
Which Canadian cities fly nonstop to China?
Vancouver and Toronto. Vancouver has nonstops to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xiamen, Shenzhen and Qingdao; Toronto has nonstops to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Can I use my Canadian credit card in China?
Mostly through mobile payment apps. Link your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you go, since many places prefer QR-code payments to cards.
Is it easy to find halal food in China?
Yes, in the big cities. Look for the green 清真 (qīngzhēn) sign. Beijing's Niujie area is a well-known Muslim neighbourhood with many halal restaurants.
Sources
Checked October 15, 2026. Rules, prices and opening hours change, so confirm before you travel.