Flying to China in 2026 — Airlines, Routes & Practical Tips

Just booked a complex China trip. Sharing what I learned about flights, routes, and logistics.

Best Airlines

• Air China: Largest, good connections
• China Eastern: Shanghai hub
• China Southern: Guangzhou hub
• Cathay Pacific: Via Hong Kong, excellent
• Singapore Airlines: Via Singapore, top-tier
• ANA/JAL: Via Tokyo, great for Japan+China combo

Route Tips

• Direct from US: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou only
• From Europe: More options (Chengdu, Xi'an, Hangzhou)
• Budget: Spring Airlines, China Express (domestic)

Booking Strategy

• Book 2-3 months ahead
• Use Trip.com or Google Flights
• Consider positioning flights via HKG/SIN
• Avoid Golden Week (Oct 1-7) and CNY — prices 3x

Airport Transfers

• Beijing PEK: Airport Express ¥25 to center
• Shanghai PVG: Maglev ¥50 + metro
• Guangzhou CAN: Metro Line 3 direct

All accept Alipay.

First 24 Hours

• Get SIM/eSIM (Airalo works)
• Activate VPN
• Test Alipay at convenience store
• Download offline maps (aihubai.cn works offline)
• Get to hotel, rest

Payment Reality

China is cashless. Setup BEFORE departure:

1. Alipay: Register + link + verify
2. Keep ¥500 cash backup
3. aihubai.cn for payment troubleshooting