The Flight Details You Need to Know
Air connectivity between India and China is steadily being restored. China Southern Airlines is resuming its daily, non-stop service between Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport (CAN) starting
September 21, 2026. This marks the return of a key route after a six-year suspension. The daily service will be operated using a Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The flight from Delhi to Guangzhou, CZ360, is scheduled to depart at 8:20 PM IST and arrive at 4:15 AM local time the next day. The return flight, CZ359, will depart Guangzhou at 3:35 PM local time and land in Delhi at 7:00 PM IST. This resumption adds another significant option for travellers, as other airlines like IndiGo have also been re-establishing connections on this and other routes to China.
Securing Your Chinese Visa From India
Planning your trip starts with the visa, and for Indian passport holders, this requires advance preparation. China does not offer a visa-on-arrival or an e-visa for Indian tourists. You must apply for a Tourist Visa (L-category) through a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC), which has offices in Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. The process involves filling out an application form online, gathering required documents, and submitting them in person. Key documents include a passport with at least six months of validity, recent photographs, a detailed day-by-day itinerary, and proof of round-trip flights and hotel bookings. It's crucial that the dates on your flights and hotel reservations match your itinerary precisely, as inconsistencies are a common reason for rejection. The good news is that visa fees have been reduced and remain lower through the end of 2026. Additionally, many short-term applicants are exempt from providing fingerprints until December 31, 2026.
On Arrival: Health, Customs, and Registration
China has simplified its entry procedures significantly. As of 2026, there are no mandatory COVID-19 vaccination or testing requirements for entry. However, all foreign visitors must complete an arrival card. This can be done digitally up to 24 hours before you land or by using electronic kiosks at the airport. Paper forms are also available as a backup. One important step that is often overlooked is the mandatory registration with local police within 24 hours of arrival. If you are staying at a hotel, the front desk staff will handle this automatically when they check you in and scan your passport. However, if you are staying with friends or family, you must personally go to the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) to register your stay. Failure to do so can result in a fine, so it's a crucial step to remember for a hassle-free trip.
Managing Money: Navigating a Cashless Society
China operates predominantly on a mobile payment system, where cash is rarely used in major cities. The two dominant apps are Alipay and WeChat Pay. For years, these were inaccessible to foreigners, but that has changed. Tourists can now download Alipay and WeChat Pay before their trip, verify their identity with a passport, and link international credit or debit cards like Visa or Mastercard. It is highly recommended to set these apps up on your phone before you leave India to ensure they are working correctly. While mobile payments will cover almost everything from metro rides to meals and shopping, it is still wise to carry a small amount of Chinese Yuan (CNY) in cash as a backup for smaller vendors or in case of technical glitches.
Staying Connected: Apps, SIMs, and VPNs
Your Indian SIM card will likely not work as expected in China, and many of the apps you use daily, such as Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, are blocked by the country's internet firewall. To stay connected and access these services, you will need two things: a local data solution and a Virtual Private Network (VPN). You can purchase a Chinese SIM card upon arrival or, for more convenience, buy an eSIM for China before you travel if your phone supports it. A VPN is essential for bypassing the firewall to access blocked international sites and apps. It's crucial to download and install a reliable VPN service on your phone and any other devices before you enter China, as app stores may not be accessible once you are there.
