Guangzhou

Mongolian citizens with an ordinary passport need a Chinese visa. Fill in the form on cova.cs.mfa.gov.cn, book an appointment and apply in person at the consular section of the Chinese embassy in UB. Fees: single entry $53, double $79, standard processing 4 working days. For the Canton Fair or buying trips, an M visa with an invitation fits best.

Tip: Some Mongolian lists say 'China visa-free', but China's official list requires a visa for ordinary passports — check with the embassy.

The 140th autumn fair in 2026 runs in three phases: 15–19 Oct electronics and machinery; 23–27 Oct home and building products; 31 Oct–4 Nov clothing, health and food. Register online for a buyer badge on the official site. Hotel prices multiply during the fair.

Almost all markets, shops and taxis in Guangzhou take QR payments. Download Alipay and WeChat, verify them with your passport and link a Visa or Mastercard. Traders talk business over WeChat, so it is a must.

The MIAT flight lands at 01:05 and the metro stops around 23:15. Take a cab from the official taxi rank; the centre is 60–90 minutes away and costs ¥100–210. Ignore people offering rides in the hall and have your hotel address ready in Chinese.

Metro line 3 runs from the terminal basement; the centre is ~30–45 minutes away for ¥7–10. Tap a foreign Visa/Mastercard straight on the gate. Airport buses cost ¥6–60.

Via Hong Kong, the high-speed train from West Kowloon to Guangzhou South takes ~47 minutes, second class ¥185–240. Both border checks are inside the station — have your Chinese visa ready.

On Chinese networks Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp are blocked. Foreign eSIMs such as Airalo or Holafly route data abroad, so these work without a VPN. Buy and install one before you go.

Tip: Roaming from a Mongolian operator also works but can be expensive — check first.

China Mobile and China Unicom outlets at the airport and in town sell SIMs with your passport. Cheap if you are staying a long time for buying, but foreign apps won't open.

¥2 for the first 4 km, then more by distance; most trips cost ¥2–10. Since October 2025 you can tap a foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard, JCB or Amex card straight on the gate; Alipay's metro QR code works too. Every station has a bag check.

The DiDi app has an English interface: type your destination, call a car and pay by foreign card or Alipay. Street taxis are metered; show the address in Chinese. Refuse drivers near the markets who offer to go without the meter.

For Chimelong Safari Park and Paradise take metro line 3 to Hanxi Changlong, then the free shuttle or walk. Allow a full day and buy tickets online in advance.

Shops, eateries and taxis all take QR payments. With a foreign card linked, Alipay and WeChat Pay charge no fee on small amounts and a small percentage on large ones. Big hotels and department stores take Visa/Mastercard directly.

Wholesale traders usually take WeChat Pay, Alipay or cash yuan. For large stock purchases the Alipay limits on a foreign card may not be enough, so sort out cash or a bank transfer in advance. Bank of China and ICBC ATMs dispense yuan.

Tip: Agree prices written on a calculator and keep a WeChat photo of every order receipt.

Morning dim sum ('yum cha'): har gow shrimp dumplings, siu mai, char siu bao barbecued pork buns; roast goose, char siu, wonton noodles and cheung fun rice rolls. Mild flavours and little chilli, easy for children.

Tip: No tipping in restaurants; to get your teapot refilled, leave its lid open.

Small eateries and old teahouses around Shangxiajiu and Beijing Road are cheap and authentic. Food floors in Tianhe district malls are clean. Choose by ratings on Dianping or Trip.com.

Police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119 — free from any phone. The Guangzhou multilingual hotline 960169 works in English 24 hours a day and interprets for emergency calls.

Wholesale markets and Guangzhou Railway Station are crowded and pickpockets operate — keep your passport and phone in a front pocket. Avoid people near the markets offering 'cheap goods' elsewhere, unlicensed taxis and unknown cargo agents. Carry your passport.

English-speaking hospital: Guangzhou United Family Hospital. Call your insurer's assistance line first. Summers are hot and humid — drink plenty of water; when a typhoon warning is issued, stay in and follow your hotel's advice.

Bargaining is normal at wholesale markets, but stay polite. Many traders don't sell single items and don't allow photos — ask first. Swapping business cards and WeChat QR codes starts the relationship.

The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a working church — keep quiet and no photos during services. At dim sum, tap the table with your fingers to thank someone pouring your tea. Never stand chopsticks upright in rice.

Alipay — all payments, the metro QR code, DiDi and ticket mini-programs. WeChat — talking to traders and cargo agents, museum bookings. Link both to a foreign card at home.

Google Maps shows wrong positions in China. Amap (Gaode) gives accurate metro, bus and walking routes and has an English interface. Use DiDi for taxis.

Trip.com — hotels, high-speed trains, Chimelong and Pearl River cruise tickets. For negotiating, use Apple/Microsoft Translator, or Google Translate with a roaming eSIM; download Chinese for offline use.

Your baggage allowance depends on your ticket — use a separate cargo service for lots of goods. Plenty of cargo agents near the clothing markets ship to Mongolia; confirm the contract, price and timing in writing and keep the receipts. Power banks go in hand luggage and must carry the 3C mark.

Allow plenty of time and arrive early for an international flight. Take metro line 3 or a taxi; roads out of the city jam at evening rush hour. Claim VAT back on goods from 'Tax Free' shops by showing them at customs at the airport.