Language & communication in China
How far English gets you, and the handful of Chinese that changes the trip.
What everyone needs to know
- English works in international hotels, airports and metro signage, and almost nowhere else.
- Translation apps with camera OCR and voice modes handle the vast majority of situations.
- Writing the destination in Chinese characters is more useful than any amount of speaking.
- Numbers, 你好 (hello), 谢谢 (thank you) and 不要辣 (not spicy) cover most daily needs.
The numbers
| Item | Typical value |
|---|---|
| English prevalence | Low outside tourist infrastructure |
| Translation accuracy | Good for menus and signs |
| Useful characters to learn | 10 gets you far |
| Taxi language barrier | High — show text, not speech |
Do it in this order
- Install a translation app with offline Chinese before you fly.
- Save your hotel name and address in Chinese characters as a screenshot.
- Use camera mode to read menus rather than asking staff.
- Learn the numbers 1–10 and the phrase 多少钱 (how much).
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming hotel-level English exists in restaurants and shops.
- Trying to speak an address phonetically to a taxi driver.
- Relying on an online translation app with no data connection.
Sources
Language & communication city by city
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Xi'an
- Chengdu
- Chongqing
- Guilin
- Zhangjiajie
- Hangzhou
- Guangzhou
- Shenzhen
- Harbin
- Sanya
- Lijiang
- Kunming
- Suzhou
- Xiamen
- Zhengzhou
- Taiyuan
- Guiyang
- Fuzhou
- Yiwu
- Tianjin
- Nanjing
- Wuhan
- Changsha
- Qingdao
- Jinan
- Shenyang
- Dalian
- Changchun
- Hohhot
- Urumqi
- Lhasa
- Xining
- Lanzhou
- Yinchuan
- Dunhuang
- Luoyang
- Kaifeng
- Datong
- Pingyao
- Qufu
- Tai'an
- Huangshan
- Hefei
- Nanchang
- Wenzhou
- Ningbo
- Wuxi
- Yangzhou
- Shaoxing
- Zhuhai
- Foshan
- Dongguan
- Haikou
- Nanning
- Yangshuo
- Dali
- Shangri-La
- Xishuangbanna