Going to China for Business: The Essential Do's and Don'ts

I've been travelling to China for business since the late 1990s. In that time, I've seen colleagues miss flights, get stranded without cash, sit through meetings that went nowhere because of a cultural misstep, and spend a week in the wrong city entirely.

China is a genuinely wonderful place to do business — but it rewards preparation. Here's what I'd tell anyone heading there for the first time, or the fifth.

Before You Travel

Do sort your visa well in advance. For most UK business travellers, you'll need an M visa (commercial/trade). The application requires an invitation letter from your Chinese business partner, so don't leave this until the last minute. Processing times vary, and getting it wrong means missing your trip.

Don't assume you can get a visa on arrival. You can't. China requires a visa for UK nationals, and there are no exceptions for short business trips.

Do check the current entry requirements. China's entry policies have changed significantly in recent years. Check the Chinese Embassy website or speak to a specialist travel agent before booking anything.

Do register with the FCDO. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's LOCATE service lets you register your travel plans so the government can contact you in an emergency. It takes five minutes and costs nothing.

Flights and Arrival

Do fly into the right city. China is enormous. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu — these are all major international hubs, but they're thousands of miles apart. Make sure you're flying into the city closest to your actual destination, not just the one with the cheapest fare.

Don't underestimate jet lag. The time difference between the UK and China is seven to eight hours. Give yourself a day to acclimatise before any important meetings. Turning up exhausted to a factory visit or a negotiation is a false economy.

Do have your hotel address written in Chinese characters. Taxi drivers at Chinese airports often don't speak English, and even if they do, your pronunciation of Chinese place names will be incomprehensible. Have the address on your phone in Chinese, or ask your hotel to send you a card.

Getting Around

Do use the metro. China's major cities have world-class metro systems — clean, fast, cheap, and easy to navigate with English signage. In cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Beijing, the metro will get you almost anywhere you need to go.

Do use DiDi (China's Uber). DiDi works well in most major cities and has an English-language version. It's far more reliable than hailing a street taxi, and you can show the driver the destination on the app.

Don't rely on Google Maps. Google is blocked in China. Download Baidu Maps or Apple Maps before you go, and make sure you have a VPN set up on your phone if you want to access Western apps and websites.

Do get a local SIM card or international roaming sorted before you arrive. Being without data in China is genuinely difficult. A local SIM is cheap and easy to get at the airport.

Money

Do carry cash. While WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate Chinese payments, foreign visitors can't always access these easily. Many smaller restaurants, markets, and taxis still prefer cash. Withdraw RMB from an ATM at the airport on arrival.

Don't rely on your UK bank card everywhere. Some ATMs in China don't accept foreign cards. UnionPay-compatible cards work more widely than Visa or Mastercard in some areas.

In Meetings and at Factories

Do bring business cards — and treat them with respect. In China, business cards are exchanged with both hands and a slight bow. Receive a card with both hands, look at it, and place it carefully on the table in front of you. Stuffing it in your pocket immediately is considered rude.

Don't rush straight to business. Chinese business culture values relationship-building. Expect some small talk at the start of meetings — about your journey, your impressions of China, your family. Jumping straight to price negotiations without any preamble can come across as abrasive.

Do be patient in negotiations. Decisions in Chinese businesses often involve multiple layers of approval. Don't expect an immediate yes or no. Pushing too hard for a quick answer can backfire.

Don't share sensitive IP or designs without proper agreements in place. China has improved significantly on intellectual property protection, but caution is still warranted. Have NDAs in place before sharing proprietary designs or specifications.

Do take a translator if you need one. Many factory managers and business contacts speak some English, but for important negotiations or technical discussions, a professional interpreter is worth the cost.

Language

Do learn a few basic phrases. Even a simple "nǐ hǎo" (hello) and "xièxiè" (thank you) goes a long way. Chinese people genuinely appreciate the effort, even if your pronunciation is terrible.

Don't assume everyone speaks English. In major cities and in international business contexts, English is common. Outside those environments, it's much less so. Translation apps like Google Translate (use it offline, or via VPN) are invaluable.

The Bigger Picture

China is a country that rewards respect and preparation. The businesses that do well there — and I've watched many of them over 27 years — are the ones that take the time to understand the culture, build genuine relationships, and approach the market with patience rather than impatience.

If you're planning a sourcing trip and want someone on the ground to help you make the most of it — factory visits, supplier meetings, translation, logistics — that's exactly what the Sauce Asia team does. Get in touch before you book your flights.