Scanning a QR code to pay for breakfast, scrolling through videos even as the subway passes through tunnels — these are everyday routines that many Chinese people barely notice, yet many foreign visitors find hard to believe.
Here are 10 things in China that amaze foreign visitors during their "China Travel" experiences.
I. High-speed rail
Many foreign visitors ride China's high-speed rail during their trips and often come away impressed. Beyond the speed, online ticketing, and digital tickets making travel easier — fares are affordable and the ride is smooth. By the end of 2025, China's high-speed rail network had exceeded 50,000 kilometers, more than the rest of the world combined, forming an "eight vertical, eight horizontal" grid that links cities, towns, and villages.
II. High-speed rail stations
Chongqing East Railway Station, built on the mountainous city's famously complex terrain, is the world's largest high-speed rail station built in a single phase. It covers about 1.22 million square meters, equivalent to 170 standard football fields, with 15 platforms and 29 tracks. It combines high-speed rail, subway, bus, taxi, and long-distance coach services in one transport hub. Engineers drove nearly 8,000 deep piles through complex karst geology to complete the project.
III. Highways
From the 18.5-kilometer-long Shanghai-Jiading Expressway — China's first expressway opened in 1988 — to a national expressway network of 199,400 km by the end of 2025, China has built one of the world's most extensive expressway systems in less than four decades. Across mountains, canyons, earthquake-prone areas, and permafrost regions, Chinese engineers have continued to turn difficult terrain into working transport links. Some key sections are even equipped with snow-melting and de-icing systems.
IV. Micro electric vehicles
Compact, economical, and well suited to dense urban environments, China's micro electric vehicles are notable for their affordability, with some models priced at only a few thousand US dollars. According to Reuters, the average price of a new car in the United States would be enough to buy five of China's best-selling affordable EV models.
V. Modular housing
China's prefabricated modular homes are drawing attention overseas for their low cost and fast assembly. Some three-bedroom units are priced at just over $10,000 and come with kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, and electrical fittings included. Built with high-strength steel structures, these homes are designed to withstand strong winds and earthquakes, with an estimated service life of about 20 years.
VI. 5G networks
China has built nearly 5 million 5G base stations, serving over 1.2 billion users, with coverage extending even to the summit of Mount Qomolangma. This infrastructure has enabled advances in remote education, telemedicine, and livestreamed agricultural commerce in rural areas. Börje Ekholm, CEO of Swedish telecom giant Ericsson, has warned that China has already deployed 5G standalone networks at scale, while Europe risks turning itself into a "museum" if it continues to lag behind in digital infrastructure.
VII. Mobile payments
Le Monde reported that coins and banknotes have become rare in everyday transactions in China, where mobile payments are widely used in markets, public transport, and daily consumer settings. NFC payments, digital transit cards, and palm-scan payment in selected transit and retail settings have made many purchases and commutes almost effortless. What looks like a simple tap or scan is backed by mobile networks, digital finance, and a fast-moving technology ecosystem.
VIII. Public toilets
Public restrooms have become an unexpected point of interest for foreign visitors. They are free of charge and widely available at airports, train stations, tourist attractions, and along city streets. Many are also equipped with accessible facilities and baby-care rooms, a notable contrast to the pay-per-use model still common in parts of Europe.
IX. Drones
Drone light shows have captivated foreign tourists. One visitor observed that in his home country, drones are associated with fear, while in China they light up the night sky. Beyond entertainment, drones played a critical role during this summer's flooding response in southern China's Guangxi Province, delivering emergency supplies, helping restore communications, and airlifting generators to affected areas.
X. Public security
Gallup's 2025 Global Safety Report found that 94 percent of Chinese residents said they felt safe walking alone at night, among the highest rates recorded worldwide. Foreign visitors have described walking on city streets alone late at night without fear, and one American traveler noted with surprise that convenience stores in China often operate unattended overnight. This sense of security is supported by public safety camera networks and community-level governance programs.
What many foreign visitors find striking in China is not a single landmark or piece technology, but the way these things have been incorporated into daily life. The next thing that surprises the world may already be taking shape.
The author is a commentator on international affairs.
Editor：Zhou Jinmiao
