For Indian passport holders, China travel requires somewhat more planning than for visitors from visa-free countries. Indian citizens currently require a visa for mainland China (as of May 2026), though the application process is manageable and the visa approval rate for tourism is high.
Visa Requirements for Indian Passport Holders
Indian citizens are not included in China’s visa-free program for general tourism (as of 2026). A tourist visa (L visa) is required.
How to Apply
Application: Through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, or Guangzhou.
Required documents:
- Completed application form (online: visaforchina.cn)
- Valid Indian passport (6+ months validity)
- 2 passport photos (white background)
- Confirmed round-trip flight booking
- Hotel reservation for all nights
- Bank statement (last 3–6 months) showing sufficient funds
- Travel itinerary
Processing time: 4 business days standard; express options available.
Visa fee: Approximately INR 4,000–5,000 for standard single-entry.
Duration: Most tourist visas issued are 30 days or 60 days single-entry; multi-entry may be applied for with demonstrated travel history.
144-Hour Transit Visa-Free
Indian passport holders can use China’s 144-hour transit visa exemption for stays up to 6 days without a regular visa. This requires:
- Entry and exit through qualifying airports
- Onward ticket to a third country (not India → China → India)
- Example: Mumbai → Shanghai (transit stop) → Tokyo — 6 days in Shanghai allowed
Direct Flights India–China
From Delhi (DEL): Air India and Air China operate Delhi–Beijing routes (7–8 hours). Air China also flies Delhi–Shanghai.
From Mumbai (BOM): Air China, China Eastern to Shanghai/Beijing.
Frequencies: Indian-China direct flights are more limited than European connections; some routes require connections through Kunming, Guangzhou, or Chengdu.
Vegetarian Food in China
Chinese cuisine is heavily meat and seafood-oriented, but vegetarian options exist and are manageable — particularly for Buddhist vegetarian (素食 sùshí) practitioners.
Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine (佛素)
China has a substantial Buddhist vegetarian food tradition. Buddhist temple canteens (寺院斋堂) serve excellent vegetarian meals — often simple, deeply flavourful, and very inexpensive.
Best cities for vegetarian food:
- Chengdu: Strong Buddhist tradition; many vegetarian restaurants and temple canteens near Wenshu Monastery
- Hangzhou: Buddhist vegetarian restaurants near Lingyin Temple
- Beijing: Vegetarian restaurants near major temples
- Shanghai: Several dedicated vegetarian restaurants in the French Concession and Jing’an areas
Indian Food in China
Genuine Indian restaurants exist in Beijing (Sanlitun area), Shanghai (Jing’an), and Guangzhou. They’re not common outside major cities — bring certain spices if very particular dietary requirements.
The most useful phrase: “Wǒ chī sù” (我吃素) — “I eat vegetarian.” Shows this to restaurant staff.
Navigating Non-Vegetarian Defaults
Many Chinese dishes that appear vegetarian contain oyster sauce, fish sauce, or meat-based broth. The Buddhist vegetarian inquiry is more specific: “Zhège yǒu ròu ma?” (这个有肉吗?) — “Does this have meat?” And “Wǒ bùchī ròu hé yú” (我不吃肉和鱼) — “I don’t eat meat and fish.”
Buddhist Pilgrimage Connections
India’s Buddhist heritage has deep Chinese connections — Xuanzang’s 7th-century journey from Chang’an (Xi’an) to India and back, bringing Buddhist scriptures, is one of history’s great literary and religious journeys (the basis for the novel “Journey to the West”).
Key Buddhist sites for Indian visitors:
- White Horse Temple, Luoyang: Said to be the first Buddhist temple in China (68 AD), founded when Indian monks arrived
- Wutai Mountain: The most sacred Tibetan Buddhist site in China; significant connections to Indian Buddhist tradition
- Xuanzang’s Tang Monastery Museum, Xi’an: Documents the monk’s journey to India
- Dunhuang Mogao Caves: The earliest representations of Indian Buddhist iconography in China
See also: China Visa-Free Countries Guide | China Buddhist Temples Guide | China Muslim Halal Guide