Switzerland and Austria have a notably favourable entry arrangement with China — both nationalities enjoy 30-day visa-free access, which is twice the allowance given to many other European countries. Combined with direct flights from Zurich and Vienna and German as a widely-taught language in China’s German studies programs, Swiss and Austrian visitors to China will find a few helpful connections alongside all the expected contrasts.
For Swiss visitors particularly, China’s mountain landscape deserves special mention. The country with perhaps the most famous mountains in the world also has extraordinary mountain scenery — the Himalayas in Tibet, the dramatic Sichuan peaks around Jiuzhaigou and Siguniang Mountain, and the karst formations of Guilin — that offers a very different kind of alpine experience.
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Visa Rules for Swiss and Austrian Passport Holders
30-Day Visa-Free Entry
Swiss passport holders can enter mainland China visa-free for 30 days. Austrian citizens also receive 30-day visa-free access — part of the bilateral agreements maintained with both countries.
Requirements:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Confirmed return or onward ticket
- Entry at designated international ports
Thirty days is more than enough for an excellent China trip, even covering multiple regions. The more generous allowance is genuinely useful.
Applying for a Longer Visa
For stays beyond 30 days, apply at the Chinese Embassy in Bern (Switzerland, with Consulate in Geneva) or the Chinese Embassy in Vienna (Austria). Processing takes 4–7 business days. Fees around CHF 80–100 (Switzerland) or €65–80 (Austria).
Flights from Switzerland and Austria
From Zurich (ZRH)
- Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS): Zurich–Beijing Capital (PEK) direct, approximately 10 hours
- Swiss: Zurich–Shanghai Pudong (PVG) direct, approximately 11 hours
- Air China: Zurich–Beijing direct
- Connections via Frankfurt (Lufthansa excellent for China), Vienna, Amsterdam, or Istanbul
Return economy fares from Zurich: CHF 700–1,400. SWISS direct service is high quality and popular with Swiss business travellers to China.
From Vienna (VIE)
- Austrian Airlines: Vienna–Beijing Capital (PEK) direct, approximately 10 hours — a flagship route for Austrian Airlines
- Austrian Airlines: Vienna–Shanghai Pudong (PVG) seasonal direct
- Air China: Vienna to Beijing direct
- Connections via Frankfurt, Munich (Lufthansa excellent), Zurich, or Istanbul
Return economy fares from Vienna: €600–1,100. Austrian Airlines Beijing route is consistently well-reviewed and departs in the evening for a morning arrival in Beijing.
Payment Setup: Alipay for Swiss and Austrian Cards
- Download Alipay (international version)
- Register with your Swiss (+41) or Austrian (+43) phone number
- Verify identity with your passport
- Link your Visa or Mastercard — Credit Suisse, UBS, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, Zürcher Kantonalbank (Switzerland); Erste Bank, Raiffeisen Austria, UniCredit Austria, BAWAG (Austria) all work
Note for Swiss visitors: PostFinance cards can occasionally have issues with international online verification. Raiffeisen and UBS Visa/Mastercards work reliably. Revolut is excellent for China travel and very popular in Switzerland.
Transactions appear in CHF or EUR at current exchange rates plus foreign transaction fees.
China’s Mountains: A Swiss Visitor’s Perspective
Switzerland has 48 mountains above 4,000 metres. China has Tibet, where entire plateaus are at that altitude. The comparison isn’t straightforward — the styles of mountain are completely different — but Swiss visitors tend to respond strongly to China’s mountain landscapes.
Jiuzhaigou Valley, Sichuan
One of China’s most famous natural landscapes — a UNESCO World Heritage site of turquoise lakes and waterfalls set in mountain valleys. The colour of the water (caused by calcium carbonate deposits) is extraordinary and looks unlike anywhere in Europe. Access from Chengdu by flight (1 hour) or overnight bus. Entry ¥169 in peak season.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountains), Anhui
The jagged granite peaks and sea-of-clouds photography is what inspired traditional Chinese mountain painting. Less extreme than the Alps but genuinely beautiful — particularly when mist rolls through the pine trees. Cable car access available. 2.5 hours from Shanghai by high-speed train + transfer.
Siguniang Mountain (四姑娘山), Sichuan
Less visited by foreigners, Siguniang Mountain near Rilong has four distinct peaks, the highest at 6,250m. The scenery is genuinely spectacular — glaciers, yak meadows, Tibetan villages. Accessible from Chengdu in about 4 hours by car.
Tibet (For Those with Permits)
Tibet is accessible to foreign tourists but requires additional permits beyond a standard visa: the Tibet Travel Permit (TTB) plus an Aliens’ Travel Permit for restricted areas. The permits are issued to organized tour groups, not independent travelers. The Potala Palace in Lhasa and the Everest Base Camp are extraordinary. The altitude (Lhasa is 3,650m, EBC approach is 5,200m) takes acclimatisation — Swiss visitors may adapt faster than most.
Cultural Notes for German-Speaking Visitors
German in China
Mandarin Chinese is the national language and is what you’ll be using. However, there are a few practical connections for German speakers:
- German-Chinese business ties: Germany is China’s largest European trading partner. Business culture connections mean German is more commonly a second language studied in China than most other European languages
- German media (DW and FAZ) have online presence in China and are sometimes available without VPN
- Many Chinese universities have strong German language programs
Punctuality
Swiss and Austrian visitors who live by train schedules that run to the minute will be pleased to know that China’s high-speed rail system is similarly punctual. A train scheduled for 14:32 departs at 14:32. This is not universally true for domestic flights, but high-speed trains are reliable.
Swiss Watches
Switzerland’s most famous export is luxury watches — and China is the world’s largest market for luxury watches. Mentioning that you’re from Switzerland to Chinese luxury retail staff will produce immediate recognition and warmth. You’ll also find Swiss watch boutiques (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega) in every major Chinese city, if that’s of interest.
Recommended Itinerary: Combining Mountains and Cities (14–20 Days)
Days 1–3: Beijing — Imperial palaces, Great Wall (Mutianyu section)
Days 4–5: Xi’an — Terracotta Warriors, Tang Dynasty history, Muslim Quarter
Days 6–9: Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou
- Chengdu 2 days: Giant Pandas, Sichuan food
- Fly to Jiuzhaigou (50 min): 2 days of extraordinary alpine-lake scenery
Days 10–11: Guilin — Fly back to Chengdu, connect to Guilin. Li River cruise, karst landscape
Days 12–14: Shanghai and Hangzhou
- Shanghai’s Bund and contemporary districts
- Day trip to Hangzhou’s West Lake (the Chinese landscape at its most classical)
Days 15–18 (if you have 30 days to use): Yunnan extension
- Fly Hangzhou–Kunming
- Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (glaciers, cable car to 4,506m — familiar altitude for Swiss visitors)
- Dali’s Erhai Lake
This circuit makes excellent use of the 30-day allowance and gives a comprehensive picture of China’s range — from imperial history to mountain landscapes to river scenery to modern megacities.