I’m not an expert by any means but if it’s your first time in China, here are 10 things you need to know. From the streets of Shanghai to the rolling hills of Hangzhou, I explored several cities in China with my fiancé in March. Ten days went by in a flash and I felt like we barely touched the tip of the iceberg of a country that is one of the world’s oldest civilizations.

Carry cash. Lots of it.

What would you say if I asked you to take out all of the cash in your wallet? I would bottom out with a $20. Because I’m so accustomed to using my debit card for everything, I was dubious when my fiancé withdrew the maximum amount of Chinese yuan from the ATM at the Shanghai airport.

I learned very quickly that there are three primary payment methods in China: cash, WeChat Pay and Alipay. Whether you’re at McDonalds, a shopping mall, or on a remote tea plantation in a Chinese village, both WeChat Pay and Alipay are two QR-code based mobile payment platforms accepted virtually everywhere.

Bottom line – carry plenty of cash to avoid the hassle.

English (even in larger cities) is very limited.

I’ve never purchased guidebooks or foreign language study aids prior to a trip. In China, I was completely unprepared. We had a tough time in Shanghai hailing a cab, getting to the train station, and even asking for directions to a well-known museum and famous hotel chain.

I recommend learning a few key phrases so you can communicate the basics. Taking screenshots of Google Maps while connected to WiFi is also a good idea so you don’t get lost without phone service.

China is very safe.

I will admit I was a bit hesitant to wear my engagement ring and other jewelry, but not once did I feel unsafe or even the least bit uncomfortable. While the streets are crowded with people and traffic everywhere, I didn’t witness any suspicious behavior.

The only time I noticed a bit of aggression was in the bike lanes – especially in Hangzhou. Many people travel by bike, moped and scooter which can cause traffic delays and a bit of road rage.

Take the train whenever you are given the option.

Unless there is a clear alternative, take the train, especially to and from the airport. The Shanghai Maglev train (a magnetic levitation train) runs from Shanghai Pudong Airport to the city going at speeds up to about 265 miles per hour. Known as the fastest train in the world, the entire 18-mile trip took approximately 8 minutes.

The regional high-speed trains don’t go as fast as the magnetic train, but they definitely get up there in terms of speed. The regular train time from Shanghai to Hangzhou takes up to 3 hours but we got there in about 45 minutes (warm beers and all).

Our train experience in Hong Kong was very similar. In addition to the super quick and easy trains, the Hong Kong subway is very efficient and was the recommended method of travel by tourists and locals alike.

Apply for multiple entries on the Chinese visa form.

If you have a fairly loose itinerary and it’s your first time in China, select “Multiple entries valid for 1 year from the date of issue” in section 2.2 of the Visa form. If you start your trip in mainland China, spend a few days in Hong Kong, and plan to travel back to mainland China, you’ll need more than one entry on your visa.

Give yourself more time than you normally would when in transit.

We spent the last 3 days of our trip in Hong Kong before connecting in Shanghai to go back to the States. We had to get our luggage, enter customs for mainland China, and then go through customs again. The whole process took about 2.5 hours. This is the opposite of our experience when traveling to Marrakech – the airport experience was very speedy and were able to pack a lot in during our day trip.

Arrive early when taking the train because just like the airports, the train stations are massive. We missed our train to Hangzhou and needless to say it was a bit difficult to read the signs. However, we were able to re-book easily within the hour.

Bring Tylenol PM to help with jet lag.

The 13-hour time difference is brutal. I was so exhausted I felt sick during my first full day in China and made the mistake of taking a “short nap” at 4 pm after a long day of sightseeing. The nap turned into sleeping for 6 hours which totally threw me off.

Take Tylenol PM for the first few nights so you can zap the jet lag within the first couple of days.

Be prepared for personal hygiene emergencies.

I recommend carrying hand sanitizer, baby wipes and toilet paper in your bag at all times. Depending where you go, you may find yourself in some interesting bathroom situations so it’s best to be prepared.

Eat with a local whenever possible.

Chinese cuisine is different depending on where you go. For example, the Hunan province is famous for its hot and spicy cuisine while the Zhejiang province is known for its seafood and fresh flavors.

Lucky for us we knew a few locals who helped us explore the food scene in both of these areas. From turtle soup to pig feet, we tried it all! Thankfully I was adequately warned before trying anything too spicy for my taste.

Book your trip to China ASAP!

China has a special energy that is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend adding China to your bucket list!