By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated
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Israel is one of the world’s most compelling travel destinations — ancient history, three major world religions, a vibrant modern culture, Mediterranean beaches, and a culinary scene that is earning international attention. For Chinese travelers, Israel also offers a unique intersection of two ancient civilizations with deep historical and cultural parallels. This guide covers everything you need to know to plan a smooth, rewarding trip.
This is the single most critical piece of planning for Chinese passport holders. Israel’s ETA-IL electronic travel authorisation does not apply to Chinese citizens. The ETA-IL (similar to the US ESTA or Australian ETA) is only available to passport holders from a specific list of countries — China is not on that list.
Chinese citizens must apply for a B/2 Tourist Visa at an Israeli embassy or consulate before travelling. There is no visa-on-arrival option for Chinese passport holders.
Israeli diplomatic missions in China that accept tourist visa applications:
For application forms, current requirements, and appointment booking, go to the official Israeli embassy website for your jurisdiction. Requirements can change — check before applying.
A standard B/2 tourist visa application typically requires:
Processing time is typically 10–15 business days. Apply at least one month before your planned departure — two months is safer during peak application periods (April–May and September–October).
If your itinerary includes crossing from Eilat into Jordan to visit Petra, note that Chinese citizens also require a visa for Jordan. The Jordan Pass (which bundles the Jordan visa fee with entry to Petra and 40+ Jordanian sites) is available online and is strongly recommended for any Jordan add-on. You can purchase the Jordan Pass before your trip; the Jordan visa component is included in the pass price for stays of at least 3 nights in Jordan.
Air China operates the principal direct route: Beijing (PEK) to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV). Direct flight time is approximately 10–11 hours. Hainan Airlines has operated seasonal service on this corridor — check for availability during your travel period.
For travelers from Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and other cities, connecting flights are the standard option:
Book flights early, particularly for travel between April–May and September–October, which are peak tourism months in Israel.
Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) is 20 km southeast of Tel Aviv. On arrival:
The immigration process at Ben Gurion can be thorough for first-time visitors. Be prepared to answer questions about the purpose of your visit, your accommodation, and your itinerary. This is normal. Have your hotel bookings, tour confirmations, and return flight details accessible on your phone.
As covered in the FAQ above, WeChat Pay and Alipay are not accepted in Israel. Visa and Mastercard are the standard payment methods. Carry your bank card and some NIS cash. For more detail on ATMs, exchange rates, and the DCC trap, see our Israel money and ATM guide.
Israel has no internet restrictions. Google Maps, WhatsApp, and all your usual apps work normally. For connectivity during your trip:
For navigation, Google Maps is reliable throughout Israel and includes public transport routing for the bus, train, and Tel Aviv Light Rail networks. Download the map offline before travel as a backup for areas with poor signal (desert areas, some tunnels).
Israel is a small country — approximately 470 km from north to south. Distances that look large on a map are manageable as day trips from a single base.
Hebrew and Arabic are Israel’s official languages. English is very widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, restaurants, and by most young Israelis — you will rarely struggle to communicate in English in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, or Eilat. Signs in major tourist areas, airports, and train stations are in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.
Mandarin is not widely spoken in Israel, so a phrasebook or translation app for basic interactions in smaller towns and markets can be helpful. Google Translate works well with Hebrew for signage.
Chinese and Jewish civilizations share remarkable parallels that make Israel a particularly resonant destination for many Chinese visitors: both are among the world’s oldest continuous civilizations; both place exceptional value on family cohesion, education, and scholarly achievement; both have diaspora communities scattered across the world while maintaining a strong sense of shared identity; and both civilizations had contact along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.
The Kaifeng Jewish community — a Jewish community that lived in Kaifeng, Henan Province, for over a thousand years — is a fascinating point of intersection between the two civilizations. The Kaifeng Jews arrived along Silk Road trade routes around the 8th–10th centuries and maintained a Jewish identity for nearly a millennium, ultimately assimilating into the broader Chinese Han population. A small number of descendants continue to research and document this heritage. The Israeli Museum in Jerusalem and the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv both carry materials related to this history.
Israeli cuisine is diverse, fresh, and largely accessible to Chinese palates — the emphasis on vegetables, fresh bread, grilled meats, rice, and legumes creates substantial common ground.
Israel has a significant proportion of kosher-observant restaurants and hotels. Kosher rules include:
Many restaurants in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and tourist areas are non-kosher and will serve pork and mix meat and dairy freely. In Jerusalem, particularly in the religious neighborhoods and Old City, you will find predominantly kosher restaurants.
There is no Chinatown in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem in the way that other major cities have one, but Chinese and Pan-Asian restaurants operate in the Levinsky Market area in south Tel Aviv (sometimes called “Little Asia” for its Asian spice shops and restaurants) and in central Tel Aviv. These are generally non-kosher. Quality and authenticity vary — for many Chinese travelers, Israeli cuisine itself is the more rewarding culinary adventure.
For Muslim Chinese travelers, halal restaurants are available throughout Israel in Arab neighborhoods, including the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City, Wadi Nisnas in Haifa, and Arab-Israeli towns.
Chinese travelers traditionally favor group tour packages, which offer Mandarin-speaking guides, pre-arranged logistics, and a sense of security in an unfamiliar destination. This is a very reasonable approach for Israel, where the complexity of navigating between religious sites, understanding security protocols, and finding non-tourist restaurants is non-trivial.
Israel small group tours through operators like GetYourGuide and Viator can be booked with English commentary, and some operators offer Mandarin-speaking guides on request. For guaranteed Mandarin-language commentary, a private guided tour is the most reliable option — book through Viator or GetYourGuide and specify Mandarin in the notes at booking.
For independent Chinese travelers comfortable with English, Israel is straightforward to navigate independently, and the public transport network covers all major tourist sites. See first-time visitors in Israel for a broader overview.
Israel rewards at least 7–10 days. A classic itinerary for first-time visitors:
Days 1–3 — Tel Aviv Arrive at Ben Gurion; settle into Tel Aviv. Explore Jaffa’s ancient port, the Carmel Market, the White City’s Bauhaus architecture, and the beaches. Tel Aviv is secular, cosmopolitan, and an excellent base.
Days 4–6 — Jerusalem Day trips from Tel Aviv, or relocate to Jerusalem. The Old City covers the Jewish Quarter and Western Wall, the Via Dolorosa and Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Muslim Quarter’s Dome of the Rock compound. The Israel Museum (Dead Sea Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book), Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, and the Tower of David complete the essentials.
Days 7–8 — Dead Sea & Masada A Masada and Dead Sea day trip from Jerusalem covers the most dramatic landscape in Israel: Masada fortress at sunrise, then floating in the Dead Sea. Dead Sea mineral mud facials are a popular experience.
Days 9–10 — Galilee & Nazareth Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, and the Golan Heights offer a completely different Israel — agricultural, historical, and comparatively uncrowded.
The security situation in Israel is a common concern for prospective visitors. The Israeli government and Ministry of Tourism maintain an active presence to support tourism, and millions of international visitors travel safely each year.
The Chinese government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues travel advisories for Israel. We recommend reading both Chinese MFA advisories and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism’s current information before booking. The conflict zones that generate advisories are geographically specific — the Gaza border area and northern border — and the major tourist sites (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Galilee, Eilat) are far from these areas in normal circumstances. That said, the security situation can change, and travel insurance covering cancellation and medical evacuation is essential.
See our Israel safety guide and our Israel travel insurance guide for more detail.
For more on getting around, see our transportation guide and Rav-Kav card guide. For accommodation options across the country, see our Israel accommodation guide.
Yes. Chinese passport holders are NOT eligible for Israel's ETA-IL electronic travel authorisation, which only covers passport holders from a limited list of countries. Chinese citizens must apply for a B/2 Tourist Visa at an Israeli embassy or consulate before travelling. The nearest Israeli diplomatic missions accepting tourist visa applications are in Beijing (Israeli Embassy), Shanghai (Israeli Consulate General), Guangzhou (Israeli Consulate General), and Chengdu (Israeli Consulate). Processing time is typically 10–15 business days; apply at least a month before your planned travel date. The visa application fee is approximately USD 20–30. Required documents generally include: a completed application form, valid passport (at least 6 months remaining validity), recent passport photos, confirmed return flight itinerary, confirmed hotel bookings or a letter of invitation, bank statements showing sufficient funds, and travel insurance. Requirements can change — always check the current requirements on the Israeli embassy website for your jurisdiction before applying.
A standard B/2 Tourist Visa typically allows a stay of up to 90 days, though the actual period of stay is determined by the immigration officer at the point of entry. Most tourists are granted 30–90 days. If you wish to extend your stay beyond the period granted, you must apply for an extension at the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) before your permitted period expires — do not overstay.
Air China operates flights between Beijing (PEK) and Tel Aviv (TLV) — the primary direct China–Israel route. Hainan Airlines has operated seasonal routes on this corridor. Cathay Pacific offers a frequently operated connection via Hong Kong (HKG). Turkish Airlines is a popular option for travelers from multiple Chinese cities, with a connection via Istanbul (IST); flight time from Beijing via Istanbul is typically 13–15 hours total. El Al Israel Airlines connects via various hubs. Direct flight time from Beijing to Tel Aviv is approximately 10–11 hours. Check current schedules directly with airlines as routes and frequencies change seasonally.
WeChat Pay and Alipay are not accepted in Israel. Israeli merchants use credit and debit cards (Visa and Mastercard are universally accepted; American Express has limited acceptance), and cash (New Israeli Shekel, NIS/₪). You should carry a Visa or Mastercard credit card and withdraw some NIS cash on arrival at Ben Gurion Airport ATMs or at bank ATMs in the city. Some larger tourist shops and hotels in central Tel Aviv or Jerusalem may accept USD, but paying in NIS at the correct rate is always better. Bring your bank cards and notify your bank before travel to avoid security blocks.
No. Israel has no internet restrictions equivalent to China's Great Firewall. Google, Google Maps, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, and all major international platforms are freely accessible in Israel. You can use Google Maps for navigation (the most reliable option in Israel) and your usual communication apps. If you have a VPN on your device, you do not need it in Israel — but it will still function if you prefer to use it.
Yes, though they are less common than English-speaking guides. Private Mandarin-speaking guides for Israel can be booked through GetYourGuide and Viator by filtering for Mandarin or Chinese-language tours. Several tour operators offer dedicated Chinese-language Israel packages, particularly targeting Jewish-Chinese cultural heritage themes and group travel. Jewish and Chinese civilizations share interesting historical parallels — both ancient, both emphasising family cohesion and education — which make for compelling tour commentary. The Israeli Ministry of Tourism has also supported Mandarin-language marketing materials for this market. For guaranteed Mandarin commentary, book a private guide well in advance.
Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere in Israel — hotels, restaurants, shops, supermarkets, and most transport. Contactless payment (tap-to-pay) is widely supported. Keep some NIS cash for small purchases, markets (Carmel Market, Mahane Yehuda), and taxis. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. ATMs are plentiful at Ben Gurion Airport, city centers, and shopping centers — use bank ATMs (Bank Leumi, Bank Hapoalim) rather than standalone non-bank ATMs, which may charge higher fees. Always decline the ATM's offer to convert the transaction to your home currency (dynamic currency conversion, or DCC) — choose to be charged in NIS and let your own bank handle the conversion rate.
By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated