✦ China Award Guide · July 2026
Best cards for China on points & miles
Compare award flight and hotel redemptions for China across the top loyalty programs. Use the calculator below to see exactly which cards cover your trip. No affiliate links. We earn $0 from applications.
Best flight path
Air Canada Aeroplan on Air China · 40,000–60,000 pts OW economy · no fuel surcharges · Amex MR +25% bonus now
Best hotel value
World of Hyatt · Grand Hyatt Shanghai ~17,000 pts/nt vs. $400+ cash · Park Hyatt Beijing from 20k/nt
Active transfer bonus
+25% Amex MR → Air Canada Aeroplan through 2026-04-30
Always verify
Confirm award space before transferring — points are not reversible
Top program
Aeroplan
→ Air China no surcharges
Economy OW
~40k
Aeroplan OW economy
Active bonus
+25% Amex
→ Aeroplan
Last updated
Jul 2026
Rates & bonuses verified
Enter your points balances — see your China trip gap
Shows coverage % and compatible transfer paths in real time
→ United · Virgin · Avios · Hyatt
→ Flying Blue · Aeroplan · KrisFlyer
→ Turkish · KrisFlyer · Flying Blue
→ Aeroplan · Turkish · LifeMiles
→ United · Hyatt · Avios
China trip coverage—
Enter your balances above to see how close you are
Your China trip calculator
● Live dataTop Pick
American Express
Platinum Card
Amex Membership Rewards
80k
signup pts
32% covered by bonus
$695/yr 75k – 95k pts business Recommended
Points needed for your trip
Flight per person (business) 75k – 95k
Flight total (2 travelers) 170,000 pts
Hotel (4 nights avg) 80,000 pts
Total trip estimate 250,000 pts
Signup bonus covers 32%
Earn rates
5x on flights booked directly or via Amex Travel; 1x everything else
Transfer partners for this destination
Hotel transfer partners
Destination-specific note
Best Amex for China. Currently +25% Amex MR → Aeroplan through April 30 for Air China no-surcharge flights. Also transfers to Marriott for wide China hotel coverage.
Key perks
Centurion Lounge at US departures
$200 airline fee credit
Fine Hotels & Resorts China
Top Pick
Chase
Sapphire Reserve
Chase Ultimate Rewards
60k
signup pts
26% covered by bonus
$550/yr 75k – 95k pts business Recommended
Points needed for your trip
Flight per person (business) 75k – 95k
Flight total (2 travelers) 170,000 pts
Hotel (4 nights avg) 60,000 pts
Total trip estimate 230,000 pts
Signup bonus covers 26%
Earn rates
3x on travel & dining; 1x everything else
Transfer partners for this destination
Hotel transfer partners
Destination-specific note
Transfers to Aeroplan (no-surcharge Air China) and Hyatt (Grand Hyatt Shanghai). +30% Chase UR → Hyatt through May 6. Two of the best China programs in one card.
Key perks
$300 travel credit
Priority Pass
Global Entry credit
American Express
Gold Card
Amex Membership Rewards
60k
signup pts
24% covered by bonus
$250/yr 75k – 95k pts business
Points needed for your trip
Flight per person (business) 75k – 95k
Flight total (2 travelers) 170,000 pts
Hotel (4 nights avg) 80,000 pts
Total trip estimate 250,000 pts
Signup bonus covers 24%
Earn rates
4x restaurants & US supermarkets; 3x flights; 1x everything else
Transfer partners for this destination
Hotel transfer partners
Destination-specific note
Same Aeroplan path as Platinum at $250/yr. 4x at restaurants earns well for trip dining.
Key perks
$120 dining credit
$120 Uber Cash
Lower fee than Platinum
Capital One
Venture X
Capital One Miles
75k
signup pts
47% covered by bonus
$395/yr 70k – 90k pts business
Points needed for your trip
Flight per person (business) 70k – 90k
Flight total (2 travelers) 160,000 pts
Total trip estimate 160,000 pts
Signup bonus covers 47%
Earn rates
2x on all purchases; 5x hotels/cars via Capital One Travel
Transfer partners for this destination
Destination-specific note
Transfers to Aeroplan for no-surcharge Air China flights. +15% Cap1 → LifeMiles through April 30. 75k bonus.
Key perks
$300 travel credit
Priority Pass
2x on everything
Chase
Sapphire Preferred
Chase Ultimate Rewards
60k
signup pts
26% covered by bonus
$95/yr 75k – 95k pts business
Points needed for your trip
Flight per person (business) 75k – 95k
Flight total (2 travelers) 170,000 pts
Hotel (4 nights avg) 60,000 pts
Total trip estimate 230,000 pts
Signup bonus covers 26%
Earn rates
3x dining/online groceries/streaming; 2x travel; 1x everything else
Transfer partners for this destination
Hotel transfer partners
Destination-specific note
Budget China card. Transfers to Aeroplan and Hyatt. +30% Chase UR → Hyatt through May 6.
Key perks
$95 annual fee
Same Aeroplan + Hyatt access as Reserve
Citi
Premier Card
Citi ThankYou Points
60k
signup pts
38% covered by bonus
$95/yr 68k – 88k pts business
Points needed for your trip
Flight per person (business) 68k – 88k
Flight total (2 travelers) 156,000 pts
Total trip estimate 156,000 pts
Signup bonus covers 38%
Earn rates
3x air, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas; 1x everything else
Transfer partners for this destination
Hotel transfer partners
Destination-specific note
Citi TY → Turkish +20% through May 10 — useful for IST routing to Beijing or Shanghai.
Key perks
3x on 5 categories
$100 hotel credit
Best booking paths for China
#1 Best Flight
Air Canada Aeroplan on Air China or partner carriers
Air Canada Aeroplan books Air China (Star Alliance) without fuel surcharges. Economy one-way runs 40,000–60,000 miles depending on departure city. Business class runs 75,000–95,000 miles one-way. Chase UR and Capital One both transfer to Aeroplan at 1:1. There is currently a 25% Amex MR → Aeroplan bonus through April 30.
#2 Flexible Flights
United MileagePlus on Air China or ANA
United MileagePlus books Air China and ANA flights to China with dynamic pricing. Business class can start around 80,000 miles one-way in saver availability but varies significantly. Chase UR transfers to United at 1:1. Compare United pricing against Aeroplan before transferring.
#3 Luxury Hotels
World of Hyatt — Grand Hyatt Shanghai or Park Hyatt Beijing
Hyatt has excellent China coverage. Grand Hyatt Shanghai (17,000–20,000 pts/nt) and Park Hyatt Beijing (20,000–25,000 pts/nt) deliver strong value versus $300–$500+ cash rates. Chase UR and Bilt transfer to Hyatt at 1:1. Currently +30% Chase UR → Hyatt bonus through May 6.
#4 Marriott Wide Coverage
Marriott Bonvoy — JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis
Marriott has the widest China luxury hotel coverage with JW Marriott Shanghai, The Ritz-Carlton Beijing, St. Regis Shanghai, and dozens more. Category 1–4 properties start at 15,000–25,000 points per night. Amex MR transfers to Marriott at 3:2.
Insider tips for China award travel
Tip 01 — Aeroplan bonus active now
Amex MR → Aeroplan is +25% through April 30, 2026. This is directly relevant for China — Aeroplan books Air China without fuel surcharges. 48,000 Amex MR → 60,000 Aeroplan miles. That covers a one-way economy ticket to Beijing or Shanghai with miles to spare.
Tip 02 — Payments in China
WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate retail in China — credit cards are often not accepted at small merchants, markets, and taxis. USD-linked WeChat Pay is now available for foreign visitors. Plan for: no-FTF credit card for hotels, WeChat Pay for most daily expenses, cash as backup.
Tip 03 — VPN before you arrive
Google, Gmail, most Western apps, and many mapping apps are blocked in China. Download offline maps (Google Maps offline or Maps.me), set up a VPN before arrival, and save key information offline. This has no credit card impact but dramatically affects the trip experience.
Tip 04 — Shanghai vs Beijing hotel values
Grand Hyatt Shanghai at 17,000 pts/nt is one of the most efficient Hyatt redemptions in Asia. Park Hyatt Beijing at 20,000 pts/nt also delivers strong value. Both are in the ~2.3¢/pt range. Chain hotels from Marriott and Hilton tend to require more points but have wider availability.
Tip 05 — Best travel months
April–May and September–October are ideal. Summer (June–August) in Beijing and Shanghai is hot, humid, and polluted. Avoid Golden Week (Oct 1–7) and Chinese New Year (January/February) — domestic travel is extremely crowded and prices surge.
Tip 06 — Transit visa hack
China offers a 144-hour (6-day) visa-free transit through Beijing, Shanghai, and other major cities for many nationalities. If connecting through China en route to another destination, consider a layover stopover to explore at no visa cost. Check eligibility before booking.
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China Award Travel FAQ
What is the best credit card for China travel?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum are the top China travel cards. Chase UR transfers to Aeroplan (for no-surcharge Air China flights) and Hyatt (for luxury hotels). Amex MR transfers to Aeroplan with a +25% bonus through April 30, 2026, and to Marriott for wide hotel coverage.
How many miles does it cost to fly to China?
Air Canada Aeroplan prices economy one-way at 40,000–60,000 miles (varies by departure city). Business class one-way runs 75,000–95,000 Aeroplan miles without fuel surcharges. United MileagePlus dynamic pricing starts around 80,000 for business saver availability.
Can I use credit cards in China?
Limited. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most hotels, upscale restaurants, and international chains, but WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate daily spending in China. Set up USD-linked WeChat Pay before arrival for street food, taxis, and small merchants. Always carry some cash.
What hotel points program is best for China?
World of Hyatt offers the best value for luxury China hotels — Grand Hyatt Shanghai runs 17,000–20,000 points per night versus $350–$500+ cash. Marriott Bonvoy has the widest footprint across China. Both Chase UR (→ Hyatt) and Amex MR (→ Marriott) work well.
Does Air China have fuel surcharges?
When booked through Air Canada Aeroplan, Air China flights do not incur fuel surcharges. This is one of the key advantages of Aeroplan over booking Air China through its own mileage program or through United, which may apply carrier-imposed charges.
What is the best routing from the US to China?
Air Canada Aeroplan books Air China nonstop from multiple US cities including Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK), and Chicago (ORD) to Beijing (PEK) and Shanghai (PVG). ANA via Tokyo (NRT/HND) is an alternative routing — bookable through Aeroplan or United.
Pre-transfer checklist
Transferred points cannot be returnedPoints
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I have enough points or an active transfer bonus makes it worthwhile now
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I verified the exact points cost on the airline or hotel website before transferring
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I confirmed the transfer ratio (most are 1:1 — verify before moving points)
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I am not transferring speculatively — award space is confirmed first
Flights
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I searched for award space on the airline website before transferring any points
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I confirmed routing, layover, connection time, and terminal
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I know the cancellation and redeposit policy if my dates change
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I confirmed any fuel surcharges and included them in my total cost estimate
Hotels & Timing
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I searched award hotel availability for my exact dates before transferring
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I checked whether resort fees are waived on award stays for this property
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I checked for active transfer bonuses in the live panel above before transferring at standard rate
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I confirmed my points do not expire before the trip dates
YourBestCards is a property of the ByTheMath network. Award rates and transfer bonuses verified July 2026. No institution pays for placement or ranking. Always verify award availability and surcharges directly at the airline or hotel website before transferring points — transferred points cannot be returned. Editorial policy · Scoring methodology