In this guide 9
- Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Morocco?
- Flights from China to Morocco
- Morocco and China: an old friendship
- Best time to visit Morocco from China
- Morocco travel tips for Chinese visitors
- Where to go on a trip to Morocco from China
- The Sahara: the highlight of a trip to Morocco from China
- Morocco tours from China: why go private?
- FAQ: Morocco from China
A trip to Morocco from China is easier than ever. Chinese citizens can visit Morocco without a visa, and Royal Air Maroc flies nonstop from Beijing to Casablanca. From there, the Sahara, the Atlas Mountains and the medinas of Fes and Marrakech are a short journey away. This guide covers the visa rules, flights, the best season, money and practical tips, and the long friendship between the two countries.
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Morocco?
No. Morocco dropped the visa for Chinese nationals in June 2016, after King Mohammed VI and President Xi Jinping met in Beijing (Business Standard). Chinese passport holders can now stay in Morocco without a visa for up to 90 days (Entry Brief).
Your passport should be valid for at least six months from the day you enter Morocco, and airlines may refuse boarding if it is not (Entry Brief). Also, carry your return ticket and your hotel or tour booking, in case the border officer asks for them.
Flights from China to Morocco
Royal Air Maroc flies nonstop from Beijing Daxing to Casablanca. The flight takes about 13 hours and runs three times a week (FlightConnections). Royal Air Maroc relaunched this route in January 2025 (Morocco World News).
From Shanghai, Shanghai Airlines opened a route to Casablanca in January 2025, at first with a stop in Marseille (Business Wire). However, schedules on this route have changed, so check the current timetable before you book. From Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and other cities, the easiest way is one stop in Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Istanbul.
Casablanca has the best connections inside Morocco. From there, continue to Marrakech or Fes by train, a short domestic flight or a private driver. Read our guide to airport transfers in Morocco to plan your first day.
Morocco and China: an old friendship
Morocco and China opened diplomatic relations on 1 November 1958. It was the second African country to recognise the People’s Republic of China, and in 2016 the two countries signed a strategic partnership (Wikiwand). The link is much older than that. In the 14th century, Ibn Battuta of Tangier wrote about his journey to China, at about the same time as the Chinese traveler Wang Dayuan sailed west.
As a result, since the visa was dropped, more and more Chinese travelers visit Morocco. Arrivals passed 106,000 in 2024, and nearly 200,000 Chinese visitors came in the first eight months of 2025 (Morocco World News).
Best time to visit Morocco from China
Spring, from March to May, and autumn, from September to November, are the most comfortable seasons. At that time, days are warm and dry, and desert nights are fresh. The National Day Golden Week in early October falls in the Moroccan autumn, so it is a great time to travel. Summer is very hot inland, so plan early starts in July and August.
Chinese New Year falls in Moroccan winter. Marrakech is often sunny then, but nights are cold everywhere and there is snow in the High Atlas, so bring a warm jacket. Read Morocco in winter and the best time to visit Morocco month by month, and check the dates of Ramadan in Morocco before you book.
Morocco travel tips for Chinese visitors
- Money: the currency is the Moroccan dirham. Chinese yuan is hard to exchange in Morocco, so bring US dollars or euros, or use ATMs inside banks. Small shops and stalls usually take cash only. Read cash in Morocco and tipping in Morocco.
- Time: Morocco is 7 hours behind China. During Ramadan, Morocco moves its clocks back one more hour.
- Plugs: Morocco uses European round two pin sockets, types C and E, at 220 volts. Bring an adapter for Chinese plugs.
- Food: Moroccan food is halal and full of spices such as cumin and saffron, but it is not very hot. Ask for harissa if you love chili. Read about meals at a Sahara desert camp.
- Phone: buy a local SIM or eSIM on arrival. See the best SIM card in Morocco.
Moroccans speak Darija and Amazigh at home, and French is common in cities. However, English is spoken in hotels, riads and by people working in tourism. Morocco is a Muslim country, so dress modestly in villages and around mosques. Read what language is spoken in Morocco and our guide to Moroccan etiquette.
Where to go on a trip to Morocco from China
Plan ten days to two weeks. Land in Casablanca and see the Hassan II Mosque. After that, travel to Rabat, the blue town of Chefchaouen and Fes. From Fes, the road crosses the Middle Atlas to the Sahara at Merzouga. It then continues through the Dades Valley and Ait Ben Haddou to Marrakech.
Not sure how long to stay? Read how many days you need in Morocco, and see the imperial cities of Morocco.
The Sahara: the highlight of a trip to Morocco from China
China has its own great deserts, but the orange dunes of Erg Chebbi near Merzouga feel like another world. Ride a camel at sunset, eat dinner at camp and sleep under the stars. In the daytime, try quad biking in Merzouga or sandboarding. Read what a night in a Sahara desert camp is like, then choose a 3 or 4 day desert tour from Marrakech.
Morocco tours from China: why go private?
A private driver meets you at the airport and takes care of the roads, so you can rest after the long flight. You travel at your own pace, stop for photos whenever you like and sleep in hand picked riads and in our own desert camp. Our 7 day Casablanca grand tour starts at the airport where flights from China land. The 7 day imperial cities and Sahara tour is another good choice. See how booking works.
Travelers from nearby countries can read our guides to Morocco from Japan, Morocco from South Korea and Morocco from Vietnam.
FAQ: Morocco from China
Do Chinese citizens need a visa for Morocco?
No. Chinese passport holders can visit Morocco without a visa for up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for six months from your arrival.
Is there a direct flight from China to Morocco?
Yes. Royal Air Maroc flies nonstop from Beijing Daxing to Casablanca, about 13 hours, three times a week.
What is the time difference between China and Morocco?
Morocco is 7 hours behind China, and one more hour behind during Ramadan.
When is the best time to visit Morocco from China?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. The October Golden Week is a good time to go. Pack warm clothes if you travel at Chinese New Year.
Can I use Chinese yuan in Morocco?
Yuan is hard to exchange in Morocco. Bring US dollars or euros, or take dirhams from ATMs inside banks.
How many days do I need in Morocco?
Ten days to two weeks lets you see the imperial cities, the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara without rushing.
Planning a trip to Morocco from China? Tell us your dates and we will plan your route from the airport to the Sahara.
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