20 guides & growing
Practical China travel answers before the itinerary gets real.
Entry rules, payments, mobile data, rail, culture, and daily logistics, organized for travelers who want fewer surprises after landing.
Before booking checklist
Turn practical uncertainty into a route decision.
Use this as the minimum check sequence before deposits, long-distance transfers, or remote mountain routes.
Entry
Confirm the visa path before booking
Match passport, stay length, arrival city, and onward route. Treat the result as a planning signal until official sources confirm it.
Run visa checkMoney
Prepare Alipay, WeChat Pay, and backup cash
Payments are the first on-the-ground friction point for many inbound travelers.
Read payment setupConnectivity
Install eSIM, VPN-safe apps, and offline backups
Make maps, translation, messaging, and payment recovery usable before the travel day.
Check appsRoute
Check whether the city order is realistic
Use guide constraints and destination context to avoid a beautiful route that fails on transfers.
Draft routeTransport
Verify trains, transfers, and local arrival windows
Long-distance rail is powerful, but the final transfer often decides whether the day works.
Read train guideStay
Confirm hotel eligibility and weather exposure
Foreigner-friendly accommodation and seasonal conditions should be checked before locking remote destinations.
Check lodgingVisa & Entry
Visa-free policies, transit exemptions, and entry requirements
Payments & Money
Mobile payments, currency, and cashless survival
Payments (Alipay & WeChat) 支付宝微信
Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card, keep a cash backup, and avoid the payment failures that derail first days in China.
Read guideCash vs. Digital: Managing Money in China
Should you bring cash? How to use ATMs, and what happens if your WeChat Pay crashes.
Read guideInternet & SIM
eSIMs, the Great Firewall, and staying connected
Internet & eSIM (The Firewall)
Choose roaming, eSIM, local SIM, maps, translation, and offline backups before mainland network restrictions surprise you.
Read guideThe Only 6 Apps You Need in China
Delete everything else. These 6 apps will handle navigation, translation, payments, and food delivery.
Read guideTransportation
High-speed rail, DiDi, metro, and maps
Navigating & Transportation 交通
Use metros, DiDi, Amap, passport-based trains, and station planning without losing a travel day to logistics.
Read guideNavigating the High-Speed Rail Network
How to buy tickets on 12306, navigate massive bullet train stations, and understand your seat class.
Read guideDomestic Flights vs. Bullet Trains
When does it make sense to fly instead of taking the train? A cost and time comparison.
Read guideCulture & Etiquette
Customs, tipping, language tips, and local norms
Essential Chinese Phrases for Travelers
The absolute bare minimum Mandarin you need to survive arriving, eating, and traveling in China.
Read guide10 Unspoken Cultural Rules in China
Avoid offending locals and blend in better with these unspoken cultural norms and etiquette tips.
Read guidePhotography Rules & Drone Laws in China
Where you can fly drones, what you absolutely cannot photograph, and tips for street photography.
Read guideFood & Dining
Menus, ordering apps, street food, and dining etiquette
Safety & Health
Pharmacies, hospitals, tap water, and emergency contacts
Weather & Packing
Seasonal climate guides and definitive packing lists
Accommodation
Hotels that accept foreigners, hostels, and booking tips
Shopping & Tax
Tax refunds, electronics markets, and souvenir tips
Solo Travel
Safety, dining alone, and navigating language barriers
Family Travel
Kid-friendly destinations, food, and travel logistics
Budget Travel
Backpacking tips, cost-cutting hacks, and cheap eats
Luxury Travel
Boutique hotels, private guides, and premium experiences