Travel Tips
Short, specific answers to the questions that come up in the first 48 hours: which apps are blocked, whether your eSIM needs a VPN, what tipping and ID checks look like, how to read a Chinese menu. Written for the moment you are standing there with the problem.
17 guides
Best Chinese Apps Every Tourist Should Download (2026)
Best Chinese Apps Every Tourist Should Download (2026) You can't survive a China trip on Google Maps and Gmail. Both are blocked at the border. Here are the 8 chinese apps to install BEFORE you land , plus the one Western app that works with zero setup. WeChat and Alipay are non-negotiable . The...
Best Translation App for China - 6 Apps That Actually Work in 2026
Six translation apps tested against China's Great Firewall in 2026 - which work without a VPN, which work fully offline, and exactly which one to pull out at restaurants, in taxis, at pharmacies, and at the hotel front desk.
China Train First Class vs Second Class: Seats, Luggage and Value
A practical comparison of first and second class on China's high-speed trains, with verified seat layouts and a route-by-route value test.
China Train Luggage Rules for Foreigners: Weight, Size and Security
The official luggage limits for China trains, what happens at station security and how to pack a suitcase that works on a high-speed train.
Weather in China in April 2026: What to Expect & Pack
Weather in China in April 2026: What to Expect & Pack April in China is basically two different countries at the same time. Beijing can still drop to 4°C (39°F) at dawn while Guangzhou bakes at 28°C (82°F) by lunch. If you're flying in this month, pack for spring in the north and almost-summer...
Does Apple Maps Work in China? The Map Apps That Actually Help
A July 2026 guide to AMap Global's new HiChina services, Apple Maps, Google Maps and offline backup maps for mainland China.
Can You Use Credit Cards in China? A 2026 Reality Check
Can You Use Credit Cards in China? A 2026 Reality Check Short answer: yes. Your Visa or Mastercard works in China in 2026, but probably not the way you're picturing. Hotels, airports, and big chains still swipe your card the normal way. But for 90% of everyday spending, taxis, bubble tea,...
China Travel Vaccinations: What You Need
China Travel Vaccinations: What Shots Do You Need? (2026) No vaccines are legally required to enter China -- unless you're arriving from a yellow fever zone. For most tourists visiting Beijing, Shanghai, or Xi'an, the CDC recommends 2-3 shots costing $150-300 (¥1,080-2,160) total. That's it. Not...
Domestic Flights in China: A Foreigner's 2026 Airport Guide
Flying domestically in China as a foreigner is easier than you think — if you know which app to book on, what to do at the kiosk when it rejects your passport, and how to handle the security queue where liquids over 100ml are aggressively confiscated. This guide covers 2026 pricing, Trip.com versus...
Can Americans Enter China Without a Visa? 2026 Rules
The short answer for 2026: yes, US passport holders can enter mainland China without a visa under specific circumstances — most importantly the 240-hour transit policy, Hainan province's 30-day visa-free entry, and direct visa-free access to Hong Kong (90 days) and Macau (30 days). This guide...
China 144-Hour Visa-Free Cities List: Updated 2026 Rules
If you are searching for China's 144-hour visa-free transit cities in 2026, start here: the policy was expanded on 17 December 2024 into a 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit that now covers the same cities plus dozens more. This guide maps every city that used to be on the 144-hour list, shows...
Solo Female Travel in China: Safety Guide (2026)
China is one of the safest countries in the world for solo female travelers, but the friction is different from what you might expect. This is a straight-talk guide covering the real safety picture, scams in tourist zones, Didi vs street taxis, hotel check-in issues, night transit, and what to...
Yangshuo Rock Climbing Packing List 2026: No Guide Needed
A practical 2026 packing list for self-guided rock climbing in Yangshuo, Guangxi. Covers what to bring vs what to rent locally (shoes, harness, chalk bag, quickdraws, rope), where the real shops are near West Street, the key crags (Moon Hill, White Mountain, Twin Gate Cave), grade expectations from...
Public Restrooms in China 2026: Survival Guide for Travelers
A practical 2026 field guide to public restrooms in China for foreign travelers. Covers how to find the nearest clean toilet using Amap and WeChat mini-programs, why you need to bring your own toilet paper, the difference between squat and western toilets, which chains (McDonald's, Starbucks, KFC,...
What to Do If You Get Sick in China: Hospital Guide 2026
Getting sick in China as a foreign traveler is manageable if you know which hospital to go to, what payment to expect, and which pharmacy chains carry what you need. This 2026 guide walks through the difference between private foreign-friendly hospitals like Beijing United Family, Parkway Shanghai,...
Best Time to Visit China: Month-by-Month Guide for 2026 Travelers
The best time to visit China depends entirely on where you're going and what you want. April-May and September-October are the universal sweet spots for weather, crowds, and hotel prices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an. Summer is muggy in the lowlands but perfect for Xinjiang, Tibet, and Inner...
Is China Safe for Tourists in 2026? An Honest Assessment
An honest safety breakdown for China travel in 2026 that separates news-cycle fear from the risks you actually need to manage. Violent crime is rare, street harassment is near-zero, and solo female travelers consistently report feeling safer in Chinese cities than in most Western ones. The real...