General Travel Tips
General travel tips for first-time visitors to China. Plug adapters (Type A, C, I), best months to visit (April-May, September-October avoid Golden Week Oct 1-7), tipping etiquette (not customary), and the small habits that make day-to-day travel smoother. Practical answers from people who actually live and travel here.
4 answers
Where should I travel in China during March or April for a relaxing spring experience?
Land in Kunming by mid-March if you want to see the black-headed gulls at Green Lake; most leave for Siberia by mid-April.
Is it worth including Kunming and the Stone Forest in a comprehensive China itinerary that already includes Zhangjiajie?
Skip the Stone Forest if Zhangjiajie is already booked; both read as jagged karst and the second visit fatigues most travelers.
How can I make the most of a two-month solo China trip starting in Kunming?
Book only your first hostel, then use WeChat and Amap to reserve hotels day by day as you arrive.
What should I prepare before moving from the US to Kunming/Yunnan for two years, especially for sending money home?
Send up to about 500 USD a day on your passport alone at a major Bank of China or ICBC branch; larger monthly transfers need your tax records and contract.