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From travelers in China right now — answered by expats and our team. No marketing fluff, no AI guesswork.
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212 questionsWhat should travelers know about etiquette when celebrating Chinese New Year?
Book 12306 train tickets the moment they release 15 days early; Spring Festival 2026 starts February 17 and seats vanish in minutes.
How much is a taxi from Chongqing Airport and do I need to tip?
Metered fare to Jiefangbei: ¥48-80 daytime, ¥55-100 at night; flag-fall ¥11, then ¥2.5 per km.
How to set up Alipay and WeChat for travel in China?
Set up both apps at home; the SMS code arrives on your home number, and registration is unreliable on Chinese-routed networks.
When and where is the best place to experience cherry blossoms in Wuxi?
Visit Yuantouzhu Park on Lake Taihu; the festival runs March 1 to April 15, with peak bloom mid to late March.
how to find local restaurants in Chongqing without Google Maps
Install Amap gaode ditu and Dianping before flying; Google Maps fails inside China and a VPN does not fix the coordinate offset.
Is British Airways worth the additional cost compared to China Eastern for flights to Shanghai?
Budget 1,150 GBP round-trip on BA versus 580 GBP on MU for London-Shanghai economy in 2026; the gap is roughly 50%.
What should travelers expect regarding the cost and typicality of Chinese New Year dinners?
Budget 300 to 500 yuan per person for a standard restaurant reunion set in Shanghai 2026; premium venues run 2,000 yuan and up.
Do I need both Alipay and WeChat Pay for China?
Use Alipay TourCard for daily payments; metro, taxi, restaurants, and shops cover 90% of spend on a foreign Visa or Mastercard.
What should travelers know about drone regulations before flying in Chengdu?
Register every drone above 250 grams on the CAAC UOM platform; a Chinese mobile number is required and most tourists cannot complete it remotely.
Can you recommend a reliable English-speaking tour guide in Xi'an?
Budget ¥500-900 per day for a licensed Xi'an private guide; Mount Hua day trips run ¥800-1,200 plus a ¥300 cable car fee.
What are the different types of hotpot in Chengdu and where do locals eat?
Order yuan yang guo split-pot if anyone at the table fears heat; the clear bone broth qing tang side is full-flavor without chili.
How can travelers reach Ya'an to see the tea fields and fog mentioned in the post?
Ride Chengdu West to Mingshan Station on the C-series high-speed train; the trip takes 1 hour and costs about ¥60 second class.