The journey, phase by phase
Every guide in order — from your first idea to flying home. Tap a phase to jump straight to that stage.
-
Staying Healthy in China: Water, Food, Air & What to Pack
How to stay healthy on a China trip — tap water, food safety, air quality, a travel medical kit, pharmacies, and what to do if you get sick.
-
Travel China with Confidence: A First-Timer's Overview
Nervous about your first trip to China? A warm, plain-English overview of everything you need — and links to the guides that handle each part for you.
-
Common Mistakes Foreigners Make in China (and How to Avoid Them)
Avoid the rookie errors that trip up first-time visitors to China.
-
Culture Shock in China: What to Be Prepared For
The everyday culture shocks first-time visitors to China meet — toilets, staring, crowds, spitting and more — and how to take them in stride.
-
Is China Safe for Tourists? An Honest Guide
What to expect around safety, scams, and staying healthy as a foreign visitor in China.
-
20 Essential China Travel Tips for First-Timers
The most important things to know before your first trip to China, from internet to etiquette.
-
Best Time to Visit China by Region (and How to Dodge the Crowds)
China spans every climate, so the best time to visit depends on where you go. A region-by-region guide, season-by-season route ideas, and the domestic-holiday dates to avoid.
-
Get a Feel for China Before You Go: Films, Shows, Games & Books
The best films, documentaries, a video game and books to soak up Chinese culture, food and history before your trip — from A Bite of China to Black Myth: Wukong.
-
How Much Does a China Trip Cost? Real Prices & Daily Budgets
A clear breakdown of what a China trip actually costs — daily budgets for every style, real prices for meals, transport, hotels and attractions, and how to save.
-
Which Airlines Fly to China? A Guide to Your Options
The major airlines flying to China from North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia — plus how to find the best fare.
-
What to Pack for China: A Minimalist Practical Checklist
A no-nonsense packing checklist for a trip to China, season by season.
-
Who Runs China Travel? An Insider’s Guide to the Players
A behind-the-scenes look at the companies that power Chinese tourism — the OTAs, hotel groups, airlines and super-apps — and what it means for your trip.
-
Your Complete China Trip Roadmap: From Planning to Departure
A step-by-step summary of a China trip — every stage from planning and visas through to departure and tax refunds, with links to the detailed guides.
-
Must-Have Apps for Travelling in China
The essential apps for maps, translation, taxis, and payments in China.
-
Roaming vs eSIM vs Local SIM in China: Which to Choose
The three ways to get online in China compared — international roaming, a travel eSIM, or a local SIM card — including which ones bypass the Great Firewall.
-
Self-Guided vs Package Tour in China: Which to Pick?
An honest comparison of travelling China independently versus on an organised tour — cost, freedom, language, and who each suits.
-
Do You Need Travel Insurance for China?
Whether travel insurance is worth it for China, and what to look for in a policy.
-
Best eSIM for China in 2026: Stay Connected Instantly
An eSIM gets you online the moment you land — and some even bypass the Great Firewall. Here are the best options.
-
China Visa Requirements by Nationality (2026 Guide)
Who needs a visa for China, who qualifies for visa-free entry, and how to apply without the stress.
-
Best VPN for China in 2026: What Actually Works
The VPNs that reliably get past the Great Firewall, plus how to set one up before you arrive.
-
How Foreigners Pay in China: Alipay & WeChat Pay Setup
China is nearly cashless. Here is how to set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you go.
-
Common Tourist Scams in China — and How to Avoid Them
China is very safe, but a handful of tourist scams target foreigners around stations, taxis and big sights. Here are the classics and the simple habits that beat them all.
-
Arriving at a Chinese Airport: Immigration & Customs
What to expect at immigration and customs when you land in China.
-
Can Foreigners Visit Xinjiang and Tibet? The Rules, Explained
Xinjiang and Tibet have very different rules for foreign travellers — Tibet needs a permit and an organized tour, while Xinjiang is open but heavily policed. Here is exactly how each works.
-
How to Use China's High-Speed Trains (Foreigner's Guide)
Booking tickets, finding your platform, and riding China’s bullet trains as a foreigner.
-
Booking Domestic Flights in China
How to book and fly domestic routes within China as a foreign traveller.
-
Can Foreigners Rent a Car in China? Rules & Alternatives
Foreign driving licenses and IDPs are not valid in China — here is how the temporary driving permit works, whether self-driving is worth it, and the alternatives that usually beat renting.
-
How to Use Public Toilets in China: What to Expect
Squat vs Western toilets, bringing your own tissues, finding a clean restroom, and the etiquette every first-time visitor to China should know.
-
My Recommended Hotels in China: Good Value & Great Location
Hand-picked hotels across China’s major cities that balance price, comfort, and a location worth staying in.
-
Booking Hotels in China: What Foreigners Need to Know
Which hotels accept foreigners, where to book, and what to expect.
-
Didi for Foreigners: China's Uber, Explained
How to set up and use Didi, China’s ride-hailing app, as a foreign visitor.
-
Getting Help in English in China: Who to Ask When You're Stuck
Where foreigners can find English-speaking help in China — airport volunteers, hotel staff, the police and tourist hotlines — and why it is easiest in the big cities.
-
How to Use the Metro in Chinese Cities
Buying tickets, paying by phone, and navigating China’s metro systems in English.
-
Seasonal Must-Eat Foods in China: What to Eat, and When
Chinese food is deeply seasonal — hairy crab in autumn, qingtuan and yanduxian in spring, zongzi in early summer. A season-by-season guide to timing your trip around the right delicacy.
-
The Weirdest Food in China: Don't Try Unless You're Ready
China's most challenging foods for adventurous eaters — from century eggs and stinky tofu to scorpions and live shrimp. A light-hearted dare for the brave (and a warning for the squeamish).
-
The Black Pearl Guide: China's Own Fine-Dining List
The Black Pearl Restaurant Guide (黑珍珠) is China's home-grown answer to Michelin — covering far more cities and understanding Chinese cuisine more deeply. Here is how it works and how to use it.
-
A Beginner's Guide to Chinese Regional Food
An introduction to China’s regional cuisines and what to order in each.
-
Best Cultural Experiences in China: Tea, Opera & More
Memorable cultural experiences to book, from tea ceremonies to cooking classes.
-
How to Find Halal Food in China
A practical guide to eating halal in China — spotting the 清真 sign, the best halal cuisines, dishes to order, key phrases and useful apps.
-
How to Order Food in China Without Speaking Chinese
Practical tricks for ordering in restaurants when you don’t speak the language.
-
Michelin Restaurants in China: A City-by-City Guide
Where to find Michelin-rated dining across mainland China — which cities are covered, the three-star tables, and the budget-friendly Bib Gourmand gems, with tips on booking.
-
Travelling in China as a Vegetarian (or Vegan)
How to eat well as a vegetarian or vegan in China — the dishes to order, the hidden meat traps, key phrases and handy apps.
-
Leaving China: Departure & Airport Tips
How to handle your departure from China smoothly, from check-out to boarding.
-
Souvenirs & Memories: Wrapping Up Your China Trip
The best souvenirs to bring home and how to keep your China memories alive.
-
Where Next? Asian Destinations Within 5 Hours of China
Use China as a launchpad — an overview of where Chinese airlines fly across Asia within about five hours, from Tokyo to Bangkok.
-
How to Claim Your VAT Tax Refund in China
Who qualifies for China’s tourist VAT refund and how to claim it at the airport.