Know before you go
The unglamorous logistics that make or break a China trip — visas, money, trains, apps — explained plainly and kept current.
A practical first-timer guide to travelling China alone: entry rules, a forgiving first route, safety habits, foreigner-friendly hotels, rail and metro tips, payments, and eating solo with confidence.
Read guideTwo cities, one high-speed train, no domestic flights: a day-by-day Beijing and Shanghai itinerary for first-time visitors, with verified 2026 ticket prices, train fares and booking rules.
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Winter in China is three trips in one: ice sculpture in Harbin, quiet classic sightseeing in Beijing and Xi'an, and warm beaches in Sanya. Where to go, what it costs, and the heating surprise to plan around.
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Foreigners need a Tibet Travel Permit arranged through a licensed agency. Here is how it works, what Tibet really costs, and how to time flights and trains.
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What to pack for a first trip to China: one liftable case, layers for changing climates, and the documents, chargers and small essentials that keep you moving.
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Where to eat Peking duck in Beijing: Siji Minfu, Quanjude, Da Dong and more, with 2026 prices in CNY and USD, booking tips and how to eat it.
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Ordering, regional cuisines, spice, allergies, prices and etiquette — a practical first-timer's guide to eating well across China.
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What to know about dining, tipping, tea, greetings and public manners in China, so first-time visitors feel confident from the first meal.
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Which border crossing to use from Hong Kong, how the high-speed train works, and what it costs to reach Shenzhen and Guangzhou in 2026.
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Ten days, four cities, no backtracking: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu and Shanghai by high-speed train and one flight, with the bookings to make first and realistic 2026 prices.
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How to get from Shanghai Pudong, Hongqiao and Beijing Capital and Daxing airports into the city: fares, times, a step-by-step arrival checklist and scam-avoidance tips.
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Trip.com or Booking.com? How to confirm a hotel accepts foreign guests, what check-in really requires, and what to do if you are turned away.
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The ten mistakes first-time visitors to China make most often — visa misunderstandings, tickets booked too late, payment apps left unset up, wrong stations and holiday crowds — and exactly how to avoid each one in 2026.
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Yes, foreign visitors can get a VAT refund in China. Spend at least CNY 200 (about US$29) at one tax-refund store on the same day, keep the goods unused, ask for the refund form and invoice, and leave China within 90 days of purchase and within 183 days of arrival.
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When should you actually go to China? The 2026 answer month by month and region by region — peak crowds to avoid, weather windows for the north, south, west and Tibet, and the best weeks for first-timers.
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For a first trip, stay around the Bund and East Nanjing Road or People's Square: you can walk to the riverfront, Nanjing Road and Yu Garden, and Metro Lines 1, 2, 8 and 10 reach almost everywhere.
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For a first trip, stay in Dongcheng district around Wangfujing: it puts the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and two subway lines within walking distance.
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The real cost of travelling in China in 2026: daily budgets by travel style, verified attraction ticket prices, hotel, food and transport costs, and a sample 10-day trip total — plus where first-timers overspend.
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Install six apps before you fly: Alipay (payments), WeChat (messaging, QR codes, backup payments), Amap (maps and transit), DiDi (rides), Trip.com (trains, flights, hotels) and Baidu Translate (translation).
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If you stay in a hotel, the front desk registers you with the police, so you do nothing extra.
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Yes, foreign visitors can use DiDi, China's dominant ride-hailing app. Install the international DiDi app (English interface, foreign phone number accepted) or open DiDi inside Alipay or WeChat.
Read guideEverything a first-time visitor needs before flying to China: 30-day visa-free entry, Alipay setup, high-speed rail, eSIM vs VPN, a 10-day sample itinerary, and the practical tips nobody tells you.
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How to ride China's high-speed trains as a foreign visitor: G/D/C train types, seat classes, 12306 vs Trip.com booking with a passport, fares for popular routes, and holiday booking tips.
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How to get online in China as a visitor: travel eSIMs that bypass the Great Firewall, why hotel Wi-Fi still blocks Google and WhatsApp, VPN rules, and local SIM options.
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China runs on QR-code payments — but foreigners can use them too. How to set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card, fees to watch, and when cash still wins.
Read guideNo visa, up to 10 days in China? The 240-hour transit-without-visa policy explained: who qualifies, which cities count, and the mistakes to avoid.
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