Plan before you go8
View all →How to Pay in China as a Foreign Visitor
Alipay, WeChat Pay, cash and cards — which international cards work, what the fees actually are (free under ¥200, 3% above it), the transaction limits, and what to set up before you fly.
Last updated 9/16/2026
China Visa & Visa-Free Entry: The Complete 2026 Guide
Who can enter China without a visa in 2026, how the 30-day visa-free and 240-hour transit policies work, and how to apply for a tourist visa if you need one.
Last updated 8/22/2026
On the ground11
View all →How to Eat in China: Ordering, Menus, Dietary Needs & What to Try
How to order food, read a menu without Chinese, handle dietary restrictions, and find the dishes worth trying — a practical dining guide for foreign visitors, kept up to date.
Last updated 8/21/2026
China High-Speed Rail: A Complete Guide for Foreign Travelers
How to book China high-speed train tickets with a foreign passport, what the seat classes are, and how to board — a step-by-step guide for first-time visitors.
Last updated 8/17/2026
Explore destinations12
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Hangzhou: The Lake That Was Written
EastWest Lake isn't a natural wonder — it's a poem a thousand years in the making, built by two poet-governors and named by a painting academy. Why Hangzhou is where China keeps its idea of beauty, and the 2026 catch: the lake is free, but the temple now needs a reservation.
Last updated 9/16/2026
Guilin & Yangshuo: The Postcard Is Down the River
SouthThe karst peaks on every China postcard aren't in Guilin city — they're along the Li River and around Yangshuo. A river-and-terrace journey through China's most famous landscape, and why the old proverb turns out to be literally true.
Last updated 9/9/2026
Xi'an: The Terracotta Army and China's Ancient Capital
NorthwestHow to spend three days in Xi'an — the Terracotta Army, the city wall you cycle on top of, the Muslim Quarter's food, and the ancient capital where China's story begins.
Last updated 9/1/2026
Chengdu: The City You Won't Want to Leave
SouthwestPandas, tea houses, hotpot and the most relaxed pace in China — how to spend five unhurried days in Chengdu, and why no one who comes here really wants to leave.
Last updated 8/29/2026