China Travel Guides
The practical answers first-timers actually need — payments, internet, trains, safety and budgets. No fluff, everything human-verified.
Visa & Entry
Payments & Money
How to Use Alipay as a Foreigner in China (2026)
Alipay works with foreign credit cards in 2026 — here's how to set it up before your trip, what the fees are, and every trick for paying like a local.
Updated 2026-09-01
How to Use WeChat Pay as a Foreigner
WeChat Pay accepts foreign cards — here's the setup, the differences from Alipay, and why you'll want both apps on your China trip.
Updated 2026-09-01
Internet & eSIM
Best eSIM for China Travel (2026)
A China eSIM solves your biggest practical problem — staying online with Google, WhatsApp and Maps working. Here's how to choose one, what it costs, and the VPN question.
Updated 2026-09-01
Does Google Maps Work in China?
Short answer: barely. Google Maps loads but with wrong coordinates and no walking directions inside China. Here's what to use instead (hint: Amap).
Updated 2026-09-01
Does WhatsApp Work in China?
WhatsApp is blocked in mainland China — but a travel eSIM or pre-installed VPN keeps your messages flowing. Here's the full picture plus alternatives.
Updated 2026-09-01
Transportation
How to Use China's High-Speed Rail (2026)
45,000 km of 350 km/h bullet trains make China the easiest big country to travel in. Here's how the system works, how to buy tickets, and the etiquette that keeps carriages silent.
Updated 2026-09-01
How to Buy Train Tickets in China (Foreigner's Guide)
12306 vs Trip.com vs station windows: the three ways foreigners buy Chinese train tickets, step by step, with fees and pitfalls compared.
Updated 2026-09-01
How to Use DiDi in China (Uber's Chinese Twin)
DiDi is how you take a taxi in modern China: app-hailed, metered, payable with Alipay. Here's the setup, costs and the airport-taxi traps to skip.
Updated 2026-09-01
Practical Tips
China Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Everything you need to know before your first trip to China: visas, payments, internet, transport, safety and the classic routes — one practical, no-fluff guide.
Updated 2026-09-01
Is China Safe for Foreign Tourists?
Statistically one of the safest countries you can visit — including for solo women. The real risks are scams, traffic and spicy food. An honest breakdown.
Updated 2026-09-01
Hotels in China: What Foreigners Need to Know
Not every Chinese hotel is licensed to host foreign guests — here's how to filter, where to book, and what 'foreigner-friendly' actually means in practice.
Updated 2026-09-01
30 Useful Chinese Phrases for Travelers
The 30 phrases that actually matter — with pinyin and pronunciation hints — from 'no cilantro' to 'which metro line to the Terracotta Warriors'.
Updated 2026-09-01
15 Common Tourist Mistakes in China (Avoid These)
From assuming your credit card works to eating at the restaurant next to the Terracotta Warriors — the mistakes every first-timer makes, and the easy fixes.
Updated 2026-09-01
How Much Does a Trip to China Cost? (2026 Budgets)
Realistic daily budgets for budget, mid-range and luxury travelers: hotels, food, trains and entry fees, with a 10-day sample trip priced three ways.
Updated 2026-09-01