Guides
China travel guides
New to China? Start with a route, then sort out entry rules and payments: those are the two that can stop a trip.
Planning
China itinerary for first-timers: the classic 10-day and 14-day routes
Two tried-and-tested routes for a first trip to China, Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, and Shanghai, with train and flight times between each stop.
Best time to visit China: seasons, weather, and the holidays to avoid
When to go to China by season and region, and the Chinese holidays when trains sell out, sights are packed, and hotel prices jump.
Entry & Visas
Money & Payments
How to pay in China as a foreigner: Alipay, WeChat Pay, cards, and cash
China runs on QR-code payments. How to link your foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay, what the 3% fee over ¥200 means, and when cash still helps.
How much does a trip to China cost? A daily budget for 2026
Typical daily costs in China for budget, mid-range, and comfortable travel: hotels, food, trains, sights, and the costs people forget.
Food
Getting Around
How to book China's high-speed trains as a foreigner
Book on 12306, the official site, or through Trip.com; what to do at the station with a passport; seat classes; and when to book.
How to use DiDi and taxis in China as a foreigner
Book rides with the DiDi mini-program in Alipay or the DiDi app, pay with your foreign card, and avoid airport taxi scams.
Internet & Apps
Internet in China: how to use Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram (eSIM vs VPN)
Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram are blocked in China. Why a travel eSIM is the easiest fix, how to set one up before you fly, and what still won't work.
Apps you need in China: the essential list for foreign travellers
The apps to install before you go: payments, taxis, maps, trains, translation, and food. What each is for, and which work in English.
Cities
Beijing in 4 days: a first-timer's itinerary (with booking tips)
The Forbidden City, the Great Wall at Mutianyu, the Temple of Heaven, and the hutongs, in a realistic 4-day plan, plus the tickets you must book a week ahead.
Shanghai in 3 days: an itinerary for first-time visitors
The Bund, Yu Garden, the former French Concession, the Pudong skyline, and a canal-town day trip, in a 3-day plan with transport tips.
Xi'an in 2 days: the Terracotta Warriors, the city wall, and the Muslim Quarter
How to book Terracotta Warriors tickets with a foreign passport, the cheapest ways to get there, and a 2-day plan for Xi'an.
Chengdu in 2 days: pandas, tea houses, and Sichuan food
How to book the Chengdu Panda Base with a passport, the best time to see pandas awake, and a relaxed 2-day plan for Chengdu.
Guilin and Yangshuo: Li River cruise, bamboo rafts, and karst scenery (3 days)
Li River cruise or bamboo raft? Prices, the 20-yuan-note view at Xingping, cycling in Yangshuo, and a 3-day plan.
Which section of the Great Wall should you visit? Mutianyu vs Badaling vs Jinshanling
Compare the Great Wall sections near Beijing by scenery, crowds, travel time, and price, and pick the right one for your trip.
Hangzhou in 2 days: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, and Longjing tea
A 2-day Hangzhou plan: walking West Lake's causeways, booking the now-free Lingyin Temple with a passport, and the tea villages, 45 minutes from Shanghai.
Suzhou in a day: classical gardens, canals, and Pingjiang Road
How to book Suzhou's famous gardens with a passport, which gardens to choose, and a one-day plan, 30 minutes from Shanghai.
Zhangjiajie: the 'Avatar' mountains, glass bridges, and Tianmen Mountain (3 days)
Tickets for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (valid 4 days), the Bailong Elevator, Tianmen Mountain, and a 3-day plan for the sandstone pillars.
Yunnan in 8 days: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La by high-speed train
An 8-day Yunnan route by high-speed train: Dali's lake and old town, Lijiang and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Shangri-La.