All guides
Everything is written for first-time visitors and kept up to date. Each guide explains the how, the why, and what usually goes wrong — so it doesn’t happen to you.
Visa & Entry
Do you need one, 240-hour transit, 30-day visa-free
Do I Need a Visa for China? (2026) — 3-Minute Check by Passport
Do you need a visa for China in 2026? Check your passport against 30-day visa-free (50 countries), 240-hour transit (55), or the L tourist visa.
Visa & EntryChina 30-Day Visa-Free Entry (2026): The 50 Countries & How It Works
China's 30-day visa-free entry covers 50 countries in 2026. Who qualifies, how the 30 days are counted, and what you can and cannot do — no visa, no fee, no onward ticket.
Visa & EntryChina 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit (2026): Rules, Countries & Step-by-Step
China's 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit in 2026: the 55 eligible countries, how the clock works, which ports you can use, and what to carry at immigration.
Visa & EntryChina Tourist Visa (L Visa) 2026: Step-by-Step Application
Need a China tourist visa (L visa)? The 2026 process: online form, document checklist, fees by nationality, 4–5 day timeline, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
Transport
High-speed rail, metro, and Didi
How to Book China Train Tickets (High-Speed Rail, 2026)
Book China high-speed rail with a foreign passport — 12306 vs Trip.com, seat class, the right station, security, and 2024–2026 change and refund rules.
TransportHow to Use the Metro in China (2026)
Ride China's metro with a foreign passport: Alipay/WeChat QR codes, tapping a bank card, single tickets, security checks and picking the right exit.
TransportDoes Uber Work in China? How to Use Didi Instead (2026)
Uber does not run in mainland China. Book Didi inside Alipay with a foreign card — English UI, airport pickup, and when a street taxi is still fine.
Money & Payments
Alipay, WeChat Pay, cash, and cards
Destinations
When to go, a first-trip route, and which Great Wall
China 10-Day Itinerary: Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai (First Trip)
Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai in 10 days: where to stay, which trains to book, Mutianyu not Badaling, Terracotta timing, and a realistic first-trip budget.
DestinationsGreat Wall of China: Mutianyu, Badaling, or Somewhere Else?
First Great Wall trip from Beijing: Mutianyu is the default. When Badaling or Jinshanling makes sense, tickets, cable car vs toboggan, Didi vs bus — and leave the drone at home.
DestinationsBest Time to Visit China: Month-by-Month (First Trip)
Best months for a first China trip: which holidays and weekends to avoid, when it is too hot or cold, plus 2026–2027 festival dates.
Tech & Apps
eSIM, maps, and what still needs a workaround
Best eSIM for China in 2026 (And How to Set It Up)
A roaming travel eSIM is the simplest way to land in China with data — Google and WhatsApp on cellular, Alipay and Didi working. How to pick one, install it, and whether you still need a VPN.
Tech & AppsDoes Google Maps Work in China? What to Use Instead (2026)
Google Maps may open in China and still send you down the wrong street. Why the pin is offset, why a VPN does not fix it, and what to use instead: Apple Maps and Amap.