Travel essentials

The practical
China manual.

Answers to the questions that usually appear after the flight is booked—and before the confidence arrives.

All guidesArrivalMoneyTransportDigital basicsPlanning
00Pillar guide

First Trip to China: Complete Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

Start here for visas, payments, apps, trains, cities, itineraries, safety tips and your first day after landing.

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01Cities

Beijing Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors: 4-Day Itinerary

Plan your first Beijing trip with a practical 4-day itinerary covering the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, hutongs, transport and reservations.

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02Cities

Shanghai Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors: A Practical 4-Day Itinerary

Plan a first Shanghai trip with a practical four-day route covering The Bund, Yu Garden, the former French Concession, Jing'an, Pudong, Disney or Zhujiajiao, food, hotels and transport.

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03Cities

3 Days in Zhangjiajie: A Comfortable Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Plan a comfortable 3-day Zhangjiajie trip covering Tianmen Mountain, Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, Golden Whip Stream, hotels, transport and practical travel tips.

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04Cities

Complete Zhangjiajie Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

A detailed Zhangjiajie travel guide for first-time visitors covering National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain, Grand Canyon, itinerary choices, hotels, transport, tickets and common mistakes.

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05Cities

Zhangjiajie 2-Day Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

A realistic two-day Zhangjiajie itinerary with exact day routes, hotel-base guidance, luggage handling, timelines, weather backup and what to skip.

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06Cities

Where to Stay in Zhangjiajie

Choose the right Zhangjiajie base for National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain, transport connections and short first-time itineraries.

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07Cities

Zhangjiajie Transportation Guide

Understand Zhangjiajie airport, rail stations, Wulingyuan transfers, scenic-area movement and common transport mistakes.

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08Cities

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Guide

Plan Zhangjiajie National Forest Park with clear first-time advice on areas, entrances, pacing, tickets, weather and what not to confuse it with.

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09Cities

Common Zhangjiajie Travel Mistakes

Avoid the Zhangjiajie mistakes that cause wrong hotels, wrong stations, overloaded itineraries, missed ticket checks and stressful scenic days.

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10Arrival

How to Complete the China Arrival Card Online: 2026 Guide

Learn how to complete the China arrival card online, what information to prepare, when to submit it, and what to do if you make a mistake.

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11Money

How to Verify Alipay in China as a Foreigner (Passport & Bank Card Guide)

Step-by-step Alipay verification guide for foreigners in China. Learn passport verification, international bank card linking, common errors and solutions.

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12Planning

China Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors (2026)

Start here: entry rules, payments, apps, transport, cities, safety, internet and the first 24 hours in China.

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13Arrival

Airport to metro: your first 90 minutes

A picture-led route through immigration, baggage, customs and the train into town.

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14Money

How to Use Alipay in China as a Foreigner (Complete 2026 Guide)

A step-by-step Alipay setup and payment guide for first-time foreign visitors, with failure fixes and backup plans.

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15Money

Can Foreigners Use WeChat Pay in China?

What overseas visitors need to know about registration, international cards, QR payments and backup options.

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16Money

China Cashless Payment Guide 2026

A practical 2026 payment setup covering Alipay, WeChat Pay, international cards, cash and failure-proof backups.

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17Transport

How to Book China Train Tickets With a Foreign Passport

A focused guide to buying China train tickets with a foreign passport, including name entry, passport numbers, station names, booking platforms and common purchase problems.

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18Transport

How to Buy China High Speed Train Tickets

How to choose a train, book with a passport, find the right station and board confidently.

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19Transport

China Train Travel Guide for Foreigners

A complete first-timer guide to train types, passports, stations, luggage, boarding and arrivals.

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20Transport

How to Get Around China Without Speaking Chinese

A practical transport system using saved addresses, translation, metro signs, ride-hailing and staffed help.

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21Digital basics

Best Apps for China Travel

The essential app stack for payments, maps, taxis, trains, translation and bookings.

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22Arrival

China Travel Checklist Before You Go

The essential pre-departure checklist for documents, payments, apps, internet, bookings and arrival day.

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23Arrival

Is China Safe for Foreign Tourists?

A balanced guide to everyday safety, local laws, transport, health, documents and emergency preparation.

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24Planning

China 7 Day Itinerary for First Time Visitors

A realistic first-week route combining Beijing and Shanghai with one efficient high-speed rail connection.

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25Planning

China 14 Day Travel Route

A balanced two-week route through Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Shanghai with sensible travel days.

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26Planning

Beijing Shanghai Xi'an Route Guide

How to sequence China’s classic first-trip triangle, divide your nights and choose the best rail connections.

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27Planning

Where to stay on your first China trip

Choose the right area before comparing individual hotels.

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28Digital basics

SIM cards, eSIMs and staying connected

Understand the trade-offs before you choose your travel data setup.

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29Arrival

Your first 24 hours in China

A calm arrival checklist from the airport to your first breakfast.

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