China, without the guesswork
Clear, locally informed guidance for independent travelers. What to book ahead, how to pay, which routes are realistic, and what you actually need to know before you land.
Three things to sort before you go
Get these right and the rest of the trip falls into place.
Get in
Visa options, the online arrival card, airport procedures, and what to expect your first hour in the country.
Visa & arrival guide →Get connected
Phone and eSIM setup, payment apps (Alipay and WeChat Pay), internet access, maps that work, and translation.
Phone & payment setup →Get around
High-speed rail booking, metro systems, Didi ride-hailing, booking major attractions, and daily life basics.
Transport & booking guide →Itineraries that actually work
Pre-built routes with realistic pacing, not city wishlists.
7 Days in China for First-Time Visitors
A compact first-trip route that focuses on Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai without trying to see everything.
10 Days in China for First-Time Visitors
A balanced first-trip route with enough time for Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, and one slower East China stop.
Anchor cities for your route
Nine cities that cover the classic first trip, plus seasonal extensions.
Seasonal and regional extensions: HarbinYunnan (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La) are best added on to a core route rather than used as first-trip bases.
Answers, organized by what you are actually trying to do
Golden Week 2026: Oct 1-7
China's National Day holiday is the busiest travel period of the year. Every major sight, train, and hotel will be packed. If you can travel outside these dates, do. If you cannot, book trains and attractions weeks in advance and expect crowds.
See the 2026 holiday calendar →Primary sources where the details matter most
High-risk entry, transport, payment, and ticketing claims are checked against official sources. Local recommendations and unresolved details are labeled separately.
Read our source policy →Official sources first
High-risk visa, ticketing, transport, and booking claims are checked against government and official operator sources before publication.
Foreign-visitor focus
Written specifically for independent international travelers, with attention to foreign passport flows, language barriers, and real pain points.
Transparent corrections
Every page carries a last-checked date and a direct link to report errors or outdated information. Things change fast; we update when they do.