Practical Guides
Browse all our China travel guides by topic.
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20 Essential China Travel Tips for First-Timers
The most important things to know before your first trip to China, from internet to etiquette.
Most Important Tips
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Planning
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Book Your China Trip: All the Links in One Place
Best Time to Visit China by Region (and How to Dodge the Crowds)
Get a Feel for China Before You Go: Films, Shows, Games & Books
How Much Does a China Trip Cost? Real Prices & Daily Budgets
Which Airlines Fly to China? A Guide to Your Options
What to Pack for China: A Minimalist Practical Checklist
Who Runs China Travel? An Insider’s Guide to the Players
Your Complete China Trip Roadmap: From Planning to Departure
Must-Have Apps for Travelling in China
Roaming vs eSIM vs Local SIM in China: Which to Choose
Self-Guided vs Package Tour in China: Which to Pick?
Do You Need Travel Insurance for China?
Best eSIM for China in 2026: Stay Connected Instantly
China Visa Requirements by Nationality (2026 Guide)
Best VPN for China in 2026: What Actually Works
How Foreigners Pay in China: Alipay & WeChat Pay Setup
Getting Around
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Supermarkets & Convenience Stores in China: A Traveller’s Guide
Common Tourist Scams in China — and How to Avoid Them
Arriving at a Chinese Airport: Immigration & Customs
Can Foreigners Visit Xinjiang and Tibet? The Rules, Explained
How to Use China's High-Speed Trains (Foreigner's Guide)
Booking Domestic Flights in China
Can Foreigners Rent a Car in China? Rules & Alternatives
In the City
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How to Use QR Codes on China's Public Transport (Metro & Bus)
How to Use Public Toilets in China: What to Expect
My Recommended Hotels in China: Good Value & Great Location
Booking Hotels in China: What Foreigners Need to Know
Didi for Foreigners: China's Uber, Explained
Getting Help in English in China: Who to Ask When You're Stuck
How to Use the Metro in Chinese Cities
Eat & Experience
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China's Big Restaurant Chains, Explained: Hotpot, Fast Food & More
Chinese Breakfast: A City-by-City Guide to the Best Wake-up Food
Seasonal Must-Eat Foods in China: What to Eat, and When
The Weirdest Food in China: Don't Try Unless You're Ready
The Black Pearl Guide: China's Own Fine-Dining List
A Beginner's Guide to Chinese Regional Food
Best Cultural Experiences in China: Tea, Opera & More
How to Find Halal Food in China
How to Order Food in China Without Speaking Chinese
Michelin Restaurants in China: A City-by-City Guide
Travelling in China as a Vegetarian (or Vegan)
Before Departure
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Eat & Buy at Shanghai Pudong Airport Terminal 2 (PVG T2)
Souvenirs You Can't Export from China: Antiques, Relics & Banned Goods
Leaving China: Departure & Airport Tips
Souvenirs & Memories: Wrapping Up Your China Trip
Where Next? Asian Destinations Within 5 Hours of China
How to Claim Your VAT Tax Refund in China
China is for Everyone
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Visiting China as a Black or Indian Traveller: An Honest Guide
Are Chinese People Xenophobic? An Honest Answer for Visitors
China for Every Traveller: Seniors, Families, LGBTQ+
China for Muslim Travellers: Halal Food, Mosques & Prayer
China for Senior Travellers: Pace, Access & Practical Tips
Solo Female Travel in China: Safety & Practical Tips
China with a Baby or Kids: A Practical Family Guide
LGBTQ+ Travel in China: What to Know Before You Go
Self-Guided Itineraries
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The Perfect 4-Week China Itinerary (30-Day Visa-Free Trip)
Beijing in 1–3 Days: A Self-Guided Itinerary
Chengdu in 1–3 Days: A Self-Guided Itinerary
Guangzhou in 1–3 Days: A Self-Guided Itinerary
Hangzhou in 1–3 Days: A Self-Guided Itinerary
Shanghai in 1–3 Days: A Self-Guided Itinerary
Xiamen in 1–3 Days: A Self-Guided Itinerary
China Highlights
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Songyunze & Zhang Yuanfu: The Refined Soul of Sichuan Cuisine
Northern China Bathhouse Culture: A Full Day to Soak, Scrub, Eat & Play
Creative Chinese Fusion Dining: Fine Dining to Bistros
All 60 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China, Ranked
Cantonese Cuisine: Dim Sum, Roast Meats & Fresh Seafood
China’s Cultural Highlights: History, Temples & Traditions
China’s Natural Wonders: Mountains, Karst & Pandas
China’s Ancient Towns: Pingyao, Lijiang & Water Towns
Chinese Opera & Performance: Peking Opera, Acrobatics & More
Chinese Street Food: What to Eat at the Night Market
Chinese Tea Culture: Tea Houses, Ceremonies & Where to Try It
Dental Care & Health Check-ups in China for Visitors
The Forbidden City: Visiting Beijing’s Imperial Palace
Seeing Giant Pandas in Chengdu
Glasses & Optical in China: Cheap, Fast Eyewear
The Great Wall of China: Which Section to Visit
Guilin & Yangshuo: China’s Iconic Karst Scenery
Hainan Duty-Free: Luxury Bargains on China’s Tropical Island
Healthcare & Medical Tourism in China: A Visitor’s Guide
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain): Peaks Above the Clouds
Jiangnan Cuisine: The Sweet, Refined Food of the East
Jiuzhaigou: China’s Valley of Turquoise Lakes
Longji Rice Terraces: The Dragon’s Backbone
Markets & Bargaining in China: How to Haggle Like a Local
Northern Chinese Cuisine: Peking Duck, Noodles & Dumplings
Shopping in China: Markets, Malls, Tech & Duty-Free
Sichuan Cuisine: Bold, Numbing-Spicy & Unmissable
Tech & Electronics Shopping in China: Shenzhen & Beyond
The Terracotta Warriors: Xi’an’s Buried Army
Traditional Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture, Cupping & Herbs
Xinjiang Cuisine: Smoky, Central Asian Flavours
