National Day travel
Source checkedChina Golden Week 2026
China's National Day holiday runs October 1 to 7, 2026. Plan train bookings, hotel stays and attraction tickets, with practical options for a last-minute trip.
Open guideGuide library
Practical China travel guides.
Browse by task. Check each guide’s evidence status before you act.
All travel guides
Money & payments
Source checkedHow to Pay in China as a Visitor (2026): Setup, Fees & Fallbacks
Set up mobile payments, understand international-card fees and keep card and cash fallbacks. Last checked 18 August 2026.
Open guide
AI illustrationMoney & payments
Source checkedWeChat Pay for Foreigners: International Card Fees, Limits & Fixes (2026)
Set up WeChat Pay, link an overseas card, check the current 3% fee threshold and understand account limits. Last checked 18 August 2026.
Open guide
AI illustrationMoney & payments
Source checkedWeChat Pay / Alipay Not Working in China? Fixes & Fallbacks
Diagnose card linking, verification, pending charges and merchant failures without repeating a risky payment. Last checked 18 August 2026.
Open guide
Booking & transport
Source checkedChina Train Tickets for Foreigners: Book on 12306 (2026)
Book China train tickets through the official 12306 English service and avoid passport-name and station mistakes. Last checked 17 August 2026.
Open guide
Hotels
Source checkedCan Foreigners Book Hotels in China? Registration & Check-in Rules (2026)
Check hotel registration rules, confirm your check-in with the property and know where to turn if it falls through. Last checked 17 August 2026.
Open guide
Phone setup
Source checkedChina Travel Apps: A Minimal Setup
Choose and test a few apps for payment, trains, rides, maps, translation and communication in China.
Open guide
AI illustrationMaps & navigation
Source checkedDoes Google Maps Work in China?
Find out whether Google Maps will load on your mainland China connection, check the routes it gives you and prepare another map and offline addresses.
Open guide
AI illustrationPhone setup
Source checkedChina eSIM: How to Stay Connected as a Visitor
How to pick a China eSIM, what it costs, whether it comes with a phone number, and how to set it up before you land. Source-checked.
Open guide
Attraction booking
Source checkedForbidden City Tickets for Foreigners (2026): Official Booking Guide
Book Forbidden City tickets through the Palace Museum's official online system or WeChat mini-program. Passport, release-time and entry guidance checked 19 September 2026.
Open guide
Booking & transport
Source checkedHow to Use Didi in China: English App Guide (2026)
Book a Didi ride in English with a foreign phone number and international card, with a fallback for driver calls. Last checked 18 August 2026.
Open guide
AI illustrationSafety & emergencies
Source checkedChina Emergency Numbers and Offline Contacts
Know the numbers to call before you need them, and save a bilingual help card you can show when you cannot describe the emergency in Chinese.
Open guide
AI illustrationArrival day
Source checkedBeijing Capital Airport to the City: PEK Arrival Guide
Choose your transfer from Beijing Capital Airport, prepare a way to pay and save directions you can use without mobile data.
Open guide
AI illustrationMoney & payments
Source checkedCash in China for Visitors: When You Still Need RMB
Do you still need cash in China? Where to get RMB, the 2026 cash-acceptance rule, and what to do if a business refuses cash. Source-checked.
Open guide
AI illustrationBooking & transport
Source checkedChina Train Ticket Refunds & Changes: Fees and Rules (2026)
Check the official 12306 refund policy: fee bands, the 30-minute grace period, ticket changes and what to do after departure.
Open guide
AI illustrationHotels & accommodation
Source checkedTemporary Residence Registration in China for Visitors (2026)
Register a non-hotel stay within 24 hours using nationwide NIA online channels or in-person registration. Check host assistance and completion. Reviewed 22 September 2026.
Open guide
AI illustrationMoney & payments
Source checkedChina Tourist Tax Refund: Percentage, Calculator & How to Claim (2026)
China tourist tax refund rates are 11% or 8% before fees. See net amounts using a 2% fee, the RMB 200 minimum, a calculator and claim steps.
Open guide
AI illustrationEntry & preparation
Source checkedBringing Medicine into China: Prescription & ADHD Rules (2026)
Pack prescription medicine for personal use and check whether ADHD or other controlled ingredients need extra documents. Last checked 18 August 2026.
Open guide
Original illustrationEntry & visas
Source checkedChina Visa Requirements for Visitors
Check which China visa you need, what documents to prepare, fees and processing times. Source-checked, last checked 2026.
Open guide
Original illustrationEntry & visas
Source checkedChina Visa-Free Entry Rules: Unilateral, Mutual & Transit
Check whether you need a visa for China: compare unilateral waivers, mutual visa-exemption agreements and 240-hour transit with passport-specific stay limits.
Open guide
AI illustrationEntry & visas
Source checkedDo Australians Need a Visa for China? 2026 Entry Guide
Australian ordinary passport holders can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under the current policy; check the purpose, documents and end date.
Open guide
AI illustrationEntry & visas
Source checkedDo UK Citizens Need a Visa for China? 2026 Entry Guide
UK ordinary passport holders can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days from 17 February through 31 December 2026, subject to purpose and entry checks.
Open guide
AI illustrationEntry & visas
Source checkedDo Canadians Need a Visa for China? 2026 Entry Guide
Canadian ordinary passport holders can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days from 17 February through 31 December 2026; check the conditions.
Open guide
Original illustrationEntry & visas
Source checkedDo US Citizens Need a Visa for China? 2026 Entry Guide
Most US tourist trips to mainland China need a visa before arrival; check the narrow transit exception and current US application process.
Open guide
AI illustrationMaps & navigation
Source checkedHow to Use AMap in English in China
Use AMap Global (Gaode Map) in English in China: install the official app, confirm language support, verify Chinese addresses and test real routes.
Open guide
AI illustrationMaps & navigation
Source checkedUsing Apple Maps in China on iPhone
Does Apple Maps work in China? Check current mainland features, Chinese address search, transit routes, offline limits and an independent fallback.
Open guide
AI illustrationMaps & navigation
Source checkedBest Map App for China
Compare AMap, Apple Maps and Google Maps for mainland China by phone, English support, live navigation, offline limits and failure recovery.
Open guide
AI illustrationEntry & visas
Source checkedDo Singaporeans Need a Visa for China? 2026 Guide
Singapore ordinary passport holders can visit mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days. Check the passport, purpose, documents and longer-stay fallback.
Open guide
AI illustrationEntry & visas
Source checkedDo Malaysians Need a Visa for China? 2026 Guide
Malaysian ordinary passport holders can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days per entry, subject to six-month validity and the 90-in-180-day limit.
Open guideOriginal illustrationArrival & border
Needs recheckChina Arrival Process: Immigration, Arrival Card & Customs
Complete China's free online Arrival Card, prepare for border inspection and choose the correct Customs channel without confusing three separate steps.
Open guideAI illustrationSafety & documents
Source checkedLost Passport in China: Police, Consulate & Exit Steps
Report the loss, get a replacement document from your country's authorities, complete the Chinese exit-entry process and update bookings made with the old passport.
Open guideAI illustrationHealth & emergencies
Source checkedMedical Care in China for Travelers: Hospitals, 120 & Payment
Choose emergency or outpatient care, prepare a bilingual medical card, confirm hospital language and insurance, and preserve records for a claim.
Open guideAI illustrationLocal transport
Source checkedChina Metro & Bus Guide for Foreign Travelers
Use single tickets, local transport cards, ride codes or cash for metros and buses in China. Check the rules for your city and save a backup route.
Open guideOriginal illustrationEntry & visas
Source checkedChina Tourist Visa from India: 2026 Application Guide
Follow the online application and passport-submission steps, check New Delhi's current tourist documents and inspect the visa when it is returned.
Open guideAI illustrationFood & payments
Source checkedHow to Order Food by QR Code in China
Open restaurant QR menus safely, translate dishes and modifiers, handle allergies with staff, pay once and use a counter or cash fallback.
Open guide