China Before You Go

Category

China Travel Basics

Practical guides for apps, payment, trains, food, hotels, and first-day confidence.

A first-trip planning desk with a blank checklist, phone map, suitcase, and Chinese city view

China Travel Basics

First-Time China Travel Checklist

A calm, practical checklist for preparing your first trip to China: entry rules, payments, apps, trains, hotels, food, and your first day.

Updated 2026-06-02First-time travelers who want a clear order for trip preparation
A traveler using a phone payment code at a cafe counter with a physical card and cash backup

China Travel Basics

How to Pay in China as a Foreigner

A beginner-friendly guide to Alipay, WeChat Pay, international cards, RMB cash, and backup plans for a first trip to China.

Updated 2026-06-02Travelers setting up payments before arrival
A traveler preparing essential China travel apps on a phone beside a power bank and suitcase

China Travel Basics

Apps You Need Before Visiting China

A practical, minimal app toolkit for payment, maps, ride-hailing, trains, translation, and hotel bookings in China.

Updated 2026-06-02Travelers who want fewer first-day surprises
A traveler with a suitcase walking toward a sleek high-speed train at a modern railway platform

China Travel Basics

How to Take High-Speed Rail in China as a Foreign Traveler

A first-timer's guide to buying China Railway tickets, verifying a foreign passport, entering the station, boarding, and avoiding rushed train days.

Updated 2026-06-02Travelers planning their first intercity train journey in China
A traveler arriving with a suitcase at a welcoming hotel reception in China

China Travel Basics

What to Do on Your First Day in China

A low-stress arrival plan for mobile data, transport, hotel check-in, payment testing, food, and a gentle first evening in China.

Updated 2026-06-02First-time visitors who want a calm arrival plan
A traveler pointing politely to a photo menu while ordering food at a welcoming Chinese restaurant

China Travel Basics

How to Order Food in China Without Speaking Chinese

A practical first-timer's guide to ordering food in China with photos, pointing, translation, dietary notes, payment backups, and a few useful Mandarin phrases.

Updated 2026-06-02Travelers who want relaxed, beginner-friendly meals without fluent Mandarin