PRACTICAL ADVICE. MORE ROOM TO EXPLORE.
A little preparation.
A closer China.
From entry and payments to trains and finding your way, make unfamiliar details feel manageable. Seven practical guides for a first visit and the journey after that.
Start with the China travel guide ↗Information checked: 29 October 2026 · English guides
China travel guide
Bring your route, entry checks, payments, transport and everyday travel into one practical plan. Choose a pace that feels like you, then prepare the details.
Read the complete guide 02 / TRAVEL ESSENTIALSChina entry, visas & your first night
Choose the entry arrangement that fits your passport and route, then prepare the documents, arrival details and hotel check-in that make the first day easier.
Read the complete guide 03 / TRAVEL ESSENTIALSChina trains: tickets, passports & the station
A practical journey from choosing the right station to reaching your seat, with official booking, luggage and refund information for visitors using foreign passports.
Read the complete guide 04 / TRAVEL ESSENTIALSPaying in China: a practical mix of phone, card and cash
Prepare your everyday payment tools, then keep a backup that does not depend on your phone. Here is how to approach card linking, QR codes, cash withdrawals and the occasional failed transaction.
Read the complete guide 05 / TRAVEL ESSENTIALSPhones and internet: get connected before you need directions
Data, verification messages, a local number and a way to contact your driver are separate needs. Check what your device and plan actually provide, then keep essential travel details available offline.
Read the complete guide 06 / TRAVEL ESSENTIALSTen useful China travel apps: choose the tools you need
You do not need a phone full of new accounts. Start with payments, directions and communication, then add tools for the transport and bookings you will manage yourself.
Read the complete guide 07 / TRAVEL ESSENTIALSYour first China trip: choosing a route and the first 48 hours
Match your available days with practical connections and personal needs, leaving room for landmarks and everyday discoveries.
Read the complete guideTravelling as a family, or in a different season?
Make the preparation fit the people travelling, with packing, family needs and route ideas.