For first-time travelers
Travel China with confidence.
English-friendly guides on payment, transport, food, and visa-free entry — paired with our offline iPhone companion.
Destinations
Where to go
3–5 days
Beijing
Capital, history, hutongs, and the country's most iconic monuments — Beijing is where most first-time visitors begin.
3–4 days
Shanghai
Modern, cosmopolitan, the easiest Chinese megacity to navigate without speaking Chinese.
2–3 days
Xi'an
The eastern terminus of the Silk Road and home of the Terracotta Army — China's deepest layer of history.
2–3 days (+ side trips)
Chengdu
Pandas, hotpot, and a famously laid-back lifestyle — Chengdu is the southwestern gateway to Sichuan.
2–3 days
Guilin & Yangshuo
Karst mountains, the Li River, and the most photographed landscape in China.
1–2 days
Hangzhou
West Lake, tea plantations, and old canal towns — the most refined classical Chinese city.
Travel Tips
Practical knowledge for the road
Essential Apps
Essential Chinese apps every foreign traveler should install
Six apps that will save you hours: Alipay, WeChat, Didi, Trip.com, Amap, and a translation companion.
Visa & Entry
China visa-free policy in 2026: what you need to know
Most Western passports can now visit China visa-free for up to 30 days. Here are the rules, the catches, and how to plan around them.
SIM & Internet
China eSIM guide: best options for foreigners (2026)
Compare popular eSIM products that bypass the Great Firewall, and pick one based on trip length and data needs.
Transportation
How to take high-speed trains in China without speaking Chinese
Booking, finding your platform, security checks, and what to do when your foreign passport doesn't auto-scan at the gate.
China Travel Offline
Take it with you, offline.
- • Chinese address cards for taxis & hotels
- • Bilingual phrasebook for everyday situations
- • City guides that work without a SIM card
- • Pre-trip checklist tailored to your travel dates