First trip to China? We explain the things foreign guides get wrong — eSIMs that actually work in mainland China, booking high-speed rail without a Chinese phone number, paying without WeChat, and which visa-free rules apply to you.
Written from a local's perspective · Facts dated and sourced · Updated regularly
We prioritise practical, high-intent topics in the order travellers actually need them.
Most eSIMs don't cover mainland China. We test and compare the ones that do.
Read the eSIM guide →How to book 12306 trains and domestic flights without a Chinese phone number.
Transport guides →Alipay, WeChat Pay, foreign cards and the apps you can use before you land.
Essentials →Written by people who live with China's apps, rail system and policies — not copied from other English blogs.
Policies change fast in China. Every guide carries a last-updated date and cites official sources where facts matter.
We're not a travel agency, not a booking platform and not paid by the government. We recommend what we'd use ourselves.
New guides are published continuously. Each one is fact-checked and dated.