CHINA TRAVEL INTELLIGENCE
China, made easier.
Practical tools for planning, arriving and getting around China — built for travellers who want clarity before they go.
Less friction. More China.
Visa · Payments · Transport · PlanningThe four we would open first.
One for the entry question, one for everything else, one for the money, one for the first meal.
Visa Eligibility Checker
Three questions covering nationwide visa-free entry, transit exemptions and standard visa categories. Updated September 2026.
Answers, Before You Ask
Every question we have answered on this site, in one place: 184 of them, grouped by what you are trying to do.
What a Trip to China Costs
Day, hotel, meal and transport costs, then what a whole trip comes to and what people quietly under-budget.
Chinese Menu Translator
Translate 200+ dishes. Search by name or category and show the result directly to your waiter.
Planning & Entry
Answers, Before You Ask
Every question we have answered on this site, in one place: 184 of them, grouped by what you are trying to do.
Visa Eligibility Checker
Three questions covering nationwide visa-free entry, transit exemptions and standard visa categories. Updated September 2026.
Entry Requirements Quick Ref
50 unilateral + 29 mutual visa-free nationalities, plus common visa-required passports and transit options. Updated September 2026.
Visa-Free Entry Guide
Unilateral 30-day, 240-hour transit, Hainan, Guangdong PRD — check your country's visa-free options instantly.
China Public Holidays Calendar
2026 official schedule, 2027–2029 festival dates, work compensation days and travel tips. Plan around the crowds.
China Packing Checklist
What to pack for China - seasonal guide, essential electronics, prohibited items, and what to buy locally.
Move to China
Getting Around
E-Bike Rental in China
The 25 km/h line between an e-bike and a motorcycle, plus rates from Yangshuo to Shanghai.
China City Transit Matrix
Compare HSR and flights between 20 cities. Times, prices and distances at a glance.
High-Speed Train Seat Guide
Compare 2nd class, 1st class, business class and sleeper. Diagrams + cabin photos.
Train Ticket Booking Guide
How to book China train tickets - 12306, Trip.com, ticket collection and boarding.
Airport → City Transport Guide
Taxi, metro and shuttle prices from 27 major airports to the city centre.
Layovers & Transit Stops
How long a connection needs to be before leaving the airport is a reasonable idea.
Metro & Subway Guide
How to pay, city apps, and tips for 7 major metros - Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and more.
Didi & Taxi Guide + Address Card
How to use Didi, hail street taxis, and generate a printable Chinese address card for your driver.
City Guide
Beijing in 3 Days
A realistic first-trip route - the Palace Museum, hutongs and one day on the Wall - with booking priorities, pacing and alternatives.
Day Trips from Beijing
The Great Wall, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, Gubei Water Town and Tianjin - compared by pace, transport and the kind of day they create.
Where to Stay near Shanghai
Six bases compared - Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Wuzhen, Moganshan and Anji - by trip length, nightly cost and travel time from the airport.
Where to Stay in Beijing
Wangfujing, Qianmen, Gulou and Sanlitun - matched to sightseeing access, evening atmosphere and traveller type.
Shanghai in 3 Days
A realistic first-trip route - the old city, Bund, former French Concession and a flexible third day - with museum timing and alternatives.
Your First Weekend in Shanghai
SIM, Alipay, Didi and Meituan on arrival, then the Bund, one dinner and one breakfast worth planning around.
Day Trips from Shanghai
Suzhou's gardens, Hangzhou's West Lake, Zhujiajiao and Qibao - compared by door-to-door effort and booking needs.
Where to Stay in Shanghai
Jing'an, People's Square, the former French Concession, the Bund and Pudong - compared on transport, atmosphere and trade-offs.
Where to Stay in Chengdu
Chunxi Road, Tianfu Square, Kuanzhai Alley, Wuhou and Eastern Suburb Memory - compared on metro access, food on foot and rate.
Chongqing City Guide
Two or three nights, where the night views actually are, and how the hills and the metro work.
Where to Stay in Chongqing
Jiefangbei, Guanyinqiao, Jiangbeizui, Nanbin Road and Ciqikou - compared for a city of levels, lifts and river crossings.
Where to Stay in Xi'an
Bell Tower, South Gate, Dayanta, North Station and the hi-tech zone - inside the walls and out, compared.
Where to Stay in Hangzhou
Hubin, Nanshan Road, Wulin Square, Qiantang New City, Longjing and Gongchen Bridge - six bases compared.
Where to Stay in Suzhou
Pingjiang Road, Guanqian Street, the west canals, SIP and Tongli - five bases, and which station to book.
Where to Stay in Anji
Dipu, Lingfeng, Tianhuangping, Shanchuan and Baofu - five bases, in a county with limited rail.
Where to Stay in Moganshan
Yucun, the mountaintop, Laoling, Fatou and Deqing town - five bases, and why the address decides the trip.
Where to Stay in Wuzhen
Inside Xizha, inside Dongzha, outside the west gate and Tongxiang - four bases, plus what the ticket covers.
Great Wall of China Guide
Compare 7 sections from Badaling to Jiankou. Transport, tickets, best time to visit, and tips for avoiding the crowds.
Payments & Connectivity
WeChat Pay & Alipay Setup Guide
Step-by-step guide for foreigners to set up mobile payments with a passport and foreign card.
TenPayGo: WeChat Pay for Visitors
WeChat Pay's standalone app for short-term visitors: sign up with an email address, no Chinese phone number and no Chinese bank account. What it accepts, and what it will not do.
Essential Apps for China
The apps to download before you travel - WeChat, Alipay, Didi, Meituan, Trip.com and more. Registration and foreign-card tips.
Internet & eSIM Guide
Compare eSIM providers before you fly. Airport SIM counters at major airports. Stay connected from day one.
Plan Your Trip
Trip Planner
Pick your city, trip length, and interests. We'll suggest a route with transport times and highlights.
How Many Days in Each City
Ten, fourteen and sixteen-day shapes for the same cities, and the train times that decide how many bases you can hold.
What a Trip to China Costs
Day, hotel, meal and transport costs by city, what a whole trip comes to, and what people quietly under-budget.
Booking Attractions on a Passport
Palace Museum, Tiananmen, the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors - which tickets need a passport and how far ahead.
Must-Go Destinations
Curated China destinations for international travellers. What to see, when to go, where to stay.
Must-Do Experiences
Essential China experiences from the Great Wall to Sichuan hot pot. Curated by EVENTURUS.
Museums & Galleries Guide
Curated guide to China's best museums and galleries. Filter by city and category - hours, booking tips and ticket prices.
Living & Staying
Accommodation Registration
Staying somewhere other than a hotel? Register your address within 24 hours. The online systems, who files it, and when you can skip it. Updated September 2026.
Chinese Menu Translator
Translate 200+ dishes. Search by name or category. Tap to show your waiter. No more mystery meat.
City Season & Weather Guide
Best months to visit 35+ Chinese cities. Temperature, rainfall and AQI data.
Chinese To-Go Cards
Essential phrases for taxis, dining, hotels and emergencies. Printable.
Health & Safety
Shopping & Food
Eating in China - Dining Guide
QR-code ordering, common dishes, dietary needs, street food safety and restaurant etiquette for foreign travellers.
Shopping on Taobao, JD & Pinduoduo
How to shop on China's three biggest platforms. Registration, payment, shipping, and avoiding scams.
Markets in Shanghai
The South Bund fabric market for tailoring, what Qipu Road is still good for, and how buying at a wet market actually works.
What to Buy in China
Tea, silk, porcelain and carved seals worth the luggage space, plus the four categories customs stops on the way home.
China Tax Refund
The 200 yuan threshold, the 11 per cent rate, the airport steps in order, and the rules that void most claims.
Food Delivery - Meituan & Ele.me Guide
How to order food delivery as a foreigner. App walkthrough, address entry, communicating with riders.