China travel, decoded from the inside.

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

Best eSIM for China City Itineraries

Start here — the three things every first-timer gets stuck on

We prioritise practical, high-intent topics in the order travellers actually need them.

Internet

Stay connected in mainland China

Most eSIMs don't cover mainland China. We test and compare the ones that do.

Read the eSIM guide →
Transport

Book high-speed rail & flights

How to book 12306 trains and domestic flights without a Chinese phone number.

Transport guides →
Money

Pay & book without WeChat

Alipay, WeChat Pay, foreign cards and the apps you can use before you land.

Essentials →

Why trust this site

Local perspective

Written by people who live with China's apps, rail system and policies — not copied from other English blogs.

Dated & sourced

Policies change fast in China. Every guide carries a last-updated date and cites official sources where facts matter.

Independent

We're not a travel agency, not a booking platform and not paid by the government. We recommend what we'd use ourselves.

Latest guides

New guides are published continuously. Each one is fact-checked and dated.

Get the free China first-trip checklist