“Dad… What If Nobody Understands Us?” One evening, while planning future China adventures, Elaine was scrolling through a travel community when she stopped. “Dad, someone just asked…” “Is it possible for a non-Chinese speaker to navigate the city?” Before I could...
“Dad… Can We See Snow?” While browsing a travel community one evening, Elaine pointed to a question from a family planning their first trip to China. “We’re visiting Beijing for 8 full days with children aged 10, 6 and 3. Which...
Everything Foreign Tourists Need to Know About Identification in China (2026 Guide) “Can I Travel Around China with Just My Passport?” While browsing a travel community recently, we came across a question that many first-time visitors quietly wonder about. “How long...
Understanding Culture Shock During Your First Trip to China “I Already Want to Go Home.” While browsing a travel community recently, we came across a heartfelt post from a solo female traveller. She had travelled to ten countries before and had...
Most first-time travellers prepare their passport, flights and hotels. Far fewer prepare how they are going to experience China. If you’ve already booked your trip, congratulations—you’ve got an incredible journey ahead of you. Right now, you’re probably researching visas, payment apps, high-speed trains,...
Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Bullet Train Journey “Can foreigners really travel around China by high-speed rail on their own?” When Elaine and I first planned to travel between Chinese cities by high-speed rail, we had plenty of...
“Do I need a Chinese phone number before I travel to China?” It’s one of the most common questions asked by first-time visitors. Many travellers worry that without a Chinese (+86) mobile number, they won’t be able to use WeChat, order...
A First-Timer’s Guide to Paying in China with a Foreign Credit Card You have just arrived in China. You walk into a convenience store, place a bottle of water on the counter and reach for your wallet. The cashier does not...
An Honest First-Timer’s Guide to Independent Travel in China (2026) “Everyone told us China would be difficult.” No Google.No cash.Apps you’ve never heard of.A language you can’t read. It sounds intimidating. Yet after several independent trips across Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Shenzhen,...
Planning a Hong Kong to Macau day trip is easier than many first-time visitors imagine. The two cities are well connected, and you have two excellent transport options: the traditional TurboJET ferry across the Pearl River Delta, or the modern Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (HZMB) Shuttle Bus,...
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