China’s internet restrictions are one of the biggest concerns for first-time international travelers. But many travelers now see China eSIMs advertised as providing access to Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and other services that are normally restricted in mainland China. So has...

For a first trip to China, 11–12 nights is enough time to experience Beijing and Shanghai properly — and potentially add one more city without turning the trip into a race. The bigger question isn’t whether you can fit another destination in. It’s whether...

When booking a hotel in mainland China, international travelers sometimes worry that they need to provide the name and passport details of every person staying in the room at the time the reservation is made. But there is an important distinction between making...

Shanghai is surrounded by some of eastern China’s most rewarding destinations, including Suzhou (苏州, Sūzhōu), Hangzhou (杭州, Hángzhōu) and Nanjing (南京, Nánjīng). But if you have five free days, should you keep your Shanghai hotel and explore independently by high-speed rail, or book a private...

Planning Hangzhou (杭州, Hángzhōu) with a 4-year-old child, parents and grandparents calls for a very different itinerary from an adults-only trip. The good news is that Hangzhou is particularly well suited to slow, multigenerational family travel. There are lakes, gardens, boat rides, tea villages,...

Planning a first family trip to China in December can create an interesting dilemma. You may want cooler weather—but not the freezing temperatures, snow and heavy winter clothing associated with northern China. You may also want good food, sightseeing, shopping and somewhere relatively...

Planning a 16-day family trip to China in December and wondering whether Chongqing (重庆, Chóngqìng), Zhangjiajie (张家界, Zhāngjiājiè) and Chengdu (成都, Chéngdū) make sense together? For a family trying to keep costs reasonable, this is actually a very workable combination. The three destinations offer dramatically...

Planning a winter trip to Harbin (哈尔滨, Hā’ěrbīn) but already visited Beijing and Shanghai? That opens up an interesting possibility: instead of flying across China to another famous city, you can use Harbin as the starting point for exploring more of Northeast China (东北,...

Wuzhen (乌镇, Wūzhèn) and Hangzhou (杭州, Hángzhōu) are two popular additions to a Shanghai trip, but first-time visitors often wonder whether traveling independently is realistic — especially with children. Do you need a private driver? Is a guide worthwhile? And if you visit Wuzhen,...

Planning Nanjing (南京, Nánjīng) with children can be surprisingly tricky. The city combines mountains, enormous historical sites, museums, a zoo and some wonderful evening experiences — but trying to fit too much into each day can quickly exhaust a family. This traveler has...