Planning a first week in Shanghai (上海, Shànghǎi) often produces several practical questions at once. What should you wear in October? Which neighborhood makes the best base? How much spending money do you need? How does Alipay charge an overseas card? And do...
Sometimes you don’t want to lock yourself into a train days in advance. Perhaps you’re planning a day trip and want to check the weather first. Can you simply decide that morning, go to the railway station and buy a high-speed...
If you’re staying around Qianmen (前门, Qiánmén) in Beijing and want to visit Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪长城, Mùtiányù Chángchéng) without paying for a DiDi or private driver, there is a much simpler option than crossing Beijing to piece together several public buses. The Traveler’s Question...
When booking trains in China, first-time travelers often see the same journey offered through China Railway 12306 (中国铁路12306), Trip.com and station ticket counters. So is the actual train ticket cheaper depending on where you buy it—or are you simply paying extra for...
Flying into Guangzhou (广州, Guǎngzhōu) and flying home from Shenzhen (深圳, Shēnzhèn) actually creates a very convenient route through the Pearl River Delta. If you also want to visit Zhuhai (珠海, Zhūhǎi), there’s no need to backtrack. The three cities can fit naturally into one journey....
If you’re planning a longer independent trip around China, you may not want every hotel booked before you leave home. But does Chinese immigration require proof of accommodation for every night of your trip? And how is that different from the accommodation...
For some travelers, the China they most want to experience isn’t the Forbidden City, Shanghai skyline or another famous attraction. It’s mountains, forests, farms, villages, local markets and ordinary rural life. One traveler from rural England put it particularly well: having grown...
From Yandi Mausoleum (炎帝陵) in Baoji to 炎黄子孙 — and the strange Chinese story where defeating your rival doesn’t necessarily erase him Dad and Elaine had come to Baoji (宝鸡, Bǎojī) in Shaanxi Province (陕西省, Shǎnxī) expecting to learn about one...
A First-Time Traveler’s Guide to a Smooth International Departure You’ve figured out Alipay. You’ve survived the metro. You may have taken a high-speed train, scanned hundreds of QR codes and discovered that calling a DiDi isn’t nearly as frightening as it...
A Practical Health Guide for Foreign Travelers Nobody wants to think about getting sick on holiday. But if you take regular medication—or you’re simply wondering what would happen if you needed a doctor in China—a little preparation can remove a lot...
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