Mobile data matters more in China (中国, Zhōngguó) than many first-time visitors expect. Your phone isn’t just for messaging. You may be using it for Alipay (支付宝, Zhīfùbǎo), WeChat (微信, Wēixìn), maps, translation, ride-hailing, train tickets, attraction reservations and navigation throughout the day. So if...

How many places can you realistically fit into an 18-day first trip to China? For some travelers, four cities would already feel busy. Others genuinely enjoy moving quickly and would rather see more places, even if each visit is shorter. One experienced...

China’s departure tax refund system has become increasingly traveler-friendly, including major changes introduced in 2026. But there’s an important catch that can easily surprise international visitors: Can you actually use something you’ve bought in China before claiming the tax refund when you...

Zhangjiajie (张家界, Zhāngjiājiè) is one of those destinations where the map can be misleading. The famous landscapes around Wulingyuan (武陵源, Wǔlíngyuán) are not in the same place as Tianmen Mountain (天门山, Tiānmén Shān) in downtown Zhangjiajie. Add an overnight stay at Furong Ancient Town (芙蓉古镇, Fúróng Gǔzhèn) and...

Choosing a hotel in Beijing (北京, Běijīng) can be surprisingly confusing for a first-time visitor. The city is enormous. Attractions are spread out. And when you look at the map, it can seem as though no hotel is really close to everything. One traveler...

Getting a ticket for Beijing’s Forbidden City (故宫, Gùgōng) can sometimes be harder than planning the rest of the Beijing trip. That is especially true during July and August, when China’s summer vacation brings very heavy domestic tourism. One traveler was visiting Beijing for...

Some China itineraries are built around a fixed two-week holiday. Others are much more open-ended. One traveler is planning to spend several months traveling through China, beginning with Shanghai and Hangzhou in August, followed by a technology exhibition in Shenzhen, and then...

Not every trip to China needs to include Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Shanghai. For travelers returning to China, a more rewarding journey can sometimes come from choosing a region, a cultural thread and a slower pace rather than collecting famous cities. One solo...

A short stay in Beijing (北京, Běijīng) forces travelers to make some difficult choices. If you have one day for the Great Wall (长城, Chángchéng) and only one full day left for central Beijing, should you try to squeeze in the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park,...

One of the biggest practical worries for first-time visitors to China is surprisingly simple: How am I actually going to pay for things? China is famous for QR-code payments. In restaurants, convenience stores, taxis and cafés, it can sometimes seem as...