Browsing Category: Plan First China Trip

Everything to Do Before You Fly—and After You Arrive No Google Maps? No Mandarin? No Chinese bank account? Passport checks, enormous railway stations, QR-code payments and apps you may never have used before? When first-time travellers begin researching China, the list can make the country sound far more difficult than it really is. Elaine and I had many of the same worries before our early independent journeys through China. But after travelling...

“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 answer, Cheers pulled a tiny Chinese phrasebook from his backpack. He looked worried. “I only know one Chinese sentence.” The Beijing Panda smiled. “Which one?” Cheers stood proudly. “你好!” (Nǐ hǎo — Hello!) The Panda...

“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 nearby city should we visit? We’d also love our children to see snow for the first time.” Elaine smiled. “Dad… that sounds exactly like us a few years ago.” Before I...

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, hotels and what to pack. Those are all important, and we’ve gathered them into our 👉 First Time Travelling to China? Start Here guide. But after several trips across Beijing, Xi’an, Tianjin, Baoji...

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, Hong Kong and many other parts of China, we discovered something surprising. China isn’t difficult. It’s simply different. Once you understand a few key systems, travelling around China becomes remarkably smooth, safe...

From emergency instant noodles to supermarket discoveries — how we survived weeks travelling China without carrying a suitcase full of snacks. Before travelling around China with children, many parents probably have the same secret worry. Not the Great Wall. Not transportation. Not hotels. Something much simpler. “What will my child EAT?” 😂 I understand. When Elaine and I started our longer China journeys, I had the same “Dad question”. China is huge....

Why ChinaTravelBUG believes the best journeys begin with curiosity, stories, and understanding civilisation Many years before traveling deeply through China with my daughter Elaine, I discovered something important while walking through the streets of London, Amsterdam, Paris and Istanbul. A meaningful journey is never only about visiting famous attractions. A castle is not only a castle. A museum is not only a building full of old objects. A river, bridge, railway, market,...