Before You Fly: Preparing for Beijing 11. Can Foreigners Use Alipay and WeChat Pay in Beijing? ✅ Quick Answer Yes. Most international visitors can now link eligible overseas Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and certain other international bank cards to Alipay and WeChat Pay, making it much easier to pay in Beijing than it was a few years ago. Although cash is still legal and accepted, Beijing has become a largely cashless city....
50 Essential Questions Answered by Licensed Beijing Guides Planning Your First Trip to Beijing Starts Here Beijing isn’t just China’s capital—it is the political, historical and cultural heart of one of the world’s oldest continuous civilisations. For many first-time visitors, however, planning a trip can feel overwhelming. Is Beijing safe? Can foreigners use Alipay? Should I visit Mutianyu or Badaling? How many days do I really need? Rather than relying on generic...
Optimising Your Travel Energy to Experience China’s Greatest Capital Quick Answer If you’re visiting Beijing for the first time, here’s our advice in one sentence: Don’t optimise your itinerary—optimise your experience. Many first-time visitors focus on squeezing as many famous attractions as possible into four or five days. We understand the temptation. Beijing is home to an extraordinary concentration of imperial palaces, ancient temples, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, museums, parks and neighbourhoods...
“Dad… Why Do We Keep Going Back to China?” One evening, Elaine asked me a simple question. “Dad… lots of people compare China and Japan. Why do we keep travelling to China?” Before I could answer, Cheers had already jumped onto the map. “Because China is HUGE!” I laughed. “That’s part of the answer.” “But it’s not the whole story.” People often ask whether China or Japan is the better destination. After...
“Dad… We’re Really in China!” After months of planning… After countless YouTube videos… After checking your passport for the tenth time… Your aircraft finally lands at Beijing Capital International Airport (北京首都国际机场 | Běijīng Shǒudū Guójì Jīchǎng). As the aircraft door opens, the excitement begins. New language. New signs. New smells. A completely different world. Elaine looked out through the terminal windows. “Dad… we’re finally in China!” Before I could answer, Cheers had already unfolded a...
“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...
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 can I stay with just my passport, and can I go anywhere in China with it?” Elaine immediately smiled. “Dad… I remember wondering exactly the same thing before our first trip.”...
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 been looking forward to visiting China. But only a few days into her journey, she admitted something many travellers are afraid to say aloud: “I already want to go back.” She...
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 questions. Do we need a Chinese phone number? Which app should we use? Is our passport enough? How early should we arrive? Where do we put our luggage? If you’re visiting...
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