China travel topics

Whether you need a visa for China, and the three routes that get most travellers in without one.

Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept foreign cards. Here is how to set them up and what they cost.

How to get online in China without losing access to Google, WhatsApp and Instagram.

What is blocked, what actually works, and how to prepare before you lose access to the app store.

China is statistically one of the safest countries for travellers. The real risks are traffic, scams and altitude.

Hospitals, pharmacies, travel insurance and what to do when you actually get ill.

Metro, taxi, ride-hailing and buses — how each works and which to use when.

The world’s largest high-speed network — how to book, board and not miss your train.

Which cities have a metro, how to pay, and how to use it without reading Chinese.

DiDi versus street taxis, what it costs, and how to avoid the classic airport overcharge.

How to order, what the regional specialities actually are, and how to handle dietary needs.

Which sites actually work for foreigners, and what to check before you pay.

Almost every major attraction now requires a timed online reservation, often days ahead.

Season-by-season packing for a country with a 40°C north-south temperature spread.

Month-by-month conditions and which months are actually worth avoiding.

What a day actually costs, where the money goes, and how to budget by tier.

Whether you actually need a Chinese number, and how to get one if you do.

Why tipping is not expected, and what to do instead.

How far English gets you, and the handful of Chinese that changes the trip.

The short list of apps that make the trip work, and what each one replaces.

What actually happens after dark, from night markets to live houses.

What is worth buying, what is a rip-off, and how to handle prices.

The etiquette that actually matters, and what visitors get wrong.

The practical rules that stop you accidentally causing offence.

How to meet locals and other travellers, and what to be wary of.