All guides
Long-form, sourced, updated. No AI slop pages — every guide lists its official sources at the bottom.
What Is China Like in April?
April in China: spring 8-27°C city by city, Qingming holiday crowds, blossoms north and dry warmth west — where to go, what to pack, and what books out.
Updated 2026-10-24
EssentialsWhat Is China Like in October?
October in China: the year's clearest skies and 7-28°C city by city — with one week to avoid (Golden Week, Oct 1-7) and the best autumn foliage of the year after it.
Updated 2026-10-24
EssentialsChinese New Year 2027: Travel Dates & Tips
Chinese New Year 2027 = Saturday, February 6, Year of the Fire Goat. Fixed lunar dates, the likely holiday window, and how the ticket rush works.
Updated 2026-10-24
EssentialsWhat Is China Like in November?
November in China: late autumn 0-28°C by city, the year's best hotel prices, foliage moving south. South stays mild, north turns winter — where to go.
Updated 2026-10-24
EssentialsThe Essential Apps for Travel in China
The short list of apps that actually matter in China: Alipay and WeChat Pay, Amap, DiDi, 12306, a translation layer and an eSIM — what each is for, in order.
Updated 2026-10-24
TransportGuangzhou to Hong Kong by High-Speed Train
Guangzhou South to Hong Kong West Kowloon in 47-60 minutes, ¥185-215 second class, 40-60 departures daily — both immigrations in one building at arrival.
Updated 2026-10-24
TransportGuilin to Yangshuo by High-Speed Train
Guilin to Yangshuo by rail: 20-25 minutes, second class ¥26-34, a dozen-plus departures daily — plus the shuttle from Yangshuo station into town.
Updated 2026-10-24
TransportShanghai to Beijing by High-Speed Train
China's flagship corridor: Shanghai Hongqiao to Beijing South in 4h18m-6h, second class ¥553-695, 40+ departures daily — beats the plane door-to-door.
Updated 2026-10-24
TransportShanghai to Hangzhou by High-Speed Train
China's easiest day trip: Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East in 45-60 minutes, ¥73 second class, a departure every 10-20 minutes all day. Stations, fares, booking.
Updated 2026-10-24
TransportXi'an to Shanghai by High-Speed Train
The classic route's long leg: Xi'an North to Shanghai Hongqiao in 5.5-8 hours, second class ¥652-795, overnight D sleepers too. Train vs flight, honestly.
Updated 2026-10-24
TransportShanghai to Nanjing by High-Speed Train
Shanghai to Nanjing in 1-1.5 hours with Suzhou and Wuxi on the way: the densest corridor in the Yangtze delta, garden-and-lake stopovers, fares from ¥110.
Updated 2026-10-24
TransportBeijing to Xi'an by High-Speed Train
Beijing West to Xi'an North by high-speed rail: 4-6 hours, second class from about ¥470, overnight sleeper options, stations and booking compared.
Updated 2026-10-21
TransportChengdu to Chongqing by High-Speed Train
Trains run all day between Chengdu and Chongqing: fastest about 1 hour, 80-130 departures, second class from ¥85. Stations, fares and how to book.
Updated 2026-10-21
TransportXi'an to Chengdu by High-Speed Train
Xi'an North to Chengdu East by high-speed rail: 3-4 hours through the Qinling mountains, second class from ¥263, plus stations, fares and booking.
Updated 2026-10-21
TransportWhat Do 12306's Terms Actually Mean?
12306's own English labels, decoded: endorsement, verification, waiting list, seat classes and train prefixes — plus why 12306 is China Railway's official platform.
Updated 2026-10-16
EntryHow Do You Fill In China's Arrival Card?
China's arrival card moved online Nov 20, 2025. Fill it free before boarding via NIA's official site or app — what to prepare, who's exempt, and the paper fallback.
Updated 2026-10-15
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Changchun in 3 Days — the Puppet Palace, Film Studio and Forest Park? (2026)
A researched 3-day Changchun route through the Manchukuo palace, the Film Studio museum and Jingyuetan forest park, with light-rail stops and guo bao rou tips.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Dunhuang in 3 Days?
A 3-day Dunhuang route built on the Mogao A-ticket: dune sunsets at Crescent Lake and the western line to Yumen Pass and the Yardangs, with buses and charters.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Fuzhou in 3 Days?
A 3-day Fuzhou route for the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall: Drum Mountain, Yantai Hill and a Pingtan island hop, with metro lines.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Guiyang in 3 Days?
A 3-day Guiyang route as your Guizhou gateway: Qianling Mountain monkeys, a Huangguoshu Waterfall day trip to Anshun, and Qingyan Ancient Town, with metro stops.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Hefei in 3 Days as a Huangshan Transit Base? (2026)
A researched 3-day Hefei route through Baogong Park, Anhui Museum and the Lei Street night market, plus a Chaohu Lake day — with metro stops and Lu-cuisine tips.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Hohhot in 3 Days With a Grassland Day Trip? (2026)
A researched 3-day Hohhot route: old-town Tibetan-Buddhist temples, the Inner Mongolia Museum, one Xilamuran grassland day and the Zhaojun Museum, with the June to September window and mutton shaomai.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Hong Kong and Macau in 3 Days? (2026)
3-day Hong Kong and Macau: two days of Victoria Harbour, the Peak and street food, then one Macau day by HZMB bus or ferry — with crossing choices and where to eat on both sides.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Hulunbuir in 3 Days on the Grassland Loop? (2026)
A researched 3-day Hulunbuir route from Hailar: the Morigele River, Erguna wetland, birch forest and Enhe, then Heishantou sunset, with June to September window, charter rules and mutton.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesHow Can You Spend 3 Days in Jinan Seeing the Springs and Mount Tai? (2026)
A researched 3-day Jinan route through the City of Springs — Baotu Spring, Daming Lake and Black Tiger Spring on foot, then a Mount Tai day trip from Tai'an — with metro stops and spring etiquette.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Jiuzhaigou in 2 Days From Chengdu? (2026)
2-day Jiuzhaigou from Chengdu: high-speed rail to Huanglongjiuzhai Station, a shuttle to the valley mouth, then a full Y-shaped sightseeing-bus day — with altitude, booking and season notes.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Lanzhou in 3 Days Beyond a Bowl of Beef Noodles? (2026)
A researched 3-day Lanzhou route along the Yellow River: dawn beef noodles, the Gansu Provincial Museum's Galloping Horse, a hilltop night view — plus the airport train and the hop to Xining.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Lhasa in 3 Days Without Wrecking Your Altitude Acclimatization? (2026)
A researched 3-day Lhasa route paced for 3,650 m: a gentle acclimatization day, the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple on reserved slots, then monastery debates — with permit rules explained first.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Luoyang in 3 Days?
A 3-day Luoyang route for the Longmen Grottoes and April peonies: old town at night, White Horse Temple, the Sui-Tang ruins — with the no-on-site-ticket rule.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Nanchang in 3 Days?
A 3-day Nanchang route for the Tengwang Pavilion and the gold-filled Haihunhou tomb: old-town walk, clay-pot soups and a winter Poyang Lake bird run, by metro.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Nanning in 3 Days?
A realistic 3-day Nanning route: Qingxiu Mountain, the museums, night markets and a Detian Waterfall day trip — with metro lines and where to eat laoyou noodles.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesHow Can You See Zhengding's Temples and Hebei Museum in 3 Days from Shijiazhuang? (2026)
A researched 3-day Shijiazhuang route through Hebei Museum, Zhengding's Song-dynasty temples and the Zhaozhou Bridge, with metro stops and where to eat donkey-meat huoshao.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Suzhou in 3 Days?
A 3-day Suzhou route from Shanghai: gardens and museum on one Line 6 stop, Pingjiang and Shantang canals, a Tongli water town day, plus booking rules.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Taipei in 3 Days? (2026)
A 3-day Taipei route for first-timers: the 101 skyline and night markets, the National Palace Museum and Beitou hot springs, then a Maokong or Tamsui slow day — with MRT, EasyCard and payment notes.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Taiyuan in 3 Days?
A 3-day Taiyuan route through Shanxi Museum, Jinci Temple and the twin pagodas, plus a Pingyao half-day by rail — and the Black Myth: Wukong architecture trail.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Urumqi in 3 Days?
A 3-day Urumqi route built around Xinjiang's late mealtimes: the regional museum, Wild Horse park and the Grand Bazaar, plus a booked-ahead day at Heavenly Lake.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Xining in 3 Days at 2,260 Meters? (2026)
A researched 3-day Xining route at 2,260 m: Kumbum Monastery by morning bus, a full day at Qinghai Lake under the new reservation rules, and the old city's mosques, museums and lamb.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Xishuangbanna in 3 Days From Jinghong? (2026)
A researched 3-day Xishuangbanna route based in Jinghong: the botanical garden, Wild Elephant Valley and Dai park, plus the Starlight Night Market, with Laos-China railway times and lemongrass fish.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Yinchuan in 3 Days? (2026)
3-day Yinchuan through the old Western Xia capital: the Western Xia Tombs, Zhenbeipu Film Studio and Helan Mountain rock art, plus Shahu Lake and halal lamb — with no-metro notes.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Zhangjiajie in 3 Days Without Mixing Up the Three Parks? (2026)
A researched 3-day Zhangjiajie route that keeps the three parks apart: two days in Wulingyuan sandstone peaks and one on Tianmen Mountain, with the 4-day ticket rule, A/B/C lines and Tujia dry pot.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Zhengzhou in 3 Days?
A 3-day Zhengzhou route as a Shaolin-and-Henan hub: Henan Museum, the old town, a Luoyang run — plus the Zhengzhou East vs Station call and where to eat hui mian.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesHow Can You Spend 3 Days in Zhuhai with a Macau Day? (2026)
A realistic 3-day Zhuhai route with no metro: Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, the seaside Lovers' Road, and a walk-across Macau day — with the intercity rail and port rules for foreign passports.
Updated 2026-09-24
ItinerariesHow Do You Spend 3 Days in Changsha Without Backtracking? (2026)
A researched 3-day Changsha route that never doubles back: Orange Isle, Yuelu Academy, the Mawangdui treasures and Wuyi Square night food plus using Changsha as your Zhangjiajie-Fenghuang springboard.
Updated 2026-09-23
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Dali in 3 Days?
A 3-day Dali route around Erhai Lake: Three Pagodas, old town, a Cangshan morning and the lake loop to Xizhou and Shuanglang — plus trains from Kunming and Lijiang.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Dalian in 3 Days?
A 3-day Dalian route along Binhai Road and the heritage squares, the century-old Tram 201, a Jinshitan geopark day trip — and where to eat sea urchin dumplings.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Guangzhou in 3 Days Without Backtracking? (2026)
A researched 3-day Guangzhou route through the old town, the Pearl River skyline and Canton Tower — dim sum, roast goose and colonial Shamian — with metro stops, ferry piers and a 2026 airport-terminal warning.
Updated 2026-09-23
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Hangzhou in 3 Days Without Rushing the Lake? (2026)
A researched 3-day Hangzhou route around West Lake, Lingyin Temple and the Longjing tea hills, plus Xixi Wetland and Liangzhu — with metro stops, boat prices, and where to eat Dongpo pork and Longjing shrimp.
Updated 2026-09-23
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Harbin in 3 Days?
A 3-day Harbin route through the Russian-built old town and the winter-only Ice and Snow World — with a Yabuli ski day, cold-gear list and guo bao rou stops.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Kunming in 3 Days?
A 3-day Kunming route: the Stone Forest, Dianchi Lake and its winter gulls, the Western Hills and Green Lake — plus the two-train-station trap for Dali trains.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Lijiang in 3 Days? Old Town and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (2026)
A researched 3-day Lijiang route: UNESCO old town, Naxi Mu Palace, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain cable car and quiet Baisha and Shuhe towns — with the 7-day snow-mountain ticket grab and altitude note.
Updated 2026-09-23
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Nanjing in 3 Days Without Missing the History? (2026)
A researched 3-day Nanjing route through Purple Mountain, the Presidential Palace and the Massacre Memorial, plus duck-blood vermicelli soup and Niushou Mountain — with metro stops and free-booking rules.
Updated 2026-09-23
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Qingdao in 3 Days of Sea, Beer and Red Roofs? (2026)
Researched 3-day Qingdao route: old town, Badaguan villas and Mount Lao, plus the Tsingtao Brewery Museum and grilled clams — with metro stops and the new Line 8 airport express.
Updated 2026-09-23
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Sanya in 3 Days Across the Bays? (2026)
A realistic 3-day Sanya plan across the four bays — Sanya, Dadonghai, Yalong and Haitang — with Wuzhizhou Island, duty-free shopping, the island-loop rail and where to eat Wenchang chicken.
Updated 2026-09-23
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Shenzhen in 3 Days?
A 3-day Shenzhen route: the Ping An skyline and OCT-LOFT, then Shenzhen Bay and Dapeng Fortress — with Chaoshan beef hotpot and a 14-minute rail hop to Hong Kong.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Tianjin in 3 Days of Concession Villas and River Nights? (2026)
Researched 3-day Tianjin route through the Five Great Avenues, Porcelain House and Hai River, plus the Binhai Maritime Museum and Goubuli baozi — with metro stops and the 30-minute Beijing hop.
Updated 2026-09-23
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Wuhan in 3 Days? The Three-Town Itinerary (2026)
A researched 3-day Wuhan route across its three towns: Yellow Crane Tower and the Hubei Museum's bronze bells, Hankou's riverfront and guozao breakfast, then Hanyang's temples — with the three-station train rule and a 17:18 museum booking explained.
Updated 2026-09-23
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Xiamen in 3 Days? The Island-and-Coast Itinerary (2026)
A researched 3-day Xiamen route: car-free Gulangyu, Nanputuo and Xiamen University, the botanical garden and Hulishan Fort, then Jimei's overseas-Chinese architecture — with the ferry ticket and island passes explained for foreign passports.
Updated 2026-09-23
ItinerariesWhat Do 5 Days in Guilin Cover? Li River Rafts, Yangshuo and the Longji Rice Terraces (2026)
A researched 5-day Guilin itinerary: the Yangdi–Xingping Li River raft with a ¥20 banknote in hand, a night cruise past the Sun and Moon Pagodas, Yulong River hand-poled rafts and e-bike days in Yangshuo, and a night in a Longji stilt-house village — with 2026 prices in USD, ticket-release timings foreigners miss, and the scams that cost visitors the most.
Updated 2026-09-21
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Xi'an in 3 Days? Terracotta Warriors, City Wall Sunsets and Tang Dynasty Nights (2026)
A researched 3-day Xi'an route that clusters the Terracotta Army, the Ming city wall, the Bell Tower's Muslim Quarter and the Tang light-city around one metro-friendly base — with 2026 ticket prices in USD, reservation rules foreigners miss, and where to eat without backtracking.
Updated 2026-10-26
EssentialsWhat Do You Eat in Xi'an? Street Food Guide
Roujiamo, paomo, biangbiang noodles and hulatang breakfasts decoded, with prices in USD — and why you should eat on Sajinqiao, not Beiyuanmen's tourist strip.
Updated 2026-10-26
EssentialsWhat Are Chengdu's Five Classic Dishes?
Mapo tofu, dandan noodles, Zhong shuijiao, twice-cooked pork, fuqi feipian — plus the canteens, teahouses and hotpot locals recommend, and how to survive the spice.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat's the Easiest 5-Day Beijing Itinerary to Copy As-Is?
A 5-day Beijing route built on 'main sight in the morning, slow wandering in the afternoon' — Tiananmen and Qianmen, a deep Forbidden City day, Jingshan panoramas and hutong walks, the Mutianyu Great Wall, and a gentle souvenir finish. Route logic checked against official visitor information; photos, food notes and booking rules included.
Updated 2026-09-21
ItinerariesWhat Does a Perfect 5 Days in Chengdu Look Like? Pandas, Teahouses and Sichuan Food (2026)
A researched 5-day Chengdu itinerary: panda base at opening time (and how to find Hua Hua), Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli, Wuhou Shrine, Dujiangyan and Qingcheng Mountain — plus local tips on transport, hotel areas and the five Sichuan dishes you must order.
Updated 2026-10-26
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Chongqing in 3 Days Without Backtracking? (2026)
A researched 3-day Chongqing route through Yuzhong, Jiangbei and Nan'an — Hongya Cave, Liziba, Shibati, the Yangtze cableway — plus 22 local tips on scams, spicy hotpot, night views and getting around China's 8D city.
Updated 2026-09-21
ItinerariesWhen Do Northeast China's Autumn Colors Peak? Changbai, Benxi Maples and Red Beach in One Trip
The 20-day foliage window (late September to mid-October): Changbai Mountain's Heaven Lake, Benxi's Guanmen Mountain maple seas, Laobiangou streams, Panjin's crimson Red Beach and the Korea-border towns of Yanji and Tumen — routings, timing and how to move between them.
Updated 2026-09-21
ItinerariesWhat Can You Do in Shanghai in 3 Days?
A 3-day Shanghai route that never doubles back: the Bund, Lujiazui, Yu Garden, the French Concession and Hongkou's art streets — with metro stops and ticket prices.
Updated 2026-10-26
EssentialsWhat Shanghai Street Food Should You Try?
The Shanghai snacks that matter — xiaolongbao, shengjianbao, congyou banmian and 13 more — plus the three food streets locals actually eat on, with prices.
Updated 2026-10-26
Entry240-Hour Visa-Free Transit China: 2026 Rules
Who qualifies for China's 240-hour visa-free transit (57 countries), how the A-China-C routing works, and the onward-ticket rules to check before you fly.
Updated 2026-10-15
ItinerariesHow Do You Spend 10 Days in China? Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai by High-Speed Rail
A researched first-timer route with day-by-day structure, the exact train legs to book, what needs advance reservations, and how to extend to Chengdu or Guilin.
Updated 2026-09-21
TransportHow Do You Book Chinese Trains as a Foreigner?
Book China high-speed rail with a foreign passport: the official 12306 app vs Trip.com, verification quirks, and how passport e-tickets work.
Updated 2026-10-15
StayWhich Hotels in China Accept Foreigners? Licensing, Filters and What to Do When Refused
Why some Chinese hotels turn away foreign guests, how to filter foreigner-friendly properties before you book, and your options when a check-in goes wrong at midnight.
Updated 2026-10-15
EssentialsHow Does the Internet Work in China in 2026? eSIM, Roaming and What's Actually Blocked
eSIM plans that work the moment you land, why home-carrier roaming changes everything, which apps mainland networks block, and an honest connectivity plan for your trip.
Updated 2026-10-15
RescueMissed Your Train in China? Reschedule It
What to do in the hour after missing a Chinese bullet train: same-day changes at the window or in 12306, the tiered refund fees, and not missing the next one.
Updated 2026-10-16
EssentialsHow Do You Pay in China as a Foreigner?
Link foreign cards to Alipay or WeChat Pay and pay by QR everywhere in China. Real limits, cash fallbacks, and fixes when verification fails.
Updated 2026-10-16