The Complete Guide for Foreign Travelers
Everything you need to know before, during, and after your China journey.
Updated for June 2026
Real guides, real results — from payment setup to hidden gems
Complete payment setup — Alipay, WeChat Pay, and cash tips all included
Always up to date — quarterly updates with latest prices and routes
Works offline — download once, use anywhere without internet
Covers all of China — 303 cities from Beijing to hidden gems
Your purchase is secure and backed by our satisfaction guarantee
A quick overview of everything you need to prepare for your China journey — from payment to internet to destinations.
Alipay is essential. 80% of China is cashless — you can't even buy a bottle of water without it.
Payment Setup GuideDownload a VPN before landing. Once in China, VPN websites are blocked and you'll be stuck.
Digital Survival Kit303+ city guides with local tips, food recommendations, and step-by-step itineraries ready for you.
Browse 303 CitiesLimited English outside major cities. Prepare essential phrases for taxis, restaurants, and emergencies.
EmergencyChina offers 15-day visa-free entry to 50+ countries. Check if you qualify or learn the tourist visa application process.
Visa GuideFrom imperial capitals to hidden gems — 303 cities across China, each with its own story.
From imperial capitals to hidden gems — 303 cities across China, each with its own story.
Answer 3 quick questions and we'll recommend the perfect Chinese cities for your trip.
Step-by-step guides that solve real problems. Download instantly, use offline.
See exactly what you get with each option. No hidden fees, no subscriptions.
| Feature | Free $0 | Single $8.88 | Starter $39.88 RECOMMENDED | Capitals $69.88 | All-China $288 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City guides | |||||
| Payment setup guide | |||||
| VPN setup guide | |||||
| Offline PDF access | |||||
| Restaurant recommendations | |||||
| Day-by-day itineraries | |||||
| Scam warnings | |||||
| Chinese phrases with audio | |||||
| Inter-city route guide | |||||
| 30 provincial capitals | |||||
| All 303 cities | |||||
| Lifetime updates | |||||
| Priority support | |||||
| Custom itinerary request |
Don't take our word for it — hear from travelers who've been there.
Sarah Mitchell
🇺🇸 USA · Beijing
I was terrified about payment in China — no one told me Alipay was basically the only way to buy anything. This guide walked me through setup in 10 minutes before my flight. Literally saved my trip. The Forbidden City tips about booking 7 days in advance were gold.
“Set up Alipay in 10 minutes — saved my entire trip”
Carlos Rivera
🇲🇽 Mexico · Guangzhou
As a foodie, Guangzhou was paradise. The dim sum recommendations were outstanding — found a place in Liwan that had the best har gow I've ever tasted. The payment setup guide was essential since even small street vendors only accept mobile pay.
“Dim sum recommendations were absolutely world-class”
David Brown
🇨🇦 Canada · Chongqing
This city is absolutely wild — the cyberpunk skyline, the monorail going through a building, the hotpot that nearly killed me (in a good way). The guide's warning about the hotpot spice level was NOT exaggerated. Hongyadong at night looked like a movie set.
“Chongqing's cyberpunk vibes exceeded all expectations”
Jessica Lee
🇨🇦 Canada · Pingyao
Felt like stepping into a time machine. The ancient banking museum was fascinating — who knew China had a sophisticated financial system 500 years ago? The city wall walk at sunset was unforgettable. This tiny city packs more history than most countries.
“A living Ming Dynasty time capsule — absolutely magical”
James Thompson
🇬🇧 UK · Shanghai
The Bund at night was everything the guide promised, but the real value was the food recommendations. Found a xiaolongbao place down a random alley that was life-changing. Would never have found it without the "where to eat" tips. Worth every penny.
“Found hidden food gems I'd never discover on my own”
Emma van der Berg
🇳🇱 Netherlands · Chengdu
Arrived at the panda base at 7:30am exactly as the guide suggested — pandas were active and playing! By 10am they were all sleeping and the crowds were insane. The hotpot advice about ordering "yuanyang" pot was a lifesaver for my spice tolerance.
“Panda base timing tip alone was worth the purchase”
Lukas Müller
🇩🇪 Germany · Xi'an
The Muslim Quarter food guide was incredible — I ate my way through the entire street following the recommendations. The yangrou paomo at the suggested restaurant was the best meal of my 3-week China trip. Only wish the guide had more photos.
“Muslim Quarter food tour was the highlight of my trip”
Sophie Dubois
🇫🇷 France · Guilin
The Li River cruise was magical, but the guide's tip about booking the bamboo raft instead of the big boat made all the difference. So much more intimate and authentic. The Yangshuo cycling route they suggested through the karst countryside was unforgettable.
“Bamboo raft over big boat — best advice ever”
Raj Patel
🇮🇳 India · Lijiang
The altitude sickness warning for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was critical. I bought oxygen canisters as suggested and took it slow — no problems at all. The Old Town at 6am tip was pure magic. Had the entire place to myself for photos.
“Altitude preparation tips kept me safe at 4,500m”
Yuki Tanaka
🇯🇵 Japan · Hangzhou
West Lake was beautiful but the Longjing tea village visit was the real highlight. Buying tea directly from the farmers as the guide recommended — so much better than the tourist shops. The bike ride around the lake at sunset was perfection.
“Direct-from-farmer Longjing tea was authentic and affordable”
Michael O'Brien
🇮🇪 Ireland · Zhangjiajie
Standing on the Avatar mountains was a bucket-list moment. The guide's advice to skip the glass bridge crowds and focus on Yuanjiajie at sunrise was perfect. Without the transport tips, I would never have navigated the confusing park shuttle system.
“Sunrise at Yuanjiajie — no crowds, pure magic”
Anna Kowalski
🇵🇱 Poland · Harbin
Went in January for the Ice Festival — the guide was spot-on about everything. The Central Street architecture, St. Sophia Cathedral, and the ice sculptures at night were surreal. The tip about visiting the Snow Sculptures on Sun Island in the morning to avoid crowds was invaluable.
“Ice Festival tips helped me avoid massive crowds”
Hannah Williams
🇦🇺 Australia · Xiamen
Gulangyu Island was a dream — the guide's tip about taking the first ferry at 7am meant I had the piano museum almost to myself. The seafood recommendations near the university were incredible and so affordable. This city is underrated!
“Early ferry to Gulangyu = empty island paradise”
Tomoko Suzuki
🇯🇵 Japan · Suzhou
The Humble Administrator's Garden was stunning, but the guide's suggestion to visit the Suzhou Museum (designed by I.M. Pei) was an unexpected highlight. Pingjiang Road at dusk with a cup of Biluochun tea — pure poetry. The silk museum was fascinating too.
“Suzhou Museum by I.M. Pei was an unexpected gem”
Lena Andersson
🇸🇪 Sweden · Kunming
Used Kunming as a base to explore Yunnan — the Stone Forest day trip was otherworldly. The guide's suggestion to combine Kunming with Dali and Lijiang by bullet train was brilliant logistics. The flower market was a sensory overload in the best way.
“Kunming as a Yunnan base — perfect logistics advice”
Marco Rossi
🇮🇹 Italy · Nanjing
The Nanjing Massacre Memorial was deeply moving — the guide's advice to allow extra time and bring tissues was thoughtful. The Qinhuai River at night was beautiful, and the duck blood soup recommendation was surprisingly delicious. An underrated city.
“Nanjing is deeply moving and criminally underrated”
Priya Sharma
🇮🇳 India · Lhasa
The altitude acclimatization advice was crucial — I followed the guide's suggestion to rest on day 1 and it made all the difference. Potala Palace was awe-inspiring. The tip about arranging the Tibet Travel Permit through a licensed agency saved me weeks of confusion.
“Altitude and permit advice made Lhasa possible”
Oliver Schmidt
🇩🇪 Germany · Dunhuang
The Mogao Caves were the highlight of my entire China trip — 1,000 years of Buddhist art in the desert. The guide's tip about booking the special caves tour in advance was essential. The camel ride at Mingsha dunes at sunset was pure Silk Road magic.
“Mogao Caves advance booking tip was absolutely essential”
Ben Wilson
🇳🇿 New Zealand · Yangshuo
Cycling through karst countryside with rice paddies and water buffalo — felt like a painting come to life. The rock climbing recommendation was thrilling. The Impression Sanjie Liu show was spectacular. Yangshuo is adventure travel paradise.
“Karst countryside cycling was a dream come true”
Kim Min-jun
🇰🇷 South Korea · Dali
Dali is the perfect digital nomad base — the guide was right about that. Erhai Lake cycling, Cangshan hiking, and the most relaxed vibe of any Chinese city. The Bai minority tie-dye workshop in Zhoucheng was a unique cultural experience. Loved every minute.
“The perfect blend of culture, nature, and remote work”
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Everything you need to know before traveling to China.
Most foreign travelers need a tourist visa (L visa). However, China now offers 15-day visa-free entry to citizens of 50+ countries including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Malaysia, Thailand, and more. Check the latest policy for your nationality before booking.
Alipay covers 95% of payment scenarios in China — from street food to high-speed rail tickets. WeChat Pay handles the rest. Carry some cash (500-1000 RMB) as backup for rare cash-only situations.
Download a VPN before arriving — Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, and many other services are blocked. Set it up at home where you have unrestricted internet. Once in China, you cannot access VPN websites.
China is one of the safest countries for tourists. Violent crime is extremely rare. The main risks are scams targeting tourists (tea house scams, fake art students) and pickpocketing in crowded areas. Our guides include specific scam avoidance tips for each city.
All guides are ZIP files containing HTML pages, optimized for mobile reading. You can view them on any device — phone, tablet, or laptop — without an internet connection after downloading.
Google Maps works but is often inaccurate and slow due to the firewall. Apple Maps is more reliable. For the best experience, use Baidu Maps or Amap (Gaode) — our guides include instructions for both.
Budget travelers: $30-50/day (hostels, street food, public transport). Mid-range: $80-150/day (3-star hotels, restaurants, taxis). Luxury: $200+/day. China is very affordable compared to Western countries.
No, but learning a few phrases helps enormously. Our guides include essential phrases with pinyin pronunciation. In major cities, you will find some English speakers. In smaller cities, a translation app is essential.
This guide saved me hours of research. The Alipay setup instructions were spot-on — I had it working before I even landed in Beijing. The food recommendations in the Beijing guide were incredible, every single one was a hit.
Was skeptical about buying a digital guide but the reviews convinced me. The Shanghai guide's metro tips alone were worth the price. Used it every single day of my 2-week trip.
The VPN guide was a lifesaver. I would have been completely cut off without it. The city guides are detailed but not overwhelming — perfect balance of information and usability.
Really helpful for my first trip to China. The offline PDF format worked great on my phone. Would love to see more restaurant recommendations in future updates, but overall excellent value.
The scam alerts section alone saved me from a tea house scam in Shanghai. The phrase cards were super helpful — I could show them to taxi drivers when I got lost. Best travel purchase I've made.