Cluster · visa
Visa & Entry
38+ countries get 30-day visa-free entry to China in 2026; 55+ get 240-hour transit; everyone else needs an L visa applied for 4–7 business days before travel.
Topic Hubs
China Travel Topics
Every China travel topic, organised into 11 clusters and 46 nodes. Each cluster is a hub page that links every node back to its source guide.
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Start here
First time in China? Read the 8-step survival playbook — chains Visa → Money → Apps → Internet → Transport → Day 1 → Cities → Return into one decision flow.
Cluster · payment
Payment
Link a foreign Visa, Mastercard, or AmEx to Alipay before flying; it works at ~92% of Chinese merchants and unlocks small shops, taxis, and food stalls.
5 nodes
Cluster · internet
Internet & Connectivity
China blocks Google, Meta, X, and most Western apps. Get a tourist eSIM with a working VPN before flying, or rent a portable WiFi at the airport.
3 nodes
Cluster · transport
Transportation
For trips under 1,000 km, China high-speed rail beats flying on price, reliability, and door-to-door time. DiDi covers taxis and ride-hailing in every major city.
5 nodes
Cluster · apps
Apps
Three apps cover 95% of trip needs: Alipay for payments, Trip.com for HSR/flights/hotels, and a translation app with the Chinese offline pack.
4 nodes
Cluster · safety
Safety
China ranks in the global top 10 on the Global Peace Index. Violent crime against tourists is rare; the main risk is petty scams in tourist areas.
5 nodes
Cluster · destinations
Destinations
China has 200+ foreign-visitable cities. The essential first-timer trio is Beijing (history), Shanghai (modernity), and Xi'an (terra-cotta warriors).
6 nodes
Cluster · food
Food
Eight great regional cuisines anchor Chinese food: Cantonese, Sichuan, Hunan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Anhui.
3 nodes
Cluster · culture
Culture & Etiquette
China is a relationship-first culture: accept offered tea, receive business cards with two hands, and never write a person's name in red ink.
4 nodes
Cluster · weather
Weather & Best Time
April–May and September–October are the best months for most of China: mild temperatures, low rainfall, and clear skies across the major cities.
2 nodes
Cluster · budget
Budget & Cost
A mid-range 10-day China trip costs $1,500–$2,500 per person including international flights, with daily budgets of $80 (backpacker) to $250 (luxury).