Free guide · Updated for 2026

China Entry Help

A practical entry-preparation desk for visitors checking visa-free and transit paths, passport details, arrival documents, first-night logistics, and common border-adjacent questions before travel.

100% FreeNo Booking FeesWritten for VisitorsEntry and Arrival Basics

Before you rely on an entry plan

A practical entry-preparation desk for visitors checking visa-free and transit paths, passport details, arrival documents, first-night logistics, and common border-adjacent questions before travel.

04

Going Home

Shopping, customs, airport timing, and what to do before departure.

China cruise arrival preparation.

Entry, payment, transport, and port-to-city checks for cruise arrivals in China.

Beijing

Forbidden City Guide

China's most important imperial complex, and still one of the easiest places to underestimate on timing and scale alone.

From about RMB 60 in standard season
Beijing

Temple of Heaven Guide

One of Beijing's most elegant major sites, especially good for visitors who want architecture without the crush of the Forbidden City.

From about RMB 15
Beijing

Mutianyu Great Wall Guide

The most reliable first-timer Great Wall choice: scenic, manageable, and easier to organize than many people expect.

From about RMB 45 plus transport
Xi'an

Terracotta Warriors Guide

One of the clearest must-see attractions in China, but best visited with realistic expectations on travel time and crowds.

From about RMB 120
Shanghai

The Bund Guide

Shanghai's iconic riverfront, best used as a skyline, architecture, and city-rhythm experience rather than a box to tick quickly.

Free
Guilin

Li River Cruise Guide

The classic karst-river journey that defines Guilin for many visitors.

Varies by boat class and booking path

First China trip

A practical setup checklist for payments, apps, hotels, transport, and the first day on the ground.

3 to 5 days

Beijing

China's imperial capital, and still the easiest first city for history-heavy itineraries.

History, architecture, first-time visitors
2 to 4 days

Shanghai

The sleekest big-city arrival for visitors who want convenience, skyline energy, and easier first-week logistics.

City comfort, food, design, easy first landing
2 to 3 days

Xi'an

One of China's easiest second cities: compact core, major history, and the Terracotta Warriors.

History, food, Silk Road mood
2 to 4 days

Chengdu

A softer, slower city with pandas, teahouses, and one of the best food cultures in China.

Food, slow travel, culture
3 to 4 days

Guilin & Yangshuo

The classic China landscape set-piece: karst peaks, river scenery, and a slower southern rhythm.

Scenery, photography, slower nature days

Guides

Plain-language answers by travel problem.

Travel Guide

China First-Trip Setup: What to Lock Before You Fly

The practical setup guide for first-time visitors who want the trip to feel smooth from the first payment to the first train ride.

9 min read
Travel Guide

Beijing Itinerary: A Clean 3 to 5 Day First-Timer Plan

A practical route through Beijing that protects ticket timing, transport reality, and energy levels.

11 min read
Travel Guide

China High-Speed Trains: How to Use Them Without a Meltdown

What matters for foreign travelers: booking path, station scale, ID checks, and buffer time.

8 min read

Common China trip friction we cover

The site is built around practical problems travelers actually need to resolve: setup, movement, bookings, and backup plans.

Essential Guide

How to Pay in China as a Foreign Visitor

China is effectively cashless in daily life. Here is how to make Alipay, WeChat Pay, cards, and backup cash work together.

12 min read
Essential Guide

Internet in China: VPN, Maps, Messaging, and the Real Survival Stack

What changes when you land, what to install before departure, and how to keep communication and navigation stable.

10 min read
Arrival Guide

Beijing Airport Arrival Guide: Your First Hour in China

A step-by-step arrival plan from landing to hotel, focused on immigration, cashless friction, and transport clarity.

9 min read
Safety

Common Scams in China: What Tourists Actually Need to Watch For

Most China trips feel safe. The practical risk is not violent crime, but rehearsed tourist traps and payment confusion.

8 min read
Why This Site Exists

Why This Site Exists

Entry decisions depend on current rules, document details, route facts, and border discretion. This site exists to help visitors organize the practical questions before they rely on an entry plan.

5 Travel guides
5 Cities covered
6 Key attractions
2026 Current baseline