Travel Guides & Resources

Browse our complete archive of survival guides, regional breakdowns, and expert tips for the modern traveler.
Aerial view of a historic Chinese town featuring a multi-arched stone bridge over a calm river, reflecting the sky and surrounding traditional architecture. Along the riverbank, numerous dark-roofed buildings with light-colored walls line the shore, with a prominent three-tiered temple-like structure standing next to the bridge. Lush, tree-covered mountains rise behind the town under a bright sky.

The Ancient Tea Horse Road: A Traveler's Guide to China's Hidden Trade Route

While the Silk Road gets the global fame, the Tea Horse Road travel China experience offers a grittier, more authentic [...]

Mount Everest's snow-covered peak illuminated by golden and orange light during sunrise, with pink clouds around the summit and dark blue sky.

7-Day Classic Tibet Itinerary: Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Route

Standing at the foot of Mount Everest is the ultimate bucket-list experience, but the journey there is just as significant [...]

A traditional multi-tiered village featuring dark wooden houses with tiled roofs, built into a lush green hillside. Vibrant green rice paddies fill the immediate foreground, and dense trees cover the upper slopes under a partly cloudy sky.

Beyond the Crowds: Immersive Cultural Experiences with Guizhou's Ethnic Minorities

If you are looking for the China of twenty years ago—where wooden stilted houses cling to misty mountains and traditional [...]

An illuminated airport sign with a dark blue background displaying '中国移民管理' and 'China Immigration' in white text. To the left is an icon of an officer holding a passport and a white arrow pointing left.

China Visa Application Guide: Essential Tips for a Smooth Process

Navigating the entry requirements for the Middle Kingdom has historically been one of the most daunting aspects of Asian travel. [...]

Multi-story traditional Chinese stilt house complex, identified as Hongya Cave by prominent red neon signs, brightly illuminated at night. Yellow string lights outline the building's tiered roofs, balconies, and wooden framework, where numerous red lanterns hang. Other yellow neon signs with Chinese characters are visible on a tall central tower. Modern high-rise buildings loom in the dark background.

First-Timer’s Guide to Chongqing: Spicy Hotpot, Night Views and Yangtze Ferries

If Shanghai is the showpiece of modern China and Beijing is the historical heart, Chongqing is its cyberpunk soul. Sprawling [...]

A long green and yellow Qinghai-Tibet railway train travels on an elevated track through a vast green grassland. Several dark yaks graze in the foreground, with majestic snow-capped mountains rising in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

How to Get to Tibet: Flights, Qinghai–Tibet Train & Overland Routes

Traveling to the "Roof of the World" is unlike visiting any other region in Asia. It requires precise logistical planning, [...]

A wooden table is set with a traditional Chinese teapot, teacups, and a multi-compartment tray holding various small dishes like dumplings, rice noodles, and a ground meat dish. A bamboo steamer with steamed buns and sticky rice, along with a plate of appetizers and pastries, completes the meal. The scene is outdoors, overlooking a tranquil lake with colorful paddle boats and lush green trees in the background.

Sichuan Teahouse Culture You Can Experience: From Chengdu to Zigong

You haven't truly arrived in Sichuan until you’ve lost an afternoon staring at a lake, listening to the rhythmic clacking [...]

A hand holds a smartphone displaying a digital food menu app with images of various Chinese dishes and prices. The phone is positioned above a blue and white card on a wooden table. The card features a large QR code, an NFC symbol, and Chinese text indicating 'Scan to Order' and 'Tap to Order,' along with 'Table No: A01.'

Staying Connected in China: SIM Card, eSIM, VPN & Wi-Fi Guide

Landing in Beijing or Shanghai without a working internet connection is not just inconvenient; in 2025, it renders you almost [...]

Panoramic view of the Shanghai Pudong skyline at twilight, featuring the illuminated Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and Shanghai Tower alongside numerous modern skyscrapers, with the Huangpu River in the foreground.

How Much Does a China Trip Cost? Budgeting for Flights, Hotels & Activities

Planning a journey to the Middle Kingdom often starts with a single, daunting question: is it expensive? The answer is [...]

Snow-covered Great Wall of China winding across several rugged mountain peaks with ancient watchtowers, surrounded by snow-laden trees and misty clouds.

China in Winter: Best Destinations for Snow, Sun & Festivals

Many travelers shy away from China winter travel due to fears of biting cold, but they are missing one of [...]

Aerial view of a narrow, lively Beijing Hutong street at evening. Traditional grey-tiled roof buildings with illuminated shop fronts line both sides, bustling with pedestrians. Red lanterns are visible near several entrances. In the foreground, a rooftop patio with tables and chairs overlooks the street, and tall modern buildings are faintly visible on the horizon.

Beijing Hutong Exploration: Hidden Courtyards, Local Life & Food

While the Great Wall and the Forbidden City represent the imperial grandeur of China's capital, the true soul of the [...]

Panoramic view of Hangzhou West Lake in China, showing Leifeng Pagoda on a tree-covered hill, and a traditional pavilion on a small square island in the clear blue water. Lush green trees, including weeping willows, line the lake's edge, with distant mountains and a modern city skyline visible under a bright blue sky.

Shanghai Day Trips by High-Speed Rail: Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Hidden Gems

Shanghai is an electric metropolis, but the sensory overload of the Bund and Nanjing Road can be intense. Fortunately, the [...]

An indoor shop or exhibit showcasing traditional Chinese food products. On the left, a dark brick wall with wooden shelves holds jars of dried ingredients. In the center, tables draped in blue and white patterned fabric display numerous jars of preserved foods and woven baskets of dried herbs and spices. To the right, a large, dome-like, earth-toned structure with an arched entrance features a wooden sign reading '古法坑炖' (Ancient Method Pit Stew or Roasting). A large stone mortar with a wooden pestle sits prominently on the brick floor in the foreground, with a smaller mortar nearby.

Chengdu Food Tour: Best Restaurants, Street Eats & Cooking Class Guide

Chengdu isn't just a stopover to see pandas; it is the undisputed culinary capital of China and a UNESCO City [...]

The Li River in Guilin, China, flowing past numerous steep, tree-covered karst limestone mountains under a bright blue sky with white clouds. Several tour boats and smaller vessels are visible on the clear water, and dense green foliage covers the riverbanks and mountain bases.

Guilin & Yangshuo Itinerary: 4-Day Karst Peaks, River Cruises & Rice Terraces

Planning a trip to Guangxi province can be overwhelming due to the sheer volume of logistics involved in navigating rural [...]

A wide view of lush green rolling grasslands with a winding blue river. Numerous horses and cows, including calves, graze freely across the vibrant green pastures. In the distance, gentle green hills rise under a bright blue sky dotted with scattered white clouds.

How to Visit China’s Grasslands: Hohhot to Hulunbuir Steppe Travel Guide

You have likely seen the photos: endless ribbons of green rolling under a cobalt sky, white yurts dotting the horizon, [...]

A festive street scene at dusk adorned with numerous red lanterns and yellow starburst fairy lights hanging from the bare branches of trees. People are walking along the bustling street below, which is lined with traditional-style buildings and glowing shop signs. The sky above is a soft orange and pink.

Seasonal Guide to China’s Festivals: What Travelers Can Actually Do

Most travel guides paint a romantic picture of Chinese festivals: lanterns floating gently down rivers and dragons dancing in empty [...]

A lone person walks along a narrow, winding dirt path between towering, rugged red sandstone walls of the Tianshan Mystic Grand Canyon near Kuqa, Xinjiang, with a sliver of bright blue sky visible above.

Xinjiang By Public Transport: 7–10 Day Route from Urumqi to Kashgar

Most guidebooks will tell you that traveling China’s far west requires a private driver, an expensive tour group, or a [...]

A vibrant spread of traditional Cantonese cuisine from Guangzhou, perfect for a meal beyond dim sum. The focus is on two steaming claypot rice dishes: one with sliced Chinese sausage (lap cheong), savory chicken, and fresh gai lan, and another with braised meat, two sunny-side-up fried eggs, and green vegetables over rice, all drizzled with sauce. The meal also includes a clear pork rib soup with a corn cob slice, a bowl of braised quail eggs, a separate whole Chinese sausage, glazed chicken wings, and a side of crispy fried snacks, all laid out on a rustic wooden table.

Guangzhou Food Neighborhoods Guide: Where to Eat Beyond Dim Sum

Most travelers land in Guangzhou with one goal: eat as much dim sum as humanly possible. While the yum cha [...]

The breathtaking turquoise waters of Five Flower Lake in Jiuzhaigou National Park, China, show submerged tree branches covered in moss. The crystal-clear water reflects the vibrant blue sky with scattered white clouds. The lake is surrounded by a dense forest on steep mountainsides, displaying a mix of evergreen pines and deciduous trees with autumn foliage in shades of orange and yellow. A wooden boardwalk with tourists walking along it is visible on the left bank, and snow-capped mountains rise in the distance under a bright sunny sky.

Jiuzhaigou or Huanglong? How to Choose and Plan Your Sichuan Fairyland Trip

Sichuan Province is home to two of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage sites in China: Jiuzhaigou Valley and Huanglong [...]

A panoramic view of the Longji Rice Terraces in Dazhai village, Guangxi, China, featuring lush green, winding paddies cascading down mountain slopes. Numerous traditional wooden minority houses and modern guesthouses are nestled within the terraces, illuminated by warm golden hour sunlight.

How to Hike the Longji Rice Terraces Without the Tour Crowds

The Dragon’s Backbone (Longji) Rice Terraces are arguably one of the most photographed landscapes in China. But if you search [...]

A breathtaking panoramic view of the majestic, snow-capped Mount Everest under a brilliant blue sky, as seen from Rongbuk Monastery in Tibet. In the foreground, a traditional white Buddhist stupa (chorten) with a golden spire and colorful prayer flags stands on a rocky, arid landscape. The path leads through a desolate valley towards the towering Himalayan peaks, highlighting this iconic Everest Base Camp view and its connection to required Tibet travel permits.

Tibet Permits Explained: Tourist Permit, Aliens Travel Permit & More

Planning a trip to the "Roof of the World" involves navigating one of the most complex bureaucratic landscapes in global [...]

A breathtaking view of the multi-tiered Deyue Pavilion, a traditional Naxi architecture pagoda, located in Black Dragon Pool (Heilongtan Park) in Lijiang, Yunnan, China. The pavilion's vibrant colors and tiered roofs are perfectly reflected in the calm blue water. Majestic, snow-capped peaks of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain rise in the background under a clear sky, with a graceful stone arched bridge visible over the lake to the right.

Ultimate Yunnan Loop: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La in 10 Days

Planning a trip to China’s southwest can be overwhelming due to the sheer scale of the province. However, the Ultimate [...]

Several modern silver Fuxing Hao high-speed bullet trains, featuring distinctive red and orange stripes, are parked at platforms within the bustling Shenzhen North Railway Station at night. The illuminated train interiors and the station's intricate overhead structure highlight a busy Chinese transportation hub, with station signs clearly visible.

High-Speed Trains in China: How to Book, Board, and Not Get Lost

Walking into a Chinese train station for the first time can feel like entering a small city. The scale is [...]

Aerial daytime overview of the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, featuring a towering central ice spire, elaborate multi-spired ice castles, and vast icy pathways bustling with visitors at the Harbin Ice and Snow World.

Harbin Ice Festival Survival Guide: Routes, Gear, and Budget Tips

Harbin is not a destination for the faint of heart. Located in Heilongjiang province, bordering Russia, this city transforms into [...]