Travel Guides & Resources

Browse our complete archive of survival guides, regional breakdowns, and expert tips for the modern traveler.
A bustling street market in Chengdu, China, with traditional red-and-orange buildings lining both sides. Stalls are set up along the street, covered by various colored awnings and umbrellas, displaying clothing, food, and other merchandise. Many people are walking through the market, some on foot and some on scooters. Signage in Chinese is visible throughout the scene.

Beyond Tea: A Local's Guide to Lesser-Known Chengdu Beverages

When most travelers arrive in Sichuan's capital, they immediately seek out a bamboo chair at Heming Teahouse. But if you [...]

A multi-story building with a whimsical, hobbit-like design, featuring rounded doorways and windows, wooden accents, and abundant greenery. The building is illuminated by warm, hanging lanterns and features decorative mushrooms and rabbit figures. In the foreground, a large, circular wooden doorway has a rabbit statue inside, and a smaller circular window to its left.

Beyond the Crowd: The Ultimate Photography Guide to Lijiang Old Town

Capturing the perfect shot in a UNESCO World Heritage site visited by millions requires more than just a good [...]

Several ancient wooden coffins are affixed to a sheer, weathered limestone cliff face. The coffins are box-like and appear to be suspended on wooden beams jutting out from the rock. The cliff is rough and textured with some vertical streaks of discoloration.

Discovering the Hanging Coffins of the Bo People: A Guide to Gongxian

Deep in the misty karst mountains of southern China, hundreds of ancient wooden coffins defy gravity, suspended on sheer cliff [...]

An aerial view of an ancient stone village complex built on the side of a steep, forested mountain. The architecture features grey tiled roofs, stone walls, and courtyards, with narrow staircases and patios clinging to the cliff face. Lush green trees surround the structures.

Anshun Beyond the Falls: Exploring Guizhou's Ancient Tunpu Villages

If you are piecing together your China itinerary, you need a reliable Anshun travel guide that looks beyond the obvious. [...]

A panoramic aerial view of the Bund in Shanghai at sunset. In the foreground, the prominent clock tower of a historic colonial building stands tall, casting long shadows. Adjacent to it is a grand white dome structure. The Huangpu River reflects the golden light of the setting sun, with a small boat navigating its waters. In the background, a dense collection of modern skyscrapers pierces the sky, some illuminated by the sunset.

Shanghai's Cultural Canvas: Exploring Art & Heritage Beyond the Skyline

Most visitors to Shanghai crane their necks at the Lujiazui skyscrapers or shuffle along the crowded Bund. But to truly [...]

Two split images. The top image shows a street scene at night with many people in traditional Tang Dynasty Hanfu clothing. Ornate lanterns hang overhead and fireworks are visible in the sky. The bottom image shows a similar scene with people in Hanfu on a wooden bridge over water, with more lanterns and fireworks.

Immersive Tang Dynasty Xi'an: A Guide to the Great Tang All Day Mall

Stepping into Xi'an at night feels like peeling back a millennium of history, especially when you find yourself standing under [...]

A young man wearing a backpack stands on a wooden walkway with a railing, looking out at the Zhangjiajie sandstone pillars that rise through the clouds.

Zhangjiajie Luggage Logistics: How to Handle Your Bags while Hiking

Arriving in the Avatar mountains is breathtaking, but dragging a 20-kilogram suitcase up thousands of stone steps is a guaranteed [...]

A perfectly still salt lake creates a mirror-like reflection of a vast blue sky filled with white clouds, and a distant, flat horizon line with snow-capped mountains.

Chaka Salt Lake: A Complete Photography & Logistics Guide

Planning a trip to China's wild northwest requires moving beyond the standard Beijing-Shanghai-Xi'an itinerary. If you want to experience the [...]

A silver and blue Shanghai Maglev train with orange and blue stripes approaching a station. Several tall streetlights with blue tops are visible in the foreground. In the background, an airport control tower and modern buildings can be seen under a clear sky.

Surviving China's Maglev Trains: Speed, Tickets, and Station Tips

Traveling across China in 2026 feels like stepping into a sci-fi novel, but nothing quite matches the sheer futuristic thrill [...]

A wide shot aerial view of the Grand Canal in Hangzhou at sunset. A traditional arched bridge, lit by numerous golden lights, spans the canal, with boats passing underneath. The banks of the canal are lined with traditional Chinese buildings with tiled roofs and illuminated windows. Lush green trees surround the buildings and the canal. In the background, a dense cityscape of modern high-rise buildings rises against a vibrant orange and red sky filled with dramatic clouds.

Hangzhou on 3 RMB: A Guide to the Grand Canal Water Bus

If you want to experience the ancient Grand Canal without paying 150 RMB for a crowded tourist boat, you need [...]

Exterior front view of a silver and red Fuxinghao high-speed train stopped at a station platform under a modern gray and white canopy. A yellow sign on the platform reads 'Caution, Gap'. People are visible near the train doors.

Silent Carriage Travel: How to Book Quiet Seats on China's High-Speed Trains

Traveling across China by high-speed rail is an incredible experience, but if you have ever been trapped next to [...]

View looking up through the eaves of a traditional wooden Chinese temple towards a steep, densely forested mountainside. Golden Chinese characters are inscribed on a dark plaque above the temple entrance. Bells hang from the wooden eaves.

Hiking Mount Qingcheng: A DIY Day Trip Guide from Chengdu

Hiking Mount Qingcheng: A DIY Day Trip Guide from Chengdu TL;DR: Trip Essentials Location: Dujiangyan, roughly 1.5 hours from central [...]

A wide, low-angle shot of a grand stone mausoleum building with a dark blue tiled roof, approached by a very wide, long, and steep set of stone stairs. Many people, dressed in casual clothing, are walking up, down, and resting on the stairs. The building features ornate architectural details and Chinese characters above a large arched entrance. The sky is bright blue with some scattered white clouds.

Beyond the Wall: A Practical Guide to Visiting Nanjing's Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Standing at the base of Purple Mountain, the sheer scale of the 392 stone steps stretching up into the humid [...]

A person holds up a newspaper titled 'Chongqing Hotpot Daily' which features a picture of a large spread of hot pot ingredients. The newspaper is in front of a long table laden with various dishes of raw meats, vegetables, seafood, and other hot pot ingredients, arranged around a central divided hot pot. The table is set in a long, arched concrete tunnel with blue and white lights illuminating the background, suggesting it's a converted air raid shelter. Several bottles of yellow liquid and dipping sauces are also visible on the table.

Chongqing's Civil Defense Architecture: A Guide to Converted Air Raid Shelters

Chongqing is famously known as one of China's "Furnace Cities," where summer temperatures regularly push past 40°C (104°F). To truly [...]

An aerial view of a dense collection of traditional European-style buildings with red-tiled roofs nestled amongst lush green trees, overlooking a wide blue bay filled with boats and ships. In the distance, a modern cityscape with tall skyscrapers rises under a clear blue sky with a faint airplane.

Gulangyu Island Walking Tour: Hidden Architecture & Cafes

Xiamen's famous pedestrian-only island can feel like a chaotic theme park if you follow the flag-waving tour groups down Longtou [...]

A close-up, blurred foreground of a stone Buddha statue in profile, with its hand raised in a gesture. In the background, a tall, yellow, multi-tiered pagoda stands against a blue sky with scattered clouds. Green trees are visible at the base of the pagoda.

Hanyangling Museum Guide: Xi'an's Best Kept Secret Underground

Most travelers flock to Xi'an for the Terracotta Warriors, only to find themselves shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of tourists in sweltering, [...]

A long table laden with various Russian and Russian-influenced dishes, including a large bowl of beef stew in tomato sauce, sliced steak, meat skewers with salad and dipping sauces, a baked dish resembling a large quiche or pie, a salad with beets and blueberries, various types of bread, and small bowls of soup. Russian nesting dolls are visible in the background.

Beyond the Skewers: A Guide to Harbin's Russian-Influenced Food Scene

Stepping onto the cobblestones of Harbin in January means bracing against -25°C winds, but the biting cold is quickly forgotten [...]

An aerial view of a traditional circular Fujian Tulou village with several other rectangular earthen buildings, situated along a winding river in a lush green valley with terraced hillsides and bamboo forests, backed by rolling, mist-covered mountains.

Fujian's Hakka Delights: A Food Lover's Guide to Tulou Cuisine

If you are traveling to southeastern China in 2026, venturing into the misty, forested mountains of Fujian to explore the [...]

A panoramic aerial view of Guangzhou, China, featuring a dense urban landscape. In the background, several modern skyscrapers dominate the skyline, including the distinctive Canton Tower with its lattice structure. In the foreground and mid-ground, there are numerous tightly packed residential buildings with varied architectural styles and colorful facades, interspersed with trees and some signs of street life.

Guangzhou Subway Guide: Fares, Apps, and Top Tourist Stops

Welcome to the humid, bustling heart of southern China. Navigating this 15-million-strong megacity above ground means battling gridlock traffic and [...]

A vibrant, overhead view of numerous bouquets of flowers for sale at a market. In the foreground, there are large bunches of light pink roses, pale peach roses, and light purple hydrangeas. Behind these, a wide array of colorful roses are visible in various shades of yellow, pink, red, and lavender, many wrapped in clear plastic. The flowers are densely packed together, creating a visually rich tapestry of color.

Dounan Flower Market Guide: Visiting the World's Largest Floral Hub in Kunming

Stepping into the Dounan Flower Market hits you with an overwhelming wave of sensory details: the sharp, sweet scent of [...]

A panoramic view of Tiger Leaping Gorge at sunrise, with jagged, snow-capped mountain peaks illuminated by golden light. Clouds and mist partially obscure the steep, green-covered slopes and dark rock faces of the gorge. Far below, the Jinsha River flows through a valley with a small village visible on the right bank.

Hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge: The High Road vs. Low Road Guide

The sheer drop of 3,900 meters from snow-capped peaks to the churning Jinsha River makes Tiger Leaping Gorge one of [...]

An aerial, eye-level view of the vast Forbidden City in Beijing at sunset. The image is dominated by the expansive, orange-tiled roofs of the palace complex, arranged in a symmetrical pattern along the Beijing Central Axis. In the foreground, a prominent red wall with a white sign featuring Chinese characters is visible, with ornate doorways and pillars. Behind the Forbidden City, a cityscape with modern buildings stretches towards the horizon. The sky above is filled with dramatic, fiery orange and yellow clouds, illuminated by the setting sun, with patches of dark, stormy clouds and a deep blue sky visible.

Beijing Central Axis: A DIY Walking Guide to the UNESCO World Heritage Site

Planning a trip to China in 2026? Tackling the newly minted UNESCO World Heritage site requires a solid Beijing Central [...]

A nighttime view of the Beijing skyline featuring modern skyscrapers, including the China Zun and the CCTV Headquarters, contrasted with the foreground of a traditional Chinese temple roof with green and orange tiles and a golden finial.

Traveling China with Kids: 10 Essential Safety and Comfort Tips

Taking your children to the Middle Kingdom is an unforgettable adventure, but it requires serious logistical preparation. If you are [...]

Aerial, wide-angle view of the Leshan Giant Buddha, a massive stone statue carved into a cliff face. The Buddha is seated, facing forward, with intricate details visible on its face and torso. The statue is made of reddish-brown sandstone and is surrounded by lush green trees and traditional red-roofed temple buildings situated on the cliff above and to the side.

From Chengdu to Mount Emei & Leshan: 3-Day Buddhist Mountain Escape

Planning a trip From Chengdu to Mount Emei & Leshan: 3-Day Buddhist Mountain Escape requires more than just showing [...]