Travel Guides & Resources

Browse our complete archive of survival guides, regional breakdowns, and expert tips for the modern traveler.
Two modern Chinese high-speed trains, including a silver Fuxing bullet train with red, orange, and gold stripes, parked side-by-side at a bright station platform. A white high-speed train with blue stripes is to the left. A yellow tactile paving strip is visible on the platform.

China High-Speed Rail for Tourists: Booking, Classes & Onboard Experience

For many travelers, the first time stepping into a Chinese railway station is more overwhelming than the flight that brought [...]

Elevated view of Gulangyu Island showing historic European-style buildings with red roofs, surrounded by dense green trees. In the middle ground, boats dot the sparkling blue water, leading to the modern Xiamen city skyline in the background, featuring numerous tall glass skyscrapers and a long suspension bridge.

Is Xiamen Worth Visiting? Gulangyu Island, Fujian Tulou & Coastal Eats Guide

Xiamen (Amoy) often flies under the radar compared to Beijing or Shanghai, but for savvy travelers in 2026, it represents [...]

High-angle aerial view of the Wukang Mansion, a distinctive triangular red-brick apartment building with curved balconies and a rounded corner, at a street intersection in Shanghai. Two empty, tree-lined streets lead away from the building, and a hazy city skyline fills the background.

Shanghai French Concession Walking Guide: Best Streets & Hidden Cafes

If the futuristic skyline of the Bund is Shanghai’s face, the Former French Concession (FFC) is its soul. While most [...]

A modern Beijing subway train, silver with a blue front and a yellow stripe along its side, travels at speed on elevated tracks. Blurred green trees and tall white apartment buildings are visible in the background.

Beijing Subway Survival Guide: Master the Metro Like a Local

If you attempt to navigate Beijing by taxi during rush hour, you will spend more time looking at the bumper [...]

The grand Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La, with its golden roofs and tiered white and red buildings, sits on a hillside. Below it are smaller structures and a line of bare trees bordering Lamuyangcuo Lake. The entire scene, including the monastery and buildings, is sharply reflected in the calm lake water under a clear blue sky.

Visiting the 'Little Potala Palace': A Guide to Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La

Shangri-La, formerly known as Zhongdian, often struggles to live up to the mystical expectations set by James Hilton's Lost Horizon. [...]

A modern bathroom featuring grey marble-patterned tiles on the walls and floor. On the left, a walk-in shower with a glass partition and a rainfall showerhead actively spraying water. In the center, a white Western-style smart toilet is positioned next to a small white waste bin. To the right, a floating white vanity with a rectangular sink and a wooden shelf underneath. The bathroom is illuminated by recessed ceiling lights, LED strip lighting in wall niches, and a circular backlit mirror. Various toiletries are arranged on the shelves.

Chinese Public Toilets: A Practical Guide for Travelers (Squat vs. Western)

For many travelers, the biggest source of anxiety isn't the language barrier or the spicy food—it's the restroom situation. If [...]

Several bamboo rafts with people float on a wide, green river. The river is surrounded by dense green trees and towering, rounded karst limestone mountains under a clear blue sky. On the left bank, a stone pier holds onlookers, and a decorative red boat is anchored further downriver near some buildings.

Guilin vs. Yangshuo: Which Is Best for Your Karst Mountain Trip?

You have seen the photos: misty limestone pinnacles rising abruptly from emerald rice paddies. But when it comes to booking [...]

A vibrant, multi-tiered Chinese pagoda with red pillars, golden roofs, and intricate traditional decorations, framed by dark tree branches and scattered golden autumn leaves.

China Mobile Payments: Your Essential Guide to WeChat Pay & Alipay

Picture this: You’ve just landed in Shanghai. You’re jet-lagged, thirsty, and standing in front of a vending machine or a [...]

Large white bins overflowing with dried traditional Chinese medicine roots, including light brown Southern Adenophora Root (Nan Sha Shen) as indicated by the text overlay, displayed at a market in Chengdu. Other containers of various seeds are visible in the background.

Chengdu TCM: Exploring Traditional Chinese Medicine for Travelers

The first thing you notice in Chengdu isn't always the spice of the hotpot; often, it is the earthy, pungent [...]

A deep, narrow canyon with towering, green-vegetated limestone cliffs. A winding wooden walkway with traditional-style roofs is built into the right cliff face. A rocky riverbed with a muddy stream runs through the bottom of the gorge. Distant mountains are shrouded in mist under a cloudy sky.

Beyond the Mainstream: 7 Best Value Hidden Gems in China for Budget Travelers

If you stick to the "Golden Triangle" of Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an, your travel budget will evaporate faster than steam [...]

A composite image depicting the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China, across four distinct seasons. From left to right: snow-covered winter with bare trees and white ground; spring with cherry blossoms, melting snow, and budding greenery; lush green summer under a bright blue sky; and vibrant red and golden autumn foliage with fallen leaves on the ground.

China Packing List by Season & Region: What to Bring for Every Trip

Packing for a trip to the Middle Kingdom is significantly more complex than a weekend getaway to Paris or a [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

An aerial view of the majestic Leshan Giant Buddha, carved into a vibrant red sandstone cliff face. The colossal statue features a serene expression with closed eyes, a gentle smile, and dark, tightly coiled hair-like features, with a red urna on its forehead. Lush green trees partially obscure the lower portion of the statue, while a paved walkway with a red railing is visible in the upper left, alongside the moss-covered, layered rock of the cliff. This iconic Buddhist site is a major attraction near Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Day Trips from Chengdu: Leshan, Emeishan and 5 Underrated Alternatives

Chengdu is famous for its laid-back teahouse culture and the adorable residents of the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. However, [...]