Travel Guides & Resources

Browse our complete archive of survival guides, regional breakdowns, and expert tips for the modern traveler.
A white and blue high-speed train travels on tracks elevated on a bridge, passing in front of a steep, mist-covered hillside covered in lush green tea terraces. A traditional multi-tiered Chinese pagoda sits atop the hill in the distance.

Chengdu to Zhangjiajie by Train: How to Plan the Journey & What to Pack

Swapping the spicy, laid-back teahouses of Chengdu for the towering, mist-shrouded sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie is a classic Chinese adventure. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

A large, ancient stone carving of Guanyin seated on a lotus throne, adorned with ornate jewelry and flowing robes, set within a cave-like structure. The statue is weathered and colorful, with intricate details in the carving of the deity and the surrounding rock formations. A young woman with a red headband stands on the right, looking up at the statue from behind a wooden railing.

Anyue Stone Carvings: A Guide to Sichuan's Hidden Grottoes

If you want to experience ancient Chinese Buddhist art without battling umbrella-wielding tour groups, you need to look beyond the [...]

A blue and white airplane taking off in the sky above multiple levels of elevated high-speed trains and road traffic in a city.

From Airport to City Center: A Complete Guide to China's Top Transit Options

Arriving in a Chinese mega-city after a 14-hour flight can feel overwhelming. The sheer scale of the terminals, the hum [...]

Aerial view of Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, featuring its large, modern, white, star-shaped terminal building with multiple radiating concourses, surrounded by numerous parked passenger airplanes on the tarmac. Runways, taxiways, and green areas are visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

China 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide: Eligibility & Itinerary Tips

For years, the biggest barrier to exploring the Middle Kingdom was the notorious bureaucracy of obtaining a tourist visa. However, [...]

An ornate traditional Chinese archway, known as the Dragon Gate, is carved into a rugged cliff face. The archway features a colorful tiered roof and a green plaque with the gold Chinese characters '龍門' (Dragon Gate). Intricate stone carvings of a dragon and swirling patterns adorn the cliff to the left. Through the archway, a vast blue Dianchi Lake and a distant city skyline are visible under a blue, partly cloudy sky. A carved stone railing and bench are to the right, along with a 'No climbing/No striding' sign.

Beyond the Stone Forest: A 48-Hour Guide to Kunming’s Local Side

For most travelers in 2026, Kunming is simply a transit hub—a necessary pause before the high-speed train whisks them away [...]