Travel Guides & Resources

Browse our complete archive of survival guides, regional breakdowns, and expert tips for the modern traveler.
A giant panda sits surrounded by bamboo, holding a stalk of bamboo in its right paw and eating it. The panda has black patches around its eyes and ears, and a black and white coat. Green leaves and bamboo stalks fill the foreground and background, with a tree trunk visible on the right.

Volunteering with Pandas: A Practical Guide to Research Center Programs

For many travelers heading to China in 2026, working hands-on with giant pandas is a bucket-list dream. However, navigating the [...]

A wide, green meadow filled with small yellow and purple wildflowers in the foreground, with a cluster of wooden buildings and trees in the middle ground. Behind the trees, majestic snow-capped mountains rise under a cloudy blue sky.

Beyond the Peaks: A Guide to the Mandalas of Four Sisters Mountain

Finding genuine spiritual solitude in China’s booming outdoor travel scene can feel impossible. Yet, tucked away on the eastern edge [...]

An elaborate nighttime lantern display featuring illuminated traditional Chinese-style temples with multi-tiered roofs and golden accents, set against a clear blue night sky. The lanterns are arranged on sculpted mountains and waterfalls made of light, with glowing blue rivers and pathways in the foreground.

Salt, Lanterns, and Dinosaurs: A 2-Day Guide to Zigong, Sichuan

Most international travelers flock to Sichuan for the pandas in Chengdu or the spicy hotpot in Chongqing. But just a [...]

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 [...]

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 serene lake reflects snow-capped mountains and lush green trees under a bright blue sky with white clouds. A wooden fence runs along a grassy hillside in the background, with a few people visible near trees.

Sichuan’s Western Frontier: Chengdu to Daocheng Yading Road Trip Guide

Sichuan’s Western Frontier: Chengdu to Daocheng Yading Road Trip Guide TL;DR: Trip Essentials Best Route: The 760km overland drive from [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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, [...]