First-time China travel made practical
Practical city guides, payment tips, transport help, food recommendations, and ready-to-use itineraries for foreign visitors.
Mobile wallets, cards, cash backups, and first-day payment setup.
Maps, translation, trains, ride-hailing, payments, and food discovery.
A simple first itinerary with The Bund, local food, and neighborhood walks.
A Shanghai-based route idea for eligible transit visitors.
City guides
Choose a city based on pace, food, transport, history, and the kind of first impression you want.
上海
3-4 days
First-timers, Food, Night views
The Bund and Huangpu River skyline
Shanghai is China's easiest first landing point for many foreign travelers: international flights, simple metro connections, excellent hotels, and a mix of historic lanes, futuristic skylines, shopping streets, and day trips to water towns.
View city guide北京
3-5 days
History, Great Wall, Museums
Forbidden City
Beijing is the best city for understanding imperial China, modern politics, and grand-scale landmarks. It rewards slower planning because major sights are large, security checks take time, and museum reservations matter.
View city guide西安
2-3 days
Terracotta Warriors, Ancient history, Street food
Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an is compact, atmospheric, and easy to pair with Beijing. The Terracotta Warriors are the headline, but the city wall, Muslim Quarter, pagodas, and noodle culture make it more than a one-sight stop.
View city guide成都
3-4 days
Pandas, Spicy food, Tea houses
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Chengdu is one of China's most enjoyable slow-travel cities. It is famous for pandas and Sichuan food, but its real appeal is the pace: tea houses, parks, hot pot dinners, and easy day trips.
View city guidePopular routes
Pick a route by trip length, then adjust the pace around your flights, interests, and comfort level.
Shanghai
A confident first China itinerary with classic Shanghai highlights, local food, modern neighborhoods, and a gentle day-trip option.
Open itineraryBeijing
A focused Beijing itinerary balancing major historic landmarks, a Great Wall day, hutong walks, and classic local meals.
Open itineraryBeijing + Xi'an
A compact history-focused route connecting Beijing's imperial landmarks and Great Wall with Xi'an's Terracotta Warriors and old city atmosphere.
Open itineraryTravel essentials
Payment, train stations, apps, packing, and useful phrases are easier when you prepare them before arrival.
Payment
A practical introduction to mobile payments, cash, cards, and what to set up before your first meal in China.
Apps
The essential apps for maps, translation, mobile payment, ride-hailing, trains, restaurants, and staying connected.
Transportation
A practical foreign visitor's guide to booking Chinese high-speed trains, choosing the right station, using your passport, boarding, luggage, seat classes, and missed-train backups.
Free PDF checklist
A compact PDF covering pre-flight documents, arrival day, payment, apps, hotel addresses, transport, food, and emergency phrases.
Use it before you fly and again on arrival day.
Newsletter
Get the free China First-Time Visitor Checklist and practical planning notes.