ConnectivityHow-to
eSIM, SIM cards, and data plans: what works for a two-week trip
Where to buy, which ID checks happen, and how to avoid losing ride-hailing when your primary phone number changes.
PracticalArrival
Hotel check-in for foreigners: paperwork, registration, and what to do if a clerk is unsure
How temporary residence registration works, what documents help, and when to escalate politely without turning it into a fight.
Visa deskUpdated May 2026
Who still qualifies for transit waivers—and where the rules diverge
Ports of entry update their interpretation faster than English brochures. Plain-language map of 24/72/144-hour bubbles, onward ticket proof, and when to choose a tourist visa instead.
RegionsItinerary
Seven days in Sichuan: Chengdu hub, Leshan day trip, and altitude honesty
Humane pacing for first-timers: hot pot without digestive regret, Giant Buddha crowds by clock, and when Jiuzhaigou is worth the flight versus closer alpine options.
RailHow-to
Reading a 12306 confirmation: seat classes, pickup codes, and station Chinese you need
Second class is the default China runs on. Decode car numbers, kiosks, and three phrases that solve most gate confusion.
Payments
Alipay & Weixin Pay for foreigners: 2026 field report
Top-ups, outages, cash buffers, and why two wallets beat one.
Beijing
Beijing in 72 hours without sprinting
Forbidden City pacing, Wall logistics that do not ruin day three, hutong recovery time.
Shanghai
Shanghai metro: etiquette, exits, rush-hour survival
Apps, crush windows, and when taxis lose to trains.
Visa
Tourist (L) visa interviews: what consulates still ask
Itinerary consistency beats stack height. Red flags and invitation letter tips.
Guilin
Guilin & Li River: boats, scams to skip, better angles
Morning glass, cruise tiers, Yangshuo overnight vs day-trip mistakes.
HangzhouItinerary
Hangzhou & West Lake: slow tea, fast trains, and crowd math
Use the east station hub, boat tickets before noon, and Longjing villages without getting trapped in souvenir loops.
Xi’anHistory
Xi’an: Terracotta Army logistics plus city walls worth your legs
Morning pits, afternoon Muslim Quarter pacing, and when to bike the ramparts.
HuangshanOutdoors
Huangshan: cable cars, sunrise crowds, and packing for vertical weather
Guesthouse zones, cloud-sea odds by season, and why “light daypack” still means serious shoes.
ZhangjiajieOutdoors
Zhangjiajie pillars & glass bridges: tickets, vertigo, and bus choreography
Forest Park vs Tianmen split, rain plan B, and how shuttles eat half your day if you ignore maps.
YunnanSlow travel
Kunming → Dali by rail: altitude, sunburn, and pace that fits older knees
Lake Erhai e-bike realism, Bai architecture without tour-pack rush, and dry-season UV tricks.
GuangzhouFood
Guangzhou morning tea: cart halls, queue physics, and paying like a local
Where to sit first, how many baskets is “enough,” and why leaving Shameen for dinner beats lunch rush.
ShenzhenBorder
Shenzhen ↔ Hong Kong day trips: metro taps, exit rows, and mall time sinks
Futian checkpoint rhythm, Octopus vs QR reality, and when a taxi beats three metro changes.
Air qualityHealth
AQI in China: masks, apps, and when to move outdoor plans indoors
Which indices match which apps, hotel air filters, and kid/elder sensitivity thresholds that matter.
