Pay
Primary route
A supported international card linked in Alipay
Simple backup
A second card and a small RMB cash reserve
China, on your own
The independent traveler's guide to China.
Plan your first China trip in the order that matters: confirm entry, set up payments and data, book trains and major sights, then save a backup for arrival.
What you'll actually do in China
Recognize the setting, complete the action, and know what to use when the first route fails.
Browse all guides
enterCheck your entry route
Passport, purpose, route, and official check
payPrepare mobile payments
Alipay, card issuer, and cash backup
connectChoose your phone setup
Device, data, and mainland number needs
movePrepare for China trains
12306, passport details, and stations
exploreCheck major sight reservations
Official channels, passports, and time slots
exploreSave an offline backup pack
Addresses, bookings, cash, and contacts
When something does not work
Use a backup step instead of starting over under pressure. Save these steps before departure, then compare the transport guides.
Connect
Primary route
Roaming, a compatible eSIM, or a mainland SIM
Simple backup
Hotel details and essential screenshots saved offline
Move
Primary route
12306 for trains and the city-specific transit route
Simple backup
Original passport, full station name, and a staffed counter
Explore
Primary route
The venue's current official reservation channel
Simple backup
A nearby sight or neighborhood without a fixed time
Land with a city plan
Check arrival points, transport, reservations, and useful Chinese names before you arrive in each city.
Classic-route city guides
Open the detailed landing guide for each stop in the 10-day route.
Choose a route that fits your time
Compare practical China itineraries by trip length, then use the full route page for daily bookings, transfers, and alternatives.
Our recommended first 10 days
Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai create one clear route with two protected rail-transfer days.
Days 1-3
Beijing 北京
Use two days for central Beijing and one day for a Great Wall trip.
Day 4
Beijing → Xi’an 北京 → 西安
Protect this as a rail and hotel transfer day, with no fixed evening sight.
Days 5-6
Xi’an 西安
Use two full days for the Terracotta Army and the central city.
Day 7
Xi’an → Shanghai 西安 → 上海
Treat the long rail journey and hotel arrival as the whole day.
Days 8-10
Shanghai 上海
Finish with two city days and a departure day with a protected airport margin.
Current guidance needs visible dates
High-risk pages show when we checked their sources and when the next review is due.
A review date is evidence of our process. It is not a promise that every app, venue, or rule is unchanged.