Travel
Travel
The 8 Apps You Actually Need in China (and What to Skip)
A no-nonsense app shortlist for first-time visitors: payments, maps, rides, translation, and bookings — plus the Western apps to stop relying on.
Real China, one dish and one craft at a time
We share authentic Chinese food and living heritage, so the world can see China as it really is.
Latest stories
Travel
Travel
Staying Online in China: eSIM, Local SIM & the Apps That Get Blocked
How to get data the moment you land, why Google/WhatsApp/Instagram don't work without a workaround, and a realistic plan for staying reachable.
Travel
Travel
Paying in China Without a Chinese Bank Account: Alipay & WeChat Pay for Foreigners
How to bind an international card to Alipay and WeChat Pay, where QR payment works, what the limits and fees are, and the fallback options when a foreign card won't bind.
Travel
Travel
Booking China's High-Speed Trains: 12306, Trip.com & Foreign Passport Tips
How to buy bullet-train tickets as a foreigner — the official 12306 app, the easier Trip.com route, passport verification, and what to do when a name won't match.
Travel
Travel
China Visa-Free & 240-Hour Transit: Who Can Enter Without a Visa (2026)
A plain-English rundown of China's 2026 visa-free and 240-hour transit policies — the three ways in, what to prepare, and the mistakes that still get people turned away at the gate.
Travel
Travel
Getting Around Chinese Cities: Metro, Didi, Bikes & Walking
A first-timer's map to urban transport in China — metro QR codes, ride-hailing with DiDi, shared bikes, and the small habits that save time and money.