Travel Essentials

Visa, payments, connectivity, transit — read these before you fly.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.