All guides
Fifty practical guides for foreigners in China — from the first visa question to setting up a company. Every guide has a last-verified date and official sources.
China at a Glance: Regions, Seasons, and What to Expect
A practical orientation to China’s regions, climate, costs and travel rhythm — so you can choose where to go and how long to stay.
Start hereChina Visa Types Explained: Tourist, Business, Student, Work and Transit
Which Chinese visa fits your trip, what each one is for, and how the application actually works.
Start hereChina’s Visa-Free and Transit Policies in 2026
How visa-free entry and transit-without-visa work, who can use them, and the rules that catch travellers out.
Start hereArriving in China: Immigration, Customs and Health Checks
What happens at the airport, what to fill in, what customs allows, and how to get through quickly.
Start hereHow to Register Your Stay in China (Hotels, Apartments and Friends’ Homes)
The registration rule foreigners often miss, and how to avoid a fine or a problem at the hotel.
Start hereChina Travel Checklist: Documents, Apps, Money and SIM Cards
A practical pre-departure checklist so you do not land in China without the basics.
Start hereBest Time to Visit China: Weather, Holidays and Crowds
How to choose a season and avoid the weeks when transport and hotels become expensive and crowded.
Start hereChina Travel Insurance: What It Covers and What It Doesn’t
How to choose insurance that actually helps in China, including medical evacuation and exclusions.
Money & paymentsHow to Pay in China as a Foreigner: Alipay, WeChat Pay and Cash
The payment setup that actually works for foreign visitors, plus what to do when a card or app fails.
Money & paymentsLinking a Foreign Credit Card to Alipay and WeChat Pay
Step-by-step verification, common failure reasons, and how to fix a card that will not link.
Money & paymentsCash, ATMs and Currency Exchange in China
How much cash to carry, where to withdraw it, and how to avoid bad exchange rates and card skimming.
Money & paymentsHow to Get a Tax Refund in China
Who qualifies, what to buy, and the airport steps for a VAT refund on goods you take home.
Money & paymentsTipping in China: When, Where and How Much
China is not a tipping culture — here is where a small tip is appropriate and where it is awkward.
Connectivity & appsBest SIM and eSIM Options for Travellers in China
How to get a Chinese number, what registration requires, and when roaming or eSIM is enough.
Connectivity & appsInternet in China: What Works, What Doesn’t, and the Legal Rules
A neutral, practical explanation of internet access for visitors — without circumvention advice.
Connectivity & appsEssential Apps for Travelling in China
The apps that make payments, transport, maps, translation and food delivery work — and what to set up before you fly.
Connectivity & appsHow to Use DiDi, Metro Apps and Bike-Sharing in China
Getting around cities without hailing a street taxi: ride-hailing, metro tickets and shared bikes.
Connectivity & appsPower Plugs, Voltage and Adapters in China
What adapter you need, when a converter is required, and how to avoid frying your devices.
TransportHow to Book High-Speed Rail Tickets in China
Booking with a passport, choosing a station and class, and getting through security on time.
TransportChina Domestic Flights: Booking, Baggage and Delays
When flying beats the train, how to book with a passport, and how to handle delays and baggage.
TransportGetting from Airports to City Centres: Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou
The fastest, cheapest and easiest ways into town from China’s three busiest international airports.
TransportDriving in China as a Foreigner: Licence, Rules and Rentals
Can you drive on a foreign licence, how to get a temporary permit, and what to know before renting a car.
TransportChina’s Metro Systems: A Beginner’s Guide
Tickets, QR codes, security checks and etiquette on the world’s largest metro networks.
TransportOvernight Trains and Sleeper Classes in China
When a sleeper train makes sense, which class to book, and how to sleep well on board.
AccommodationHotels in China That Accept Foreign Guests
Why some hotels turn foreigners away, how to book a hotel that will check you in, and what to confirm.
AccommodationAirbnb, Homestays and Apartment Rentals in China
How to book a legal short-term rental, avoid registration problems, and protect your deposit.
AccommodationBudget Accommodation in China: Hostels, Guesthouses and Capsule Hotels
Cheap sleeps that accept foreigners, what to expect, and how to avoid a registration surprise.
Food & cultureChinese Food Regions: What to Eat in Beijing, Sichuan, Guangdong and More
A regional map of Chinese food, the dishes to try, and how to order without speaking Chinese.
Food & cultureHow to Order Food in China Without Speaking Chinese
Menus, QR codes, translation tricks and the phrases that get you a meal you actually want.
Food & cultureVegetarian, Vegan, Halal and Gluten-Free Eating in China
How to explain your diet, where to eat, and the ingredients that hide in Chinese cooking.
Food & cultureChinese Dining Etiquette: Chopsticks, Toasts and Taboos
The table manners that matter, the ones that don’t, and how to handle a business dinner.
Food & cultureChinese Tea: A Beginner’s Guide
Green, black, oolong, pu-erh and jasmine — what to try, how to brew, and how to buy without being ripped off.
Food & cultureFestivals in China: Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn and More
The festivals worth planning around, what they mean, and how to travel during them.
Language & daily lifeSurvival Chinese: 50 Phrases That Actually Help
The phrases for taxis, restaurants, hotels and emergencies — with pronunciation tips.
Language & daily lifeWeChat for Foreigners: Setup, Payments and Groups
How to register, verify, pay and use WeChat without losing your account or privacy.
Language & daily lifeChinese Names, Business Cards and Greetings
How names work, how to exchange cards, and the greetings that make a good first impression.
Language & daily lifeBargaining in China: Where It’s Okay and Where It Isn’t
Markets vs malls, how to negotiate politely, and when walking away is the best move.
BusinessHow to Visit the Canton Fair: Registration, Hotels and Tips
A first-timer’s guide to the twice-yearly trade fair in Guangzhou — badges, hotels, transport and avoiding wasted days.
BusinessSetting Up a Company in China: A Foreigner’s Roadmap
Entity types, the negative list, registered capital and the practical steps to incorporate.
BusinessChina Business Visa and Invitation Letters
The M/F visa basics, what an invitation letter must contain, and how not to accidentally work illegally.
BusinessSourcing from China: Alibaba, Yiwu and Factory Visits
How to find suppliers, verify factories, negotiate samples and avoid the most expensive sourcing mistakes.
BusinessChina Tax and Invoicing Basics for Foreign Businesses
VAT, fapiao, withholding and tax residency — the minimum a foreign business needs to know.
Study & workStudying in China: University Applications and Scholarships
How to choose a university, apply, find scholarships and prepare for life as an international student.
Study & workChinese Student Visa: Requirements and Timeline
X1 vs X2 visas, the JW202 form, the residence permit and the mistakes that delay enrolment.
Study & workWorking in China: Work Permit and Z Visa
The legal route to employment, the documents employers must provide, and the categories that decide eligibility.
Study & workTeaching English in China: Qualifications, Salaries and Red Flags
What legitimate English-teaching jobs require, what they pay, and how to avoid illegal or exploitative employers.
Health, safety & familyHealthcare in China for Foreigners: Hospitals, Insurance and Pharmacies
How to find an English-speaking hospital, what care costs, and what to do in an emergency.
Health, safety & familyEmergency Numbers and What to Do If You Lose Your Passport
The numbers to call, the police report, and the embassy steps to get home after a lost or stolen passport.
Health, safety & familyTraveling in China with Children
Visas, trains, hotels, food and healthcare for a family trip — what to plan before you go.
Health, safety & familyScams in China: Common Tricks and How to Avoid Them
The tea-house, taxi, fake-ticket and “friendly stranger” scams — and the habits that keep you safe.