Visa Guide
Who needs a visa, how to apply, and what documents you'll need before you fly.
Read more →All Guides
Every article on Ready? China!, organized so you can find what you need — from visa paperwork to your first bowl of noodles.
Try "peking duck", "metro", or "visa-free"
Before you fly
Immigration & Customs
Arrival forms, customs rules, and what to expect at the border.
Read more →eSIM & Mobile Data
Get internet before you land: Airalo eSIM setup and local SIM alternatives.
Read more →Travel Insurance
Why you need it for China and what a good policy should cover.
Read more →VPN Guide
Install a working VPN before arrival so Google, Instagram, and Maps still work.
Read more →Money & pay
Alipay Setup
Set up Alipay, link a foreign card, and pay like a local with face-scan.
Read more →WeChat Pay Setup
Use WeChat Pay as a foreigner: verification, cards, and tipping.
Read more →QR Payments 101
How scanning and being scanned works in shops, restaurants, and taxis.
Read more →Currency & Cash
Yuan basics, exchange tips, ATMs, and when you still need cash.
Read more →Getting around
Didi (Ride-hailing)
China's Uber: app setup, hailing a car, and avoiding scams.
Read more →High-Speed Train
Book bullet trains with Trip.com, read tickets, and navigate stations.
Read more →Metro Guide
Subway apps, QR tickets, and how to not get lost underground.
Read more →Amap (Gaode Maps)
Google Maps doesn't work in China — use Amap like a local for directions and transit.
Read more →Shared Bikes
Yellow, blue or green bike: which app, costs, unlock rules, and fines to avoid.
Read more →City Buses
Transport QR code, boarding, paying, and getting off — step-by-step.
Read more →Get Around Like a Local
Buses, bikes, walking, and the little tricks that make movement easy.
Read more →Food & language
City guides
Book Attraction Tickets
Learn how to book tickets for popular attractions in China.
Read more →Beijing
History, culture, Great Wall, Chinese civilization — difficulty ★☆☆☆☆
Read more →Shanghai
Futuristic skyline, international food, modernity — difficulty ★☆☆☆☆
Read more →Guangzhou
Cantonese food capital, dim sum heaven, Canton Tower — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Shenzhen
Tech metropolis, futuristic skyline, easy Hong Kong day trip — difficulty ★☆☆☆☆
Read more →Chengdu
Pandas, hotpot, chill vibes, authentic local life — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Xi'an
Ancient history, Terracotta Army, Silk Road — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Chongqing
Cyberpunk city, hotpot capital, mountain drama — difficulty ★★★☆☆
Read more →Guilin
Nature, karst mountains, Li River scenery — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Quanzhou
Hidden gem, Maritime Silk Road, authentic local China — difficulty ★★★★☆
Read more →Hangzhou
Serenity, West Lake, tea culture, easy day trips — difficulty ★☆☆☆☆
Read more →Dunhuang
Silk Road art, Mogao Caves, desert landscapes — difficulty ★★★☆☆
Read more →Lijiang
Naxi culture, cobblestone old town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain — difficulty ★★★☆☆
Read more →Kashgar
Uyghur craft bazaar, Silk Road living museum — difficulty ★★★★★
Read more →Pingwu Baima
Baima Tibetan culture, mountain villages, feather headdress — difficulty ★★★★☆
Read more →Yiwu
World's small-commodities market, crazy shopping — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Ordos
Grasslands, Mongolian culture, futuristic Ordos city — difficulty ★★★☆☆
Read more →Hengqin
Chimelong resort, Macau neighbor, entertainment island — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Changxing
Tea plantations, quiet lakes, local farm food — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Harbin
Ice Festival, Russian architecture, winter wonderland — difficulty ★★★☆☆
Read more →Zhangjiajie
Avatar mountains, glass bridge, sandstone pillars — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Kunming
Spring weather, lakes, minority cultures, flowers — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Dali
Ancient town, Erhai Lake, Bai culture, Cangshan mountains — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Suzhou
Classical gardens, canals, silk, water towns — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Nanjing
Ancient capitals, Ming history, Qinhuai River, museums — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Lhasa
Potala Palace, Tibetan Buddhism, high-altitude magic — difficulty ★★★★☆
Read more →Huangshan
Granite peaks, sea of clouds, Hongcun village, UNESCO — difficulty ★★★☆☆
Read more →Xiamen
Gulangyu island, sea breeze, colonial villas, street food — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Sanya
Tropical beaches, palm trees, resorts, island escapes — difficulty ★★☆☆☆
Read more →Other
All Cities
Browse every city guide on a big interactive map.
Read more →Community & Tips
News, updates, and tips for foreign travelers in China.
Read more →China Challenge Quiz
100 questions to test your China IQ — food, culture, history, and travel hacks.
Read more →Pin the Map
Geography game to test your knowledge of Chinese provinces and landmarks.
Read more →Privacy Policy
How readychinatravel.com handles your data and affiliate tracking.
Read more →