China Travel Basics for First-Time Visitors
A first-time China travel basics guide covering payment, passport hotel check-in, domestic flights, trains, luggage, food restrictions, phone setup and daily backups.
Travel Basics
China Travel Basics
These guides answer cross-city travel questions that do not belong cleanly under one destination. City-specific articles still stay with their city pages.
Payments and phones
How to Pay in China: Alipay and WeChat Pay for Foreigners
Set up foreign-card payments, understand verification and fees, and keep practical backups for everyday purchases in China.
China Conference Visitor Guide: Arrival, Payment, Hotels and City Basics
A practical China visitor guide for conference and event attendees, covering arrival day setup, payments, hotel passport check-in, transport, domestic flights and hosting resources.
Transport and luggage
10 Day China Itinerary: Four Cities or a Slower Three-City Route
Plan 10 days in China with a Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an and Beijing route. Count transfer days and compare a slower three-city alternative.
China Domestic Flight Power Bank Rules: CCC Mark, Carry-On and Airport Checks
A practical guide to China domestic flight power bank rules after the CCC mark enforcement notice, including what to check before security and what to replace before flying.
China Train Station Luggage Storage and Layover Guide
How to handle luggage during China train station layovers, including left-luggage counters, lockers, nearby shops, timing risk and what to keep with you.
Power banks on China domestic flights: a security checklist
Check the CCC mark, Wh rating and recall status before a China domestic flight. Carry power banks in hand luggage and ask the airline about devices over 100Wh.
Vegetarian in China: how to avoid meat broth, oyster sauce and lard
In China, strict vegetarians should not rely on “no meat” alone. Check broth, oil, seasonings and small toppings, prepare a short Chinese vegetarian card, save restaurants before arrival and keep backup food for arrival and transfer days.
Before booking a China hotel, confirm passport check-in
I used to treat a confirmed booking as the end of the hotel problem. After one transfer-night front desk delay, I now check whether the hotel can handle foreign passport check-in before I compare price.
Hotels and entry
China Hotel Check-In for Foreigners: Passport, Registration and Backup Plan
How foreign visitors should prepare for hotel check-in in China, including passport registration, booking confirmation, late arrival risk and what to do if a hotel cannot process your stay.
Daily travel basics
Vegetarian and Food Restriction Ordering Card for China
A practical China ordering card for vegetarian, vegan and food-restriction travelers, with Chinese phrases, what hidden ingredients to watch for and safer restaurant choices.
Itinerary planning
2 Week China Itinerary: A 14-Day Route with Time Between Cities
Plan a 2-week China itinerary through Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Shanghai, with a Chongqing variation and a shorter 7-day option.
All practical guides
Itinerary planning
2 Week China Itinerary: A 14-Day Route with Time Between Cities
Plan a 2-week China itinerary through Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Shanghai, with a Chongqing variation and a shorter 7-day option.
Transport and luggage
10 Day China Itinerary: Four Cities or a Slower Three-City Route
Plan 10 days in China with a Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an and Beijing route. Count transfer days and compare a slower three-city alternative.
Payments and phones
China Travel Basics for First-Time Visitors
A first-time China travel basics guide covering payment, passport hotel check-in, domestic flights, trains, luggage, food restrictions, phone setup and daily backups.
Payments and phones
How to Pay in China: Alipay and WeChat Pay for Foreigners
Set up foreign-card payments, understand verification and fees, and keep practical backups for everyday purchases in China.
Hotels and entry
China Hotel Check-In for Foreigners: Passport, Registration and Backup Plan
How foreign visitors should prepare for hotel check-in in China, including passport registration, booking confirmation, late arrival risk and what to do if a hotel cannot process your stay.
Transport and luggage
China Domestic Flight Power Bank Rules: CCC Mark, Carry-On and Airport Checks
A practical guide to China domestic flight power bank rules after the CCC mark enforcement notice, including what to check before security and what to replace before flying.
Payments and phones
China Conference Visitor Guide: Arrival, Payment, Hotels and City Basics
A practical China visitor guide for conference and event attendees, covering arrival day setup, payments, hotel passport check-in, transport, domestic flights and hosting resources.
Transport and luggage
China Train Station Luggage Storage and Layover Guide
How to handle luggage during China train station layovers, including left-luggage counters, lockers, nearby shops, timing risk and what to keep with you.
Daily travel basics
Vegetarian and Food Restriction Ordering Card for China
A practical China ordering card for vegetarian, vegan and food-restriction travelers, with Chinese phrases, what hidden ingredients to watch for and safer restaurant choices.
Transport and luggage
Power banks on China domestic flights: a security checklist
Check the CCC mark, Wh rating and recall status before a China domestic flight. Carry power banks in hand luggage and ask the airline about devices over 100Wh.
Transport and luggage
Vegetarian in China: how to avoid meat broth, oyster sauce and lard
In China, strict vegetarians should not rely on “no meat” alone. Check broth, oil, seasonings and small toppings, prepare a short Chinese vegetarian card, save restaurants before arrival and keep backup food for arrival and transfer days.
Transport and luggage
Before booking a China hotel, confirm passport check-in
I used to treat a confirmed booking as the end of the hotel problem. After one transfer-night front desk delay, I now check whether the hotel can handle foreign passport check-in before I compare price.