For Independent visitors to China
Tell us your cities and days. We send a 1-on-1 PDF route — not a tour template. Survival Kit prep is included so payments and data work on day one.
Already know the cities? Use the Kit and the guides — you don't need to pay. Hire us when the route itself still isn't clear.
Old lanes, quiet cafés, neighborhood food, and the corners only locals name — not a group-tour checklist.
Destinations
First-city bases plus one regional loop — then shape the route in the itinerary planner.
Capital history, hutongs, and a practical first-city base for many arrivals.
Transit hubs, riverside neighborhoods, and a smoother start for first-timers.
Terracotta warriors, city walls, and a strong Silk Road history stop.
Food, pandas, and a calm pace before heading into Sichuan or Yunnan.
Rainforest to snow mountains — the usual first independent loop, without a tour bus.
Karst rivers, countryside stays, and classic south China scenery.
River bridges, night skyline, and a vertical city that rewards extra days in southwest China.
Quartz-sandstone pillars and park days — a scenery stop after a first-city base.
Pearl River arrival city, Cantonese food, and a practical start in the south.
Why us
We sequence cities, pace, and what to skip into a PDF you follow independently. If Alipay fails on the ground, we walk through a backup during business hours — not a 24/7 concierge. See what’s in a custom itinerary →
Pre-trip planning is the core. Optional on-trip help is available Mon–Fri 9AM–9PM China time when plans change.
We don't take kickbacks from hotels or attractions — only a clear service fee, with invoices provided.
Included with planning
Visa, network, payments, maps, bookings, and insurance — the Survival Kit checklist included with partner planning, and free to use on its own.
Step 1
Select your passport country for a quick visa-free signal — then open the full checker for stay length and transit rules.
240-hour transit may apply if you have a confirmed ticket onward to a third country. A standalone mainland trip still needs a visa.
Open full visa checker →Step 2
Data + a VPN backup so maps, messages, and payments still work on day one.
Airalo if you only need data; Trip.com eSIM if you already book hotels there. Some links are affiliate. eSIM guide →
NordVPN is what I use in China (slow connects on some hotel Wi-Fi). ExpressVPN is simpler — I have not used it as my daily China VPN. Some links are affiliate. VPN guide →
Step 3
Finish wallet setup at home — many shops expect a QR code, not a foreign card alone.
Start with Alipay for most foreign visitors; add WeChat Pay as a backup. Payments guide →
Step 4
Google Maps is unreliable on the mainland — learn Amap before you need an address in Chinese.
Prefer a hub overview? Maps hub →
Step 5
Use Trip.com in English with a foreign card for the pieces that hurt when left late.
Lock night-one hotels early; reserve popular sights with the passport you will travel on. Trip.com links are affiliate. Hotel guide →
Step 6
Hospitals often expect payment first. Buy travel medical cover (with evacuation) from a provider you trust before you fly — we don't sell policies.
Prefer a hub overview? Why travelers buy cover →
Prefer a full checklist? View the full Survival Kit for China →
Itinerary planning
Share cities, days, and pace. After we confirm scope, you get a ready-to-follow PDF in 48–72 hours — early bird from $99. The request is free, and this is not a tour.
Guides
Six practical picks to start — or jump into a topic hub for the full map of guides.
Common questions
Custom itineraries, plus the visa, payments, and prep questions first-timers search before they land.
Survival Kit
The survival prep that comes with partner planning — payments, maps, data, and booking checklists, so you are not improvising at the airport.
Get Free Survival KitStart with featured reads, or switch tabs to browse by topic hub.
Guide
Apps asking for a Chinese ID number and name? Tourists cannot get a 身份证. Switch to 护照, copy your passport photo page, and never borrow someone else’s ID.
Guide
A practical order for independent China trip planning: how many cities, high-speed rail as the backbone, rest days, and when a local PDF route is worth paying for.
Guide
Popular China sights often require timed, real-name reservations — not to block foreigners, but to control crowds. Check booking, passport, and time slots before you go.
Guide
Book a DiDi ride in China without Mandarin — app, Alipay or WeChat mini-program, or Amap taxi. Prep, plate checks, Safety Center, and payment.
Guide
Book China high-speed rail tickets the easy way. Real Chongqing to Dali example, 12306 vs Trip.com compared, plus what to do when tickets sell out.
Guide
Meituan without a Chinese number: what works via WeChat or Alipay, where signup blocks foreigners, and backup paths that still get you deals and delivery.
No. You get a PDF route to follow independently — not a guided package or group tour.
What’s in a custom itinerary →DIY is fine if city order and systems already make sense. Pay for a local PDF when dates are real but the route still feels like too many cities — or you want pace and skips sequenced for you.
Itinerary planning hub →Custom itinerary details →Early bird from $99 by trip length. The request is free — we confirm scope and fee before you pay.
Request a custom itinerary →It depends on your passport. Many nationalities qualify for short visa-free stays or 240-hour transit — confirm before you book.
Check your visa path →Yes — many tourists can, once setup and identity verification are done. Don’t wait until you’re at a checkout counter.
Alipay setup guide →Not always on mobile data — but a VPN is still useful backup for hotel Wi-Fi and laptop browsing.
Do you need a VPN? →Usually not well enough for day-to-day travel. Plan on a local map app instead.
Maps that work in China →Yes — just choose foreigner-friendly stays and keep your passport ready for real-name check-in.
Hotels for foreigners →Short trips: eSIM or roaming is usually enough. Longer stays may need a local SIM for SMS codes.
Best eSIM options →Mostly mobile-first — apps do the heavy lifting, cash is backup.
Payments hub →Yes — prepare the digital basics first and independent travel becomes much easier.
Independent travel guide →