Lived experience on the ground
Alipay declined at a night market? We've walked travelers through the fix in about 12 minutes — calm, step-by-step help when it actually matters. See real on-trip help scenarios →
For Independent visitors to China
Your Local Partner for Independent China Travel
Practical help with visas, payments, internet, and a custom itinerary — so your first China trip feels independent, not overwhelming.
Why us
Your local partner for independent China travel — practical help with visas, payments, internet, and on-trip questions.
Support before, during & after
We're with you the whole trip — not just a fixed itinerary, but real help when plans change mid-route.
Transparent fees, your side first
We don't take kickbacks from hotels or attractions — only a clear service fee, with invoices provided.
First-trip prep
6 steps to prepare your independent China trip
A calm checklist before you land — visa, network, payments, maps, bookings, and insurance.
Step 1
Check your visa path
Select your passport country for a quick visa-free signal — then open the full checker for stay length and transit rules.
Step 2
Get online before you land
Data + a VPN backup so maps, messages, and payments still work on day one.
Step 3
Set up payments
Finish wallet setup at home — many shops expect a QR code, not a foreign card alone.
Step 4
Install maps that work
Google Maps is unreliable on the mainland — learn Amap before you need an address in Chinese.
How to use AmapPrefer a hub overview? Maps hub →
Step 5
Book flights, hotels & tickets
Use Trip.com in English with a foreign card for the pieces that hurt when left late.
Step 6
Cover medical surprises
Hospitals often expect payment first. Buy travel medical cover (with evacuation) from a provider you trust before you fly — we don't sell policies.
Emergency numbers & tipsPrefer a hub overview? Why travelers buy cover →
Prefer a full checklist? View the full Survival Kit for China →
Itinerary planning
Ready to go? Let's plan your trip.
Tell us where you want to go — we'll handle the how.
Guides
Featured survival guides
Six practical picks to start — or jump into a topic hub for the full map of guides.
Destinations
Where to begin in China
A short list of cities that work well as first bases — then shape the route in the itinerary planner.
Capital base
Beijing
Capital history, hutongs, and a practical first-city base for many arrivals.
Gateway city
Shanghai
Transit hubs, riverside neighborhoods, and a smoother start for first-timers.
History stop
Xi'an
Terracotta warriors, city walls, and a strong Silk Road history stop.
Western China
Chengdu
Food, pandas, and a calm pace before heading into Sichuan or Yunnan.
Yunnan launch
Kunming
Spring weather and a natural launchpad into Yunnan’s landscapes.
Karst scenery
Guilin & Yangshuo
Karst rivers, countryside stays, and classic south China scenery.
Common questions
China travel FAQs for first-timers
Quick answers to the survival questions travelers search before they land — payments, internet, visas, maps, and hotels.
Survival Kit
First-trip essentials, ready before you land
The survival prep that comes with partner planning — payments, maps, data, and booking checklists, so you are not improvising at the airport.
Open Survival Checklist