Plan
Plan a trip, in the right order.
Start with the rule that applies to your passport, then payments, a data plan, and how you will arrive. Everything here is free.
First-timers guide
Visa rules, payments, and the first 24 hours, in one place.
First-timers guide →Visas & entry
30-day visa-free, 240-hour transit, and the official arrival card.
Visas & entry →Money & payments
Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card, cash, and a night-before checklist.
Money & payments →Internet & apps
eSIM, maps, and what happens with Google, WhatsApp and Instagram.
Internet & apps →Getting around
High-speed rail, DiDi, and the Shenzhen metro.
Getting around →Tools
A visa-rule checker, a stay calculator, and printable lists. They run in your browser.
Tools →China essentials
Nationwide rules that apply before you pick a city.
China essentials →All guides
The full index, organised in ten chapters.
All guides →