Land knowing exactly what to do first.
From the visa rules to the eSIM that beats the Firewall — the whole pre-trip path, in order, with the traps the tour sites leave out.
Solo-run · No ads, no agencies · Last verified Jun 2026
Start here
Your China prep, in order
Seven things to sort before you fly. Do them in this order and the rest of the trip mostly takes care of itself.
Where to point the radar
City & region guides
Field notes from the road — what's worth your days, and the tourist traps locals quietly skip.
Beijing
Empire-scale sights and the hutongs hiding between them.
Shanghai
Art-deco Bund, a skyline from the future, and great coffee.
Chengdu
Pandas, peppercorns, and the slowest teahouses in the country.
Xi'an
Terracotta Army by day, the Muslim Quarter grills by night.
Guilin & Yangshuo
Karst peaks, slow river drifts, and bike-able backroads.
Yunnan
Old towns, rice terraces, and air that smells of pine.
Culture in real situations
The small moments between the sights
What to say, how to order, and how to join a tea table without pretending you already know the rules.
Chinese phrases for travel
Tap-to-show Chinese for taxis, restaurants, prices, toilets, allergies and help.
How to order food in China
Decode familiar dishes, QR menus and the ingredient wording that actually matters.
Chinese tea for travelers
Six tea types, teahouse language, buying checks and low-pressure tasting.
Kept current
Fresh from the ground
The rules change often. These are the updates that actually affect your trip — re-checked, not recycled.
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Why China is easier for European travelers in summer 2026 — and what the numbers do not prove
Data checked Jul 2026 -
China's new Digital Arrival Card is now mandatory — who needs it and the fake-fee scam to avoid
New rule -
The 240-hour visa-free transit list keeps growing — who qualifies now
Updated this month -
Shanghai layover planner — 4, 6, 8 or 10 hours from Pudong without missing your flight
New tool -
Beijing layover planner — PEK vs PKX, and why the Great Wall is not a normal stopover
New tool -
Great Wall from Beijing airport — when a layover attempt is realistic, and when to skip it
New guide -
Shanghai Pudong Airport to city — Maglev vs Metro Line 2 vs taxi
New guide -
China train tickets for foreigners — 12306, Trip.com, passport checks and station gates
Updated this month -
Which eSIMs actually beat the Firewall in 2026 — tested on the ground
Updated this month -
Can I use WhatsApp, Google Maps & Instagram in China? The full app-by-app list
Updated this month -
Alipay raised its foreign-card limit again — and what still trips people up
Updated this month
Why this exists
One traveler, keeping the answers current.
China Travel Radar is an independent, one-person project — no agency behind it, no affiliate tours to sell you. Just the things I wish someone had told me before my first trip, re-verified each time the rules shift. English first, with Korean, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, and German rolling out.