PAYMENT
Alipay for foreigners: full 2026 setup
8 min · Updated Jul 21
每周核实 · 官方政府来源
中国，比你想的更近。
38 个以上国家现可享 30 天免签入境。我们帮你确认签证资格、搞定支付、规划路线、挑选城市 — 内容每周更新。
每篇目的地的详细内容暂时以英文呈现。我们正在翻译主要城市 — 即将推出中文版。
700+pages
12languages
38visa-free countries
150+cities covered
9planning tools
2026-07-21Updated
Story of the week
Long-form editorial from our team. Updated every Monday.
FEATURE · 12 MIN READ
Why 38 countries can now enter China visa-free — and what that actually means for travelers
The 30-day visa-free policy launched quietly in late 2024. Two years in, here's who can use it, what counts as a day, the 240-hour transit exception, and the three things you still need to know before booking.
By shike · Reviewed July 18, 2026
Read the full feature · 12 min read →Latest guides
Practical answers to the questions you actually ask.
VISA
30-day visa-free: country list 2026
6 min · Updated Jul 20
TRANSPORT
China HSR: routes, seats, booking
10 min · Updated Jul 19
SAFETY
Is China safe in 2026? Honest guide
9 min · Updated Jul 18
INTERNET
VPN for China: 4 providers tested 2026
7 min · Updated Jul 17
CURRENCY
China currency exchange for foreigners
8 min · Updated Jul 16
FOOD
China food: 12 dishes every traveler should try
11 min · Updated Jul 15
LANGUAGE
China apps: the 8 you need before you fly
9 min · Updated Jul 14
ETIQUETTE
China tipping guide 2026: who, when, how much
6 min · Updated Jul 13
TRANSPORT
DiDi & Uber: ride-hailing in China for foreigners
7 min · Updated Jul 12
SHOPPING
Bargaining in China: 5 rules that save money
5 min · Updated Jul 11
TOOLS
China trip cost calculator (real daily budgets)
Interactive · Free
Popular destinations
The cities travelers ask us about most, ranked by recent search volume.
Don't start from scratch
Day-by-day plans from real trips. Copy and customize.
10 DAYS · BEIJING → XI'AN → SHANGHAI
Classic China in 10 days
3 stops · 18 km walking · 6 UNESCO sites
View itinerary →7 DAYS · YUNNAN LOOP
Yunnan minorities in a week
Kunming → Dali → Lijiang · 4 markets · 3 hikes
View itinerary →5 DAYS · CHENGDU + LESHAN + EMEISHAN
Pandas, Buddha, mountain
Chengdu → Leshan Giant Buddha → Mt. Emei
View itinerary →Explore by region
Browse all 150 cities organized geographically.
OUR PROCESS
How we test what we publish
Every fact is sourced to official Chinese government publications or Tier-1 industry references. Our editorial standards are higher than mainstream travel media — because you'll act on what we tell you.
- Step 01
Shortlist from reader + editor nominations
Every month, readers email us hotels, tours, and restaurants. We add them to a list. Editors add their own. The list is around 60 candidates at any time.
- Step 02
An editor stays / eats / takes the tour
We pay our own way. Two nights minimum for hotels, one full meal for restaurants, full tour duration. Editors file a 600-word internal review.
- Step 03
Price check across 6 platforms
We re-check the same room, the same date, on Booking, Trip, Klook, Viator, GYG, and Agoda. If the price is more than 5% off, we deeplink to that one.
- Step 04
Second editor reviews, blind
A second editor reads the review without seeing the price or the platform. They flag hype, bait, and unverified claims. Disagreements go to the Editor-in-Chief.
- Step 05
Published with a 90-day re-check
Every published item gets a 90-day re-check. Prices that have moved more than 5% trigger an editorial review; deeplinks that 404 are pulled within 24 hours.
Source: internal editorial SOP, last reviewed 2026-07-15
Get a free 7-day prep checklist
Visa, payment, connectivity, must-pack — all in one email. Updated monthly.
Frequently asked questions
Is China safe to visit in 2026?
Yes — China ranks among the safest countries for foreign tourists in 2026, with violent crime against foreigners extremely rare. The main safety concerns are petty scams (overcharging taxi drivers, "tea ceremony" scams near tourist sites) and traffic (jaywalking is widespread — use crossings). Every problem we track has a verified fix; the Is-China-Safe guide covers the 12 most common situations in detail.
Do I need a visa for China?
38 countries can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days (US, UK, AU, NZ, most EU, Japan, South Korea, etc.). 54 countries qualify for the 240-hour visa-free transit if you are passing through to a third country. Everyone else needs a tourist (L) visa — apply at your nearest Chinese consulate, allow 4 working days. The 2026 China Visa Guide covers eligibility, document checklist, and the 3 situations where you still need a visa even from a visa-free country.
When is the best time to visit China?
Late September to early November is the sweet spot — clear skies in Beijing, comfortable temperatures in Shanghai, and the rice terraces of Yunnan are at their most photogenic. Avoid the first week of October (National Day Golden Week) when domestic travel peaks and prices spike 30–60%. Spring (April–May) is the second-best window; summer (July–August) is hot, humid, and crowded in the popular cities.
How do I pay in China as a foreigner in 2026?
Alipay Tour Card is the most reliable path — link your Visa or Mastercard, verify your passport, top up to at least ¥150, and you can pay at 90% of merchants including street vendors. WeChat Pay now accepts foreign cards in a similar flow. Carry ¥500 in cash as a backup. Credit cards without UnionPay are accepted almost nowhere outside luxury hotels. The Alipay Setup Wizard walks through the exact 6-step flow.
Does Google / Instagram / WhatsApp work in China?
No — Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, X (Twitter), Reddit, and ~5,000 other western sites are blocked by the Great Firewall. You need a VPN installed before you arrive (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Astrill, or Surfshark all work in 2026, though speeds vary). Google Maps does not work; use Amap (高德) or Baidu Maps inside the Alipay mini-program instead. The China Internet guide covers which apps work, which need a VPN, and which to install before you fly.
How much does a 7-day China trip cost?
Budget: $60–90/day (hostels, street food, subway, free attractions). Mid-range: $130–200/day (3-star hotels, restaurant meals, 1 paid attraction per day, HSR for intercity). Luxury: $350+/day (5-star hotels, fine dining, private guides). For a realistic 7-day mid-range trip for two travelers including international flights, plan $4,500–6,500 all-in. The Cost Calculator lets you adjust days, travelers, and travel style to see your specific number.
Is the language barrier a problem?
In tier-1 cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) and major tourist sites, English is increasingly common — hotels, airports, and metro announcements are bilingual. In smaller cities, expect zero English. Install Pleco (offline Chinese dictionary) and Google Translate (with the Chinese pack downloaded offline) before you arrive. For menus, point-and-shoot with the camera translator. The China Bilingual Translators tool covers the 120 most common travel phrases.
Can I travel in China without speaking Chinese?
Yes — 80% of the 700+ page coverage here is written for English-only travelers. Use the Plan-My-China-Trip tool to get a day-by-day route in English, then use the China HSR route planner to book trains in English (12306 has full English UI). Hotel concierges in tier-1 cities handle restaurant bookings and ticket purchases in English. Carry a printed copy of your hotel address in Chinese characters for taxi rides — every driver can read addresses, almost none speak English.