Guides
China Travel Guides for First-Time Visitors
Browse practical guides on payments, apps, Didi, high-speed rail, travel checklists, common mistakes, and the first 72 hours after arriving in China.
Reading path
Read in the order that matches your trip
You do not need to read everything. Start from the decision you are making now, then move into payment, transport, and city-specific planning.
If this is your first China trip
Start with the checklist so payment, apps, data, hotel address, and documents are not scattered.
Open guideIf you are worried about paying
Set up Alipay first, then compare WeChat Pay and backup options.
Open guideIf you already have flights booked
Use the first 72 hours guide to plan landing, hotel transfer, first meal, and first transport.
Open guideIf your route depends on a city
Match the general advice to Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, or Chongqing.
Open guideTrip preparation
Start with the first-trip basics
Use these guides when you are still shaping the trip, preparing before departure, or trying to avoid the most common first-time mistakes.
China Travel Checklist for First-Time Visitors
A practical before-departure and first-72-hours checklist for China travel.
Prepare payment, apps, network access, transport basics, hotel addresses, and official travel-rule checks before flying.
Read guideFirst 72 Hours in China
A practical guide for the first three days after arriving in China.
Use the first 72 hours to stabilize payment, maps, transport, food ordering, and basic city movement.
Read guideChina Travel Mistakes First-Time Visitors Should Avoid
Common first-trip mistakes around payment, apps, transport, cities, and planning.
The biggest first-time mistakes are weak payment backup, late app setup, tight first-day plans, and unclear station or address details.
Read guidePayment setup
Make payments work before you need them
Prepare Alipay, understand WeChat Pay, and keep backup options ready before your first taxi, meal, or convenience-store purchase.
Alipay for Foreigners
A setup-focused guide for foreign visitors preparing to use Alipay in China.
Alipay is usually the first payment app foreign visitors should prepare before traveling to China.
Read guideWeChat Pay vs Alipay
A tourist-focused comparison of WeChat Pay and Alipay for China travel.
Most visitors should prepare Alipay first and use WeChat Pay as a useful backup when possible.
Read guideGetting around
Move between airports, hotels, stations, and cities
Use these guides for Didi, high-speed rail, station flow, and transport decisions during the first few days.
How to Use Didi in China
A first-time guide to ride-hailing, airport transfers, and taxi backups in China.
Didi is useful for airport transfers, late arrivals, luggage-heavy trips, and places far from metro stations.
Read guideHow to Take High-Speed Trains in China
A practical train-station and ticketing guide for first-time visitors.
High-speed rail is convenient, but first-time visitors should carefully check station names, passport details, and timing.
Read guideCity planning
After the guide, match it to your route
Payment and transport advice becomes more useful when it is tied to your arrival city, hotel area, station, and first-day route.