Notes from the road.
Region write-ups, a look at how the app thinks, and the small stuff that makes or breaks a China trip, from the people building InChina.
China Visa-Free Transit in 2026: The 240-Hour Rule, Who Qualifies, and How to Use It
Most first-time visitors from the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan and Korea can now see China without a visa. Two different schemes make that possible, and picking the right one decides how long you can stay and where. Here is the whole thing in one place.
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Shanghai on the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: A 3-Day First-Timer's Itinerary
Shanghai is the easiest first stop in China: Pudong airport is a designated visa-free port, the whole municipality is inside the permitted area, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang next door are too. Three days here, then Beijing or straight out to Tokyo, Seoul or Hong Kong.
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Beijing on the 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit: A 4-Day First-Timer's Itinerary
Beijing is the other half of the classic first China trip. Both airports are designated visa-free ports and the whole municipality is a permitted area. Four days covers the Forbidden City, the Wall, the Summer Palace and the hutongs, with time for a decent duck.
Read →Is China Safe for Tourists in 2026? Scams, Solo Travel & Real Risks
Violent crime is rare and streets stay busy and lit at night, so the real risks in China are petty: a handful of classic scams and the odd pickpocket. Here's how to spot them.
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Getting Around China (2026): High-Speed Trains, Metro & Taxis
Bullet trains between cities, the metro within them, DiDi for the rest. Once your apps are set up, moving around China is fast, cheap and easy. Here's how each one works.
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China Travel Apps & eSIM (2026): Get Online, Pay, and Get Around
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land, no VPN needed, and a handful of apps replace everything you're used to. Here's exactly what to set up before you fly.
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How to Pay in China as a Foreigner (2026): Alipay, WeChat Pay & Cash
China runs on QR codes, but since 2024 you can link a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay in minutes. Here's what to set up before you fly, and how much cash to bring.
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Guizhou Itinerary: A First-Timer's 7-Day Route
One week, six landscapes: waterfalls, karst peaks, a Miao village lit by ten thousand lamps, and a red-rock canyon. Here's how the days actually fit together.
Read →Order, Ask, Read: Translating Your Way Through China
You don't need fluent Mandarin to eat well and get around. You need the right tool for the menu, the conversation, and the sign, and to know what each one is actually good at.
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China Is a Dozen Countries: How to Pick Your Region
You can't see China in a week. You can see one of its countries-within-a-country properly. Here's how to choose the right one for the trip you actually want.
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What Actually Happens When AI Plans Your Trip
AI trip planners have a reputation for confident nonsense. Here's how ours actually works, two stages, drawn from real guides, and honest about where it stops and you start.
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