Many English-language guides still repeat outdated VPN, SIM-card and payment advice. We track current rules and provider terms, add local context from Chengdu, and turn it into practical guides and tools for UK, EU, US and Australian travelers.
Free download: 2026 China Arrival Checklist · Or compare booking tools in the 7-step guide.
Pandas, a 71-metre Buddha, alpine lakes and the Tibetan plateau — all within one province.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC0 / CC BY 2.0). Full photo credits.
Start here before you book your flight or land at TFU / PVG / PEK.
Why buying a physical SIM at the airport can cut you off from Instagram and Gmail. Compare Airalo, Trip.com, Klook, Holafly and Nomad on routing, hotspot rules, prices and activation.
An eSIM covers mobile data, but hotel Wi-Fi is different. We explain which protocols are more likely to work, why standard WireGuard/OpenVPN can struggle, and what to install before you fly.
QR payment is the norm. Learn how to bind UK/EU/US Visa, Mastercard, Wise and Revolut cards before takeoff, understand the 3% platform fee above ¥200, and troubleshoot common verification errors.
Chunxi Road / Taikoo Li vs. Wenshu Monastery vs. Yulin: which area fits your trip, and what should you confirm about foreign-guest registration, English support and quiet rooms?
Planning to see Giant Pandas, Leshan Giant Buddha, Mount Emei, Jiuzhaigou, or the Western Sichuan Tibetan Plateau (Kangding & Tagong)? First, check your eligibility in our interactive 30-Day Unilateral / 240-Hour Transit Visa-Free Calculator. Then compare DIY high-speed rail vs. private bespoke loops.
One page that walks through the practical order of booking a China trip: where to compare flights, when Trip.com beats Booking.com for Chinese hotels, how to reserve 12306 trains, which experiences need advance tickets, and what to install before you fly.
Don't want to stress over 12306 train ticket lotteries, high-altitude mountain drivers, or Tibetan plateau permits? Our sister agency OffPathNow.com crafts bespoke, private Sichuan itineraries (3-Day Chengdu, 5-Day Classic Sichuan, 7-Day Western Sichuan Loop) starting from ¥30,000.