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What to know
before China.

the short version

Practical notes on getting around, local culture and everyday travel. Start with the essentials, then follow your curiosity.

WeChat Pay✕Carry your passport✕High-speed rail✕Book ahead✕Eat at local time✕Ask a local✕

Six things
that actually matter.

Read this on the plane. The longer notes sit underneath.

支付

Your phone is the wallet

Alipay and WeChat Pay cover almost everything. Foreign cards work more often than they used to. Keep a little cash for the one stall that still wants it.

高铁

Take the train between cities

High-speed trains can be a convenient alternative to flying between many cities. Book on Trip.com or 12306 with your passport. Stations are their own small cities. Arrive early.

证件

Keep your passport close

You may need your original passport for hotels, trains, attraction tickets and identity checks. Carry it securely, and keep a photo of the details separately.

预约

Book the popular places early

Museums, heritage sites and major attractions may require real-name reservations or sell out on holidays. Check the official booking channel before you go.

吃

Eat on local time

Markets, breakfast stalls and hotpot restaurants each have their own rhythm. A teahouse is for sitting, not a quick drink. If a place is full of locals at 12:30, sit down.

向导

A local is for the layer under the book

Which door, which hour, which order to eat. That is the job. You do not need a scripted tour. You need someone who already lives here.

From the ground.

Longer notes, written when there was something worth saying.