Field-Tested Guides & Intel

China Travel Blog & Strategy Hub

Honest, step-by-step guides written specifically for international visitors. No tourist fluff—just verified solutions to apps, bookings, immigration, and safety.

How to Set Up Alipay as a Foreigner in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)
Payments & Apps

How to Set Up Alipay as a Foreigner in 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)

Cash is almost completely obsolete across Chinese cities. Here is the verified 2026 tutorial for international visitors to bind foreign Visa/Mastercards to Alipay without a Chinese bank card.

Michael Vance
Michael Vance
March 20266 min read
Read Guide
Forbidden City Sold Out? How to Secure Tickets Without a Chinese IDBooking Barriers

Forbidden City Sold Out? How to Secure Tickets Without a Chinese ID

The Palace Museum in Beijing strictly limits daily entries and requires passport real-name tickets. Here is why the official Mini-Program fails foreign tourists and how to guarantee admission.

5 min readRead More
144-Hour Visa-Free Transit China: Complete 2026 Guide & RulesVisa & Transit

144-Hour Visa-Free Transit China: Complete 2026 Guide & Rules

Citizens of 54 countries can explore Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and the Greater Bay Area for 6 full days without applying for a Chinese visa. Here are the exact immigration rules.

7 min readRead More
5 Tourist Scams in Beijing (And How to Spot Them Instantly)Scams & Safety

5 Tourist Scams in Beijing (And How to Spot Them Instantly)

China is statistically among the safest countries in the world for violent crime, but tourist-targeted financial scams around Tiananmen and Wangfujing still exist. Learn how to protect yourself.

6 min readRead More
Stuck On A Booking Or Visa Question?

Let TourChina Handle The Hassle For You

From 12306 bullet train tickets to Forbidden City passes and 144h transit route plans, our bilingual concierge team solves the friction.

Request Custom Itinerary