The Honest Guide to China, Built for Travelers Like You
China is one of the most rewarding — and most confusing — destinations on Earth. We built China Trip to give international travelers the practical, verified information we wish we'd had: real ticket prices, honest mistakes, and step-by-step plans.
Our Mission
Most travel content about China is either outdated, written for tour groups, or too vague to act on. "Buy tickets in advance" doesn't tell you where, how many days ahead, or what foreigners actually pay.
So we write guides the way a well-prepared friend would: specific ticket prices and opening hours, which attractions require reservations, how to ride the metro with an overseas bank card, and what to order at a local restaurant — including the phrases that get it wrong.
Every city guide covers five essentials: attractions, day-by-day itineraries, food, transport, and travel tips — so you can plan an entire trip in one place.
Eleven cities, from the Great Wall to the karst peaks of Zhangjiajie.
What You'll Find in Every City Guide
Five sections per city, each written to answer the questions travelers actually ask.
Attractions
Ticket prices (including foreigner pricing), booking requirements, time needed, crowd levels and best visiting hours.
Itinerary Planning
Day-by-day plans with time slots, stop order and ticket notes — from quick 3-day trips to full 5-day routes.
Food Guide
Signature dishes, price ranges, where locals actually eat, and ordering tips so you know what you're getting.
Transportation
Metro, high-speed rail, airports and ride-hailing — including whether your overseas Visa or Mastercard taps in.
Travel Tips
Common mistakes and scams, written from real first-person scenarios — what went wrong, and what to do instead.
Why Travelers Trust China Trip
We earn your confidence the old-fashioned way: accurate details, honest trade-offs, no fluff.
Details You Can Act On
Ticket prices, opening hours and reservation requirements are researched and cross-checked before publishing. Attractions that need advance booking — like Tiananmen Square or the Forbidden City — are clearly labeled.
Real Mistakes, First-Hand
Our "Common Mistakes" sections aren't recycled advice. They're written as first-person scenarios from real travel situations, with the consequence of each mistake — so you recognize the trap before you fall into it.
Built for International Visitors
Everything is written for travelers from abroad: setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay, getting a SIM or eSIM, essential apps, and visa-free entry policies — in 22 languages, not just English.
Honest About How We Earn
Some booking buttons are affiliate links. When you use them, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you — which keeps every guide on this site free. It never changes what we recommend.
Affiliate Disclosure
Ticket and tour booking links on China Trip may be affiliate links (e.g., via Klook). Purchasing through them supports this site at no additional cost to you. Recommendations are never influenced by commissions.
Written Like a Local Friend Would Tell You
Should you tip? (Generally, no.) Can you drink the tap water? Which dumpling shop near the tourist area is actually worth it? These small questions decide whether a trip feels smooth or stressful.
That's why our guides go beyond landmarks: practical money, network, app and etiquette advice lives in the "Before You Go" section, ready before you board your flight.
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Your support helps us keep guides free and updated.
Have a Trip in Mind?
Browse the free city guides, or tell us what you're dreaming of — we can help shape a custom itinerary built around your dates, pace and budget.