PRACTICAL GUIDE
Leaving China by air: from hotel checkout to your boarding gate ↗
Prepare your airport, terminal, documents and deadlines; handle check-in, bags and departure checks, with fallbacks when a pass or connection fails.
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Quick answers
Look up entry, arrival, payments, connectivity and everyday travel by task.
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Entry, arrival, daily travel and more are organised in the practical reference.
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TOPIC GUIDE
How to pay in China: build a working backup plan ↗
How to pay in China: identify account, card or merchant failures, check unclear transaction results and choose a usable backup.
2 practical guides →TOPIC GUIDE
China train travel: from a confirmed booking to the right station ↗
Understand the 12306 booking system, passport-linked e-tickets and the details to check before a Beijing–Shanghai rail journey.
3 practical guides →Articles
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Booking attractions in China: reserve the right visit ↗
Check the venue, branch, ticket type, identity document and confirmation before making a Beijing or Shanghai attraction the anchor of your day.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Cash and bank cards in China: a practical backup to mobile payments ↗
Prepare cash and a physical-card backup, check a declined purchase, and keep the right records if an ATM gives no cash or retains your card.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Etiquette and tipping in China: a guide by situation ↗
Handle tips, service charges, shared meals, photographs and everyday questions with practical checks for the place and situation you are in.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Ordering food in China: a practical first-meal guide ↗
Order a meal in China with clear questions about portions, spice, ingredients and charges, plus Chinese phrases and dietary communication limits.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Getting help in China: emergency numbers and official contacts ↗
Mainland China: police 110, fire 119, medical emergencies 120. Find non-urgent official help and steps for medical care or a lost passport.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
China hotel check-in: what to confirm before you arrive ↗
Prepare your original travel document, confirm arrival and payment details, and understand the difference between hotel and non-hotel registration.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Internet in China: choose roaming, a travel eSIM or a local SIM ↗
Compare connection options by device compatibility, SMS access, activation and backup needs before your mainland China trip.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Beijing and Shanghai metro: tickets, gates and transfers ↗
Take the metro in Beijing and Shanghai: choose a ticket or payment method, keep entry and exit records, make transfers and get help if a gate fails.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Taxis in China: prepare the address, pickup and payment ↗
Choose a metered taxi or an app-booked ride, match the pickup and vehicle, and keep the destination and payment clear.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Maps and translation for China: a practical phone setup ↗
Search Chinese place names, check branches and entrances, compare routes, save addresses and translate short messages for Beijing and Shanghai.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
Travel insurance for China: check the policy before you go ↗
Check eligibility, medical care, evacuation, exclusions, hospital payment and claim documents before a short trip to mainland China.