practical
All travel guides tagged with "practical".
44 articles — page 5 of 8
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VPN in China 2026: Which VPNs Work, Setup Before You Go & Alternatives
VPNs in China — the Great Firewall blocks Google, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and most Western news sites. Which VPNs are currently working (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Astrill are most reliable), the importance of installing before you arrive, Chinese alternatives to blocked apps, and what works without a VPN (Spotify, Netflix via certain routes, most news sites via Telegram).
Updated May 2026
Read →WeChat for Tourists in China 2026: Setup, Pay & Essential Features
WeChat as a tourist tool — setting up an account with a foreign number, adding WeChat Pay with an international card (the process and its limits), using WeChat for maps and translation (less common but possible), Mini Programs for buying train and museum tickets, and why even travelers who prefer Alipay should have WeChat for communication and social proof.
Updated May 2026
Read →train
China 12306 Train Booking Guide for Foreigners 2026: Step-by-Step with Screenshots
12306 is China's official railway booking platform and the only place to book directly at face value without markup. This guide walks foreigners through creating an account, understanding the interface, booking tickets, and collecting at the station — including the common problems and how to solve them.
Updated May 2026
Read →payment
Alipay & WeChat Pay Setup for Foreigners 2026: Step-by-Step Guide to Cashless China
China has become a cashless society. Alipay and WeChat Pay are how essentially everyone pays for everything from street food to train tickets. Foreigners can now link international Visa and Mastercard to both apps — this guide walks through the setup process and what you can do with each app once it's working.
Updated May 2026
Read →transport
Didi Ridehailing in China Guide for Foreigners 2026: Setup, Fares & Tips
Didi is China's dominant ride-hailing app — the equivalent of Uber, with over 550 million registered users. For foreign visitors, it solves the taxi language barrier problem and offers reliable, metered rides in every Chinese city. This guide walks through the setup process and practical use.
Updated May 2026
Read →visa
China Entry Requirements 2026: Visas, Visa-Free Countries & What You Need to Know
China's entry requirements changed significantly in 2023-2025, with major expansions of visa-free access for dozens of nationalities. This guide covers who can enter visa-free, how long you can stay, what documents you need at the border, and the visa application process for those who still need one.
Updated May 2026
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