China Travel Basics

A practical setup guide for paying in China as a foreign visitor, covering Alipay, WeChat Pay, international cards, cash backup and what to do when QR payment fails.

A first-time China travel basics guide covering payment, passport hotel check-in, domestic flights, trains, luggage, food restrictions, phone setup and daily backups.

A practical China visitor guide for conference and event attendees, covering arrival day setup, payments, hotel passport check-in, transport, domestic flights and hosting resources.

How to handle luggage during China train station layovers, including left-luggage counters, lockers, nearby shops, timing risk and what to keep with you.

A practical guide to China domestic flight power bank rules after the CCC mark enforcement notice, including what to check before security and what to replace before flying.

For China domestic flights, do not check only capacity. Check CCC/3C and Wh markings first, keep the power bank in carry-on luggage, use under-100Wh devices when possible, and pack it where security can inspect it quickly.

In China, strict vegetarians should not rely on “no meat” alone. Check broth, oil, seasonings and small toppings, prepare a short Chinese vegetarian card, save restaurants before arrival and keep backup food for arrival and transfer days.

I used to treat a confirmed booking as the end of the hotel problem. After one transfer-night front desk delay, I now check whether the hotel can handle foreign passport check-in before I compare price.

How foreign visitors should prepare for hotel check-in in China, including passport registration, booking confirmation, late arrival risk and what to do if a hotel cannot process your stay.

A practical China ordering card for vegetarian, vegan and food-restriction travelers, with Chinese phrases, what hidden ingredients to watch for and safer restaurant choices.