Plan where to go in China, then prepare the details that make the first day work: entry updates, mobile data, Alipay and WeChat Pay, maps, DiDi, trains, hotel addresses, and backup plans.
Start here
Siye China is an independent travel preparation guide for foreign visitors to China. Start with these six steps, then use the deeper guides for details that affect your trip.
Know when your passport matters for hotels, trains, attractions, and official checks.
Check documentsCompare eSIM, roaming, local SIM, hotel Wi-Fi, and the SMS backup you may still need.
Plan internetSet up Alipay or WeChat Pay, then keep cards and some RMB cash as fallbacks.
Prepare paymentsGet maps, DiDi, translation, WeChat, and train tools ready before you rely on them.
Choose appsHandle 12306, passport names, station gates, and Chinese hotel addresses before travel day.
Plan train travelMove from setup into city guides, route ideas, food trips, and arrival context.
Explore destinationsDestination discovery
Plan fish, porridge hot pot, milk desserts, roast goose, Daliang, and Ronggui from Guangzhou.
Open featured guideTencent Tests TenPayGo for Foreign Visitors: What the Payment App Means
Tencent's TenPayGo is now listed on iOS and Android for international visitors, but travelers should understand its limited-test status, merchant scope, and open questions.
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Before you fly
Cover the basics before you choose city routes: data, payment, transport, documents, and backups.
New and popular
Freshly updated from social demand signals and official source checks: phone numbers, payment backups, high-speed rail, 12306, and the one-week setup checklist.
Shenzhen high-tech route
Plan Huaqiangbei, drone delivery, robotaxi attempts, Hong Kong crossings, Futian station logistics, and the app setup that keeps the day working.
Destination discovery
Use these destination cards for first-trip routing, food, neighborhoods, coast, and side trips before diving into eSIM or payment details.
Canton Tower, Shamian, Yongqing Fang, dim sum, Pearl River views, metro tips, and booking notes.
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Plan the Bund, Yu Garden, Wukang Mansion, Anfu Road, Jing'an, Lujiazui, Disney, and local food.
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West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Faxi Temple, Longjing tea, Xixi Wetland, the Grand Canal, and local food.
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Zhanqiao Pier, Signal Hill, Badaguan, May Fourth Square, Xiaomaidao, Beer Museum, seafood, and Laoshan.
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Plan Qingdao, Weihai, Yantai, Penglai, Jinan, high-speed rail, coast weather, and city pacing.
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Forbidden City, Jingshan, Temple of Heaven, Mutianyu Great Wall, Summer Palace, hutongs, and food.
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Nantou Ancient Town, MixC World, Shenzhen Bay Park, Judiaosha, Yangmeikeng, and Dapeng coast.
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Old-port arcades, Chaoshan food, Queshi Scenic Area, Nan'ao Island, Qing'ao Bay, and bay walks.
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Lovers' Road, Fisher Girl, Sun Moon Shell, Chimelong, seafood, and Macau or Hong Kong transfers.
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Plan Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Shangri-La, trains, food, and altitude pacing.
Open guideSeasonal route ideas
Use these photo-led guides for 2026 route planning: budget backlash, June and July heat or rain, Western Sichuan altitude, Yili grassland timing, Lingshui as a Sanya alternative, and niche self-drive safety.
Turn social inspiration into a route you can actually book, with buffers, source checks, and hotel or rail backups.
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Compare cool cities, rain risk, altitude, coast, and rail access before locking summer dates.
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Check the season, filtered-photo gap, altitude load, roads, hotels, and scenic-area access before chasing highland views.
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A practical Sayram Lake, Yining, Tekes, and Nalati route with driving distance, season, and access checks.
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Use Lingshui as a quieter Hainan base for beaches, islands, families, rain backups, and Sanya alternatives.
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Before chasing Danxia and off-map viewpoints, verify legal driving, road condition, weather, signal, and open status.
Open guideTravel answers
Start with the questions that can derail a first day in China: documents, payments, apps, maps, phone numbers, and ride-hailing.
