China

Heading back to China for the first time in 20 years and realizing how much has changed already. Main thing I’m stuck on right now is flights. Air China’s Chinese site is way cheaper, but when signing up it asked for an ID number so I just put random numbers to get through it....

A friend of mine is traveling to China next week with his fiancée. I helped him plan the trip and suggested using Trip.com to pre-book train tickets so they’d automatically secure them once sales opened. They had four train rides planned and pre-booked all of them as soon as...

Had a slightly strange experience leaving Shanghai Pudong and wondering if anyone has seen something similar. When the officer checked my passport and boarding pass, they called over a supervisor and I was taken to a separate desk. A few agents looked at my passport and...

I live in Guangzhou and after seeing a lot of questions from first-time visitors, I’ve noticed the biggest issues usually aren’t the big travel problems. It’s the small practical things that catch people off guard when they’re tired, jet lagged, or trying to get somewhere...

Questions about flying Hainan Airlines from Europe to China Booked flights from Europe to China with Hainan Airlines through Trip.com and ran into a few issues. Online check-in doesn’t seem to be available, and there’s also uncertainty about seat selection. Even if seats are...

I’m heading to Xi’an for a 5 month Erasmus starting August 15 and prices are looking rough. August doesn’t seem like a cheap time to fly to China at all. I was thinking maybe I could fly somewhere else first, stay up to a week, then grab a separate ticket to Xi’an if that saves...

I’m heading to China in two weeks and planning to stay in a private apartment in Dalian, similar to an Airbnb. My Chinese friend is booking it. I’ve read that foreigners have to register with the local police if staying somewhere other than a hotel. Is that still the case? If...

This is one of those situations where timing just works against you. China visa rules are super strict about jurisdiction, so the LA rejection makes sense even though it’s incredibly frustrating. They don’t care where you’re physically located, only where you legally reside....

32F traveling China alone for the first time and I spent days overthinking whether I should do the Great Wall by myself. All the usual spirals. Getting lost, tech not working, being alone on a mountain, you name it. I finally did it and it ended up being one of those days that...

This is pretty big news for Canadians. China just announced Canada is being added to the visa free list, same 30 day deal that a bunch of other countries already have. No start date yet, but it’s confirmed at the government level. If you’ve ever applied for a China visa, you...

China Southern Airlines is offering up to a 10% discount on group flights to China, aiming to attract more travelers and boost bookings. I saw this and it sounds like a good deal for anyone planning trips with friends or family. Do you think discounts like this actually...

Just came back from a trip to China and honestly loved it. Figured I’d share a few things I picked up that I don’t see mentioned enough, or that people tend to downplay. First one is big. Buy a physical Chinese SIM with a phone number once you arrive. Even if you already have an...

I’ll be moving mostly by train in China and will have a large suitcase plus a cabin bag with me the whole time. Been reading a lot here (super helpful btw), but couldn’t find a clear answer on luggage. From what I can tell, it’s not like Japan where you can reserve luggage...

Just got home after a few months solo in Asia and my brain still hasn’t caught up. I’m 23 and this was my first big solo trip that far from home, so everything hit harder. Japan honestly ruined me in the best way. Tokyo and Kyoto just worked. Trains on time, people polite...

Took a taxi from Pudong Airport to my hotel, maybe a 15-minute ride. The airport staff directed me straight into a cab, so I didn’t get the chance to order a Didi. Halfway through, the driver covered the fare meter with her bag, which already felt sketchy. I could still see the...

Trying to double check this before booking. I’m on a US passport and planning to enter mainland China from Hong Kong via West Kowloon, then exit to Macau, and later ferry back to Hong Kong for my flight home. Total time in mainland would be about 8 days. Does Macau count as a...

Got denied at check in for LCY to PVG because Lufthansa staff insisted I needed a visa for China and completely dismissed visa free transit. They made a phone call, came back saying I couldn’t travel, and refused to engage any further. Wouldn’t look at official gov.cn policy,...

Currently in Haikou, Hainan, and ran into a big issue today. Booked a hotel on Trip.com, but they refused me at check-in because I’m a foreigner. The staff suggested another hotel, but it was listed as full on Trip.com and only bookable through Ctrip. Problem was, I couldn’t...

China Southern Airlines is expanding its capacity to Australia with more flights and bigger services on key routes. I came across this news and it sounds like travel between China and Australia could get a lot easier. Do you think this will boost tourism and business travel in...

Just got back from a solo trip to China 10 days total and wow, the first two nearly broke me. Couldn’t pay for anything when I landed in Shanghai, Visa card useless, cash rejected. Took a kind student 40 minutes to help me set up Alipay. Then got lost in the metro for 20 minutes...

Noticed something odd. Chengdu to Singapore shows no Singapore Airlines flights scheduled after March 28. I’m trying to redeem business class for my parents to visit in July. I already booked SIN–MEL in business for them, but now I still need the Chengdu–Singapore leg. Debating...