Practical China Guide

¥ Payment & booking Payment Processing for Flights on Chinese Platforms Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay, complete identity checks and use reliable fallbacks when Chinese travel platforms decline a foreign card. 18 min readIntermediate

Train tickets 12306 Ticketing Process: A Foreigner Step-by-Step Book a high-speed rail ticket on 12306 with a foreign passport, from identity verification and payment setup to station ticket retrieval. 12 min readIntermediate

Ticket verification China Ticketing Process: A Foreigner Passport Guide Complete a valid China ticket booking with a foreign passport, including real-name verification, accurate passenger details and final ticket confirmation. 16 min readIntermediate

Booking platforms Flight Aggregators vs. Direct Booking in China Compare 12306, Ctrip, Trip.com, and airline-direct booking for foreign-card payments, passport records, refunds, change fees, and support. 12 min readBeginner

¥ Booking platforms Trip.com vs. Ctrip: Same Inventory, Different Prices Compare Trip.com and Ctrip pricing, markups, add-ons, payment options and customer support to choose the better platform for each booking. 12 min readBeginner

Local culture How to Read the Room at Non-Touristy Attractions Read social cues and mirror local audiences at Chinese cultural performances, teahouse opera, square dancing and temple festivals. 20 min readBeginner

Flight changes How to Cancel a Chinese Domestic Flight: Step-by-Step Cancel or change a Chinese domestic flight step by step, check the live fee before it rises, solve passport errors, and track the refund. 17 min readIntermediate

Essential apps The Essential Apps That Replace Your Credit cards, Google Maps, and English Menus Before You Leave The Hotel Download and configure the essential apps for payments, navigation and communication in China before you leave your hotel. 15 min readBeginner

Cultural context Cultural Context in Travel: A Guide to Chinese Shows（Chengdu or Chongqing） Understand the visual, musical and behavioral cues behind Sichuan opera and Chinese folk performances in Chengdu and Chongqing. 20 min readBeginner

Cultural awareness Cultural Awareness in Travel: Why ‘Face’ Matters More Than Chopsticks Use the Chinese concept of face to understand social behavior and etiquette instead of memorizing disconnected rules. 8 min readBeginner

Travel etiquette Travel Etiquette: You’re Following Rules That Don’t Exist Recognize your own cultural defaults and replace rigid etiquette rules with more mindful, adaptable behavior while traveling in China. 8 min readBeginner

Photography etiquette 8 Photography Etiquette Rules for Traveling in China Photograph temples, markets, street scenes and people respectfully by understanding consent, sensitive locations and local expectations. 12 min readBeginner

Dining etiquette Chinese Dinner Etiquette: A Step-by-Step Guide Handle seating, ordering, toasting and paying at a Chinese dinner with confidence and respect. 18 min readBeginner

Transit etiquette Public Transportation Etiquette in China: A Guide Navigate Chinese subways, buses and busy public spaces by understanding local expectations around movement, noise and personal space. 18 min readBeginner

¥ Alipay setup A Guide to Using Alipay as an International Traveler in China Set up Alipay with a passport and international card, then use QR payments, transport, taxis, trains, hotels, and delivery tools during a China trip. 11 min readBeginner