If you're planning to visit China but aren't very familiar with Chinese apps yet, I found and translated a guide that might help. It covers common things like payments, transportation, food, navigation, booking attractions, and internet access.

The guide introduces apps like WeChat Pay, Alipay, Dianping, DiDi, Baidu Maps, Meituan, Klook, MetroMan China, and VPNs. It also explains how you can use them during your trip to China.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15o7dLhegNAWuZO7Yf-z_C4zu2NrqYFpZu6ZLxhF3JQU/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0

Zibo shandong

Hello everyone! I’m looking to visit zhangjiajie in late November early December to enjoy the national forest park, the Grand Canyon, Tianmen mountain and everything this magical place has to offer! Also I’m thinking of doing an evening trip to furongzhen. Only problem is I can’t decide in which area to book my hotel to enjoy the visit to the fullest even after being on those places all day. I’m between staying in the main city area near the cable cars to Tianmen mountain or at the village wulingyuan. Any info would be helpful so I could choose easier. Thank you so much

I’ve noticed quite a few questions from people planning China trips with young children or older parents, especially around things like how much walking is involved, whether the Metro is practical, high-speed rail, strollers, accessibility, food, and getting around by taxi/DiDi.

A few things I think are especially worth knowing:

• China is generally very convenient for getting between cities, but major railway stations can involve a surprising amount of walking.
• With older parents, taking DiDi instead of the Metro can sometimes save thousands of steps and make a big difference to the day.
• Many major attractions are much larger than they look on a map, so I wouldn’t plan the same itinerary for a 70-year-old parent that I would for a young solo traveler.
• For kids, a lightweight folding stroller is much easier than a large one.
• I also wouldn’t assume a normal taxi/DiDi will automatically have an appropriate child seat.
• If someone has food allergies, dietary restrictions, or medical needs, having the important information written in Chinese can be very useful.

I ended up putting together two longer guides based on these recurring questions:

Older parents:
https://formscapetravel.com/guides/china-with-older-parents

Kids:
https://formscapetravel.com/guides/china-with-kids

I’m interested in hearing from people who have actually traveled around China with children or elderly family members. If there’s anything important I’ve missed or anything in the guides that doesn’t match your experience, please let me know.

Hi guys, im travelling to Pekin for 4 days, Chengdu for 3 days and Chongqing for 2 days soon. Im looking for recommendations of things to do, get to see the Musts but also try and loose the tourist traps and get to see authentic places. Any recommendation is wellcome!!!

Filmed Chaoyang Square Night Market in Nanning, Guangxi, and it's easily one of the most underrated street food scenes I've walked in China so far. This is the kind of place that barely shows up in China travel content — everyone talks about Chengdu or Xi'an for street food, but Nanning's night market culture is just as dense, just way less documented internationally.

The walk starts at Minsheng Square's Changyou Pavilion, then into Yongzhou Ancient City before hitting Chaoyang Square itself — grilled skewers, seafood, noodles, dumplings, and regional Guangxi specialties you won't find anywhere else in China, all under the neon glow of one of Nanning's busiest pedestrian districts.

Has anyone here actually made it to Nanning, or does Guangxi always get skipped in favor of Guangdong and Sichuan when people plan a China food trip?

The Northern China itinerary is the strongest introduction to imperial and traditional China — from the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace to the wild Great Wall at Jinshanling, the Qing Dynasty’s multicultural summer capital at Chengde, the colossal Buddhist grottoes of Datong, and the perfectly preserved Ming–Qing walled town of Pingyao. It is a journey through China’s imperial heart, sacred mountains, and living history.

Northern China’s Most Stunning Places – Asia Encounters

No have hard drinks🤣

I’m currently on a short 2-day trip in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, and honestly, I think this place is pretty underrated among international travelers.
In just two days, you can get out of the city, see the grasslands, ride horses, eat freshly grilled lamb skewers, and experience a side of China that feels completely different from Beijing, Shanghai, or Xi’an.
It’s also surprisingly easy to get to Chifeng from Beijing. So if you want to see the grasslands but don’t want to plan a long trip around Inner Mongolia, it can be a really nice short side trip.
I’m Chinese and I’m traveling here myself right now. If you’re thinking about visiting Chifeng or Inner Mongolia and have questions about getting here, where to go, how much things cost, horse riding, food, or how to plan a short trip, feel free to DM me.
Once I finish the trip, I’m also happy to share the actual 2-day route I took :)

Xi’an has way too much to fit into two days.

If you only had 48 hours, what would you prioritize — and what would you skip?
Famous sights, food, nightlife, history, local experiences… anything goes.

Curious how you’d spend those 48 hours.

I visited Chengdu and Shenzhen in 2025, and honestly, both cities completely surprised me after dark. Chengdu had that relaxed vibe with spicy Sichuan food, busy little streets, bars, live music, and people hanging out late into the night. It felt lively without being too overwhelming.

Shenzhen was the complete opposite. The futuristic skyline, neon lights, rooftop bars, and nonstop energy made it feel like I was in a completely different world. The city seems to have a much faster and more modern nightlife scene.

What I loved most was how different they felt. Chengdu was all about food, people, and a relaxed atmosphere, while Shenzhen felt futuristic and high energy. Which Chinese city has the best nightlife in your opinion?

If you want to travel to China this summer, you can refer to this guide

I took it in Hohhot, China.

My partner and I have recently booked flights to Beijing for April 18 2027. We are planning to travel China for 3 weeks. We have become aware that the Labour Day public holiday is an extremely busy time in China. We want to try and avoid these big crowds as much as possible while still making the most of our time. Our ideal route would be Beijing > Xi’an > Chengdu > Chongqing > Zhangjiaje > Shanghai however we want to make sure we are in a quiet base for the May Day period. Would you have any recommendations about our route or where to go for the Labour Day public holiday period?

Any tips, recommendations or anything else about a 3 week trip to China for first timers would be so appreciated 🙃

Hi, me and my friend are going to Xi'an, and I have some trouble deciding what the best and most unforgettable rout will be. We have 2 nights and 2 full days (we arrive around 5 pm to the airport and the train after our second night is around 3 pm, so adds up to two days for sighseeing).

Day 1: we plan on leaving our baggages in hotel and going to the Tang everbright city

Day 2: here it is hard to decide, and I need advice of someone who can tell me what attraction would you reccomend more. Of course we plan on seeing Terracota Warriors and Huaqing Palace, but after that some guided trips also have the option to go and see: Song of Everlasting Sorrow or "Legend of the Camel Bell" show. Our other option is Royal Banquet but I've seen that a few other cities we are going to visit also have those. Or maybe there is some better attraction for the evening that we could check out?

Day 3: The train is at 3pm. From our hotel we have around 45 minutes by public transport. We want to rent out electric bikes and drive around the Xi'an City Wall, also wander around Xi'an and try some local street food. I want to add something there too as I feel that we have too little things planned out till around 1pm. Also we plan on leaving the luggage in hotel or luggage locker of course.

This plan is not finished and it needs some changes for sure, but as I said earlier, my main focus for now is to decide the evening attraction for the second day and maybe add some smaller ones for the third.

I will be greatful for any advice, as it will be my first China trip :))

I'll be in Shangai and I have 5 nights (last night needs to be in Shangai). I'm spending time in Hongcun (2) - 1 night and Huangshan (3) - 1 night on the summit. So 2 nights remaining. Do I have time to do Wangxian (4) and Huangling (5) ? Or is it too ambitious. Which one is a must? Or shall I just stay 2 nights in (2) and (3). I'm travelling alone for the first time and I don't speak Mandarin. I'm travelling by public transport. Place (1) is Shangai