Travel China honestly.
Free guides that answer the questions you actually search — visas, payments, apps, food and getting around — one city at a time. Shenzhen is live; more cities open when their guides are ready, not before.
A first trip, in the right order
- 01
Before you go
Visa rule, official arrival card, Alipay and a data plan — at home, on home Wi-Fi.
- 02
Arrive
Immigration at Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX), or a Hong Kong crossing that actually matches your rule.
- 03
First 24 hours
Hotel registration, the metro, a first meal. A tight, honest day, not a trophy hunt.
- 04
Explore
Whether Shenzhen is for you, how many days, and the honest takes — including the downsides.
One country, city by city.
We go deep on one city before opening the next. Shenzhen comes first; the other cities open when their guides are ready, not before.
All destinations →Schematic city positions, not a map. ● Live now ○ Coming soon
South China · 华南
深圳ShenzhenFood, tech markets and the Hong Kong borderLive now→广州GuangzhouCantonese food and a first-timer’s guideComing soon→Southwest · 西南
重庆ChongqingHotpot for first-timers: how to order, what to sayComing soon→成都ChengduSichuan food, beyond hotpotComing soon→云南YunnanKunming · Dali · Lijiang, and hiring a driver between themComing soon→East China · 华东
上海ShanghaiGetting around and eating wellComing soon→Check the rule. Tick the list.
Start with the first-timers guide
Visa rules, payments, and the first 24 hours — written straight, with sources and a last-verified date.
November 2026 policy watch · All guides · About the editors · Share your story