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Places. People. A different perspective.
Look a little closer. Stories, local discoveries and practical guides for a more thoughtful journey.
Applying for a China tourist visa without an agency? Find your visa office, gather your documents and follow the steps from online review to passport pickup, with current fees and what to recheck for 2027.
The reading room
Find a place, a practical answer, or a different way to travel.
Applying for a China tourist visa without an agency? Find your visa office, gather your documents and follow the steps from online review to passport pickup, with current fees and what to recheck for 2027.
Choose a Guangzhou private day tour around its actual route, included services and hotel pickup. Compare Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian and Canton Tower without assuming meals or airport transfers are included.
A 2027 guide to Hokkaido’s hot springs: explore the geology, compare onsen regions and distinctive baths, and understand day visits, classic hotels and private-bath ryokan for a winter trip.
Choose a Beijing private day tour that fits your priorities: a central city route or Mutianyu and the Forbidden City. Compare real inclusions, pickup areas and optional additions.
Shanghai is where old China meets tomorrow. From the Bund's colonial skyline to the futuristic towers of Pudong, our guide covers the essential experiences for first-time visitors to China's most dynamic city.
Mobile payment is the default in China—from street food vendors to luxury malls. Here is how to set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with your foreign credit card before you leave home.
Plan three days in Xi’an around the Terracotta Warriors, city wall and cultural neighborhoods. Compare actual private tours and decide whether a separate Mount Hua day suits you.
Hangzhou is just an hour from Shanghai by high-speed train—close enough for a two-day escape into classical Chinese landscape painting come to life. West Lake, tea plantations, and temple walks await.
Prepare for China in 2026 with a practical checklist for entry permission, payments, connectivity, transport and private tour inclusions, with links to official guidance.
Chengdu is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy—and it earns the title at every meal. From fiery hot pot to delicate dan dan noodles, here is where and what to eat in Sichuan's culinary capital.
Choose the right China entry route before booking. Understand the difference between current transit and visa-free entry policies, check official sources, and plan for the whole stay.
Plan two days in Beijing around imperial city sights and a Great Wall visit. Compare the existing private tours, avoid repeating stops, and confirm optional additions.
The Terracotta Warriors are unforgettable—but Xi'an has so much more. Ancient city walls you can bike on, a Muslim Quarter that's been trading for 1,300 years, and some of the best street food in China.
The hutongs are Beijing's soul—a labyrinth of narrow alleyways where life unfolds in courtyards, markets, and dumpling shops. Walk Nanluoguxiang and the quieter lanes nearby to find the Beijing that tourists miss.
Beyond the pandas, Chengdu is a city of teahouse culture, fiery cuisine, and a pace of life that famously slows down time. Discover the best of Sichuan's capital with our insider guide.
Hit the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square in one efficient day — with insider tips on timing, lunch spots, and how a private guide makes it all possible.
16 of 16 stories
From a good read to a great journey
A neighbourhood you want to wander. A flavour you want to find. Turn what caught your eye into a trip that feels like you.
