Verified, dated entry information for foreign visitors to China.
How to register on 12306 with your passport, buy an e-ticket, pass the station gate, and change or refund your ticket.
How to navigate China's cities with English-language tools: which map app to download, how to use the metro without Chinese, why Didi matters, and how to unlock shared bikes as a foreigner.
How to read a Chinese menu, find good restaurants without English, order Meituan delivery, and handle food delivery apps — plus what China does differently from Western dining culture.
What foreign visitors buy in China, which shopping platforms work without a Chinese payment card, and how to claim your value-added tax (VAT) refund at the airport or instantly at the store — updated for the 2026 policy expansion.