Before you go
Planning a first trip to mainland China: the entry rules that apply to your passport, visa-free transit, paying with Alipay and WeChat Pay, internet access and eSIMs, and when to go. Short answers first, then the detail.
Entry rules change. For anything about visas and transit we quote the official source, show the date we checked it and link to it, so you can confirm before you book.
In this section
China in Winter: Weather, Crowds and What Stays Open
Verified · 13 October 2026January lows run from -22.9°C in Harbin to 19.5°C in Sanya. Which cities have heating, when winter hours start, and which week is crowded.
Chinese New Year 2027 in China: What Closes and When
Verified · 10 October 2026New Year's Day is 6 February 2027; the State Council hadn't set the break by mid-October 2026. What closed in 2026, the rail window, dates to watch.
China Itinerary: 10 Days or 2 Weeks by Train (2026)
Verified · 3 October 2026Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai in 10 days with one night train, or 2 weeks with Pingyao and Hangzhou: real 12306 trains, fares and what to book when.
Mutianyu vs Badaling: Great Wall Day Trip from Beijing
Verified · 6 October 2026Badaling is 19-23 minutes by train from Qinghe; Mutianyu is quieter, with a ¥140 return cable car. Tickets, buses and passports, section by section.
Apps to Download Before You Go to China (2026)
Verified · 3 October 2026WeChat, Alipay, Amap, DiDi, Railway 12306 and NIA 12367: what each does for a visitor, what to set up at home, and which to install first.
Do I Need a Visa for China? Rules by Passport (2026)
Verified · 3 October 2026UK, Canadian, Australian and most EU passports get 30 days visa-free until 31 December 2026. Americans need a visa, the 240-hour transit or Hainan.
eSIM for China: Does It Work Without a VPN? (2026)
Verified · 3 October 2026Sellers say many travel eSIMs route data outside mainland China, so Google and WhatsApp load. Where that stops, what the VPN rules say, and SMS codes.
How to Pay in China (2026): Alipay, WeChat Pay, Cards
Verified · 3 October 2026WeChat Pay takes a foreign card free up to ¥200 and charges 3% of the whole payment above it, as Alipay's 2023 guide did. Limits, cash and a plan B.