Land in China, Ready
Pay, ride and talk from your first hour. The practical handbook for first-time visitors to mainland China, written by a traveller who lives in Shenzhen.
Get the handbook: $4.99Instant PDF download · 14-day refund · free updates for 12 months
Built for your first day, not your bookshelf
Payments that actually workAlipay and WeChat Pay setup in 6 + 4 steps, the ¥200 fee line, and a money cheat sheet for what to pay with where.
"What to do if…" flowchartsCard declined, no mobile data, lost passport, missed train: follow the arrows.
Getting around without ChineseThree ways to call a DiDi, how to pay for the metro, and 12306 high-speed rail with a passport.
Renting a car and self-drivingThe temporary driving permit for foreigners, road rules, tolls and first road trips.
Say it, or show it3 pages of Mandarin with tones and pronunciation, plus show-this-to-staff phrase cards.
Screenshot-ready and currentPages marked SCREENSHOT ME work offline. Facts that change often carry a CHECK mark and their official source.
Every page is a tool
25 pages, no padding
| ✓ | Before-you-fly checklist | 3 |
| 01 | Before you fly: entry rules, arrival card, phone and data, power banks | 4 |
| — | Essential apps | 6 |
| 02 | Payments: Alipay and WeChat Pay setup, fees, limits | 7 |
| — | Money cheat sheet | 9 |
| 03 | Getting around: DiDi, metro, high-speed rail | 10 |
| 04 | Flights and hotels for less (advice only) | 12 |
| 05 | Renting a car and self-drive | 13 |
| — | What to do if… | 17 |
| — | Essential Mandarin | 19 |
| — | Show-this-to-staff phrase cards | 22 |
| — | Emergency card | 24 |
| — | Sources and credits | 25 |
Hi, I'm Steven
I live in Shenzhen and I've shown friends and family around cities across China. Again and again I watched the same things go wrong on day one: a card that wouldn't link, a taxi that wouldn't come, a menu nobody could read. I've also travelled to many countries myself, and I'm the friend people ask for cheap flights and hotels. This handbook is what I send them now.
Questions
Is it up to date?
Yes. Everything was last verified in October 2026, and facts that change often are marked CHECK with the official source. You get free updated versions for 12 months after you buy.
Does it cover the visa-free rules and the 240-hour transit?
Yes, on one page: who qualifies, how to count days, and which rules have an end date (some 30-day visa-free arrangements currently end on 31 December 2026). It's planning information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source before you fly.
Will my phone and apps work?
The handbook compares home roaming, travel eSIMs and a local SIM. It also explains that many foreign apps and sites (Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and others) can't be reached on Chinese Wi-Fi or local SIMs, and what to install and save offline before you land.
Is this a sightseeing guide?
No. It's the practical layer that makes a trip work: entry, payments, transport, phone, language, and what to do when things go wrong.
Can I print it?
Yes. It's an A4 PDF, and the checklist, phrase cards and emergency card print well on their own.
Do you book hotels, tickets or tours?
No. We give planning advice only. You make every booking yourself, on official sites or apps.
How do I get it?
A 25-page PDF (about 6 MB). You get a secure download link in your receipt email right after checkout.
What if it doesn't help me?
Email hello.exploringchina@gmail.com within 14 days of purchase and you'll get a full refund. No forms.
14-day refund · free updates for 12 months
If the handbook doesn't make your trip easier, reply to your receipt email within 14 days and you'll get every cent back. Rules and apps change; when they do, you get the updated PDF at no cost. The next update is planned for January 2027.
Get the handbook: $4.99
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