China travel information, written by people who are actually there
Most "China travel tips" pages are written by people who have never queued at a Chinese train station with a foreign passport. These are not. They come from our own operations notes — the same document we send every guest a week before departure.
Before you fly
China Visa & Entry Requirements
What you need to enter China: passport validity, visa types, the 240-hour transit rule, and the documents to carry. Checked monthly.
Read →Internet, eSIM & Roaming in China
How to stay online in China: why international roaming usually beats a local SIM, which apps to install before you fly, and how to find your driver on arrival.
Read →Power Banks & Electronics on China Flights
The 3C rule, the 100Wh limit and why a CE-marked European power bank can be confiscated at a Chinese airport. What to pack instead.
Read →How to Pay in China as a Foreign Traveller
Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card, how much cash to carry, where cards still work, and what each method actually costs.
Read →What Is Included in a Wander China Tour
Exactly what our price covers: hotels, guides, private vehicles, entrance tickets, high-speed trains and insurance. And what it deliberately does not cover.
Read →What a Private China Tour Costs
How private China tours are priced, the four variables that move the number, and our written promise that the price we quote is the price you pay.
Read →High-Speed Trains & Domestic Flights in China
How Chinese high-speed rail and domestic flights work for foreign travellers: passport gates, check-in windows, baggage and how much time to allow.
Read →Food, Water & Dining in China
Is the tap water drinkable, how spicy is Sichuan food really, and how we handle allergies and dietary requirements.
Read →Tipping, Etiquette & Plug Sockets in China
China is not a tipping country. Here is when it is appropriate, the table manners that actually matter, and what adaptor to pack.
Read →Safety & Emergency Contacts in China
Emergency numbers, medical care, the two real risks in China, and what happens if you lose your passport.
Read →No Shopping Stops — What We Guarantee
No shopping stops, no commissions, no factory tours disguised as culture. What we guarantee in writing, and what to do if it ever happens.
Read →On the trip
The rest of what we send guests covers the things that come up on the ground. It is not here to sell you a tour — it is here because a prepared traveller has a better trip and takes less looking after.
Want the full document for your own itinerary?
Every guest receives a personalised Need-to-Know pack about a week before departure: their own guides and drivers, the specific altitude and weather for their route, and day-by-day reminders. Ask us for a sample.