Practical guides (English)

By Silk Route Dispatch Editorial Team · Published 2026-06-30 Additional context: By Silk Route Dispatch Editorial Team · Published 2026-06-30

Curated for first-time visitors and repeat travelers updating post-2024 entry norms. Additional context: Curated for first-time visitors and repeat travelers updating post-2024 entry norms.

Visa & entry

Transit waivers and regional “bubbles”
Tourist (L) visa interviews: what consulates still ask Additional context: Tourist (L) visa interviews: what consulates still ask

Cities & regions

Beijing in 72 hours (without sprinting) Additional context: Beijing in 72 hours (without sprinting)
Shanghai metro: lines, apps, and rush-hour etiquette Additional context: Shanghai metro: lines, apps, and rush-hour etiquette
Sichuan pacing: Chengdu, Leshan, altitude
Guilin & Li River: boats, scams to skip, better angles Additional context: Guilin & Li River: boats, scams to skip, better angles
Hangzhou & West Lake: tea villages and crowd math Additional context: Hangzhou & West Lake: tea villages and crowd math
Xi’an: Terracotta Army + city walls Additional context: Xi’an: Terracotta Army + city walls
Huangshan hiking & sunrise realism
Zhangjiajie pillars & glass bridges
Kunming → Dali: altitude & lake loops Additional context: Kunming → Dali: altitude & lake loops
Guangzhou morning tea halls
Shenzhen ↔ Hong Kong day trips Additional context: Shenzhen ↔ Hong Kong day trips

Culture & daily life

Temple etiquette for visitors
Alipay / Weixin Pay for foreigners: 2026 field report Additional context: Alipay / Weixin Pay for foreigners: 2026 field report
AQI apps, masks, and indoor backup plans Additional context: AQI apps, masks, and indoor backup plans

Transport

New this month

Chongqing riverwalk evenings: heat timing and ferry loops Additional context: Chongqing riverwalk evenings: heat timing and ferry loops
Cash backup in 2026: practical RMB fallback planning Additional context: Cash backup in 2026: practical RMB fallback planning

← Latest headlines