About This Site

The Problem

China welcomed over 150 million international visitors in 2025. The country is more accessible than ever — visa-free entry for 55+ countries, English signs in every metro station, Alipay accepting foreign cards.

But the English-language travel information ecosystem hasn't caught up. Guidebooks are outdated. YouTube vlogs are entertaining but not practical. Reddit threads are fragmented.

Meanwhile, Chinese social media (Xiaohongshu, Dianping, Mafengwo) is overflowing with hyper-detailed, constantly updated local guides. But they're all in Chinese, and they're written for a Chinese audience.

What We Do

We bridge the gap. We mine the best Chinese-language travel content, adapt it for international travelers (cultural context, practical adjustments, English), add original screenshots, tools, and checklists — and publish it for free.

Think of this as a local friend who speaks English and tells you where to actually go — not where the tourist buses go.

How We Make Money

Some links on this site are affiliate links (Trip.com, Klook, eSIM providers). If you book through them, we get a small commission — at zero extra cost to you.

We only recommend services we've tested ourselves. No sponsored placements, no paid reviews.

Contact

Found an error? Have a question? Want to suggest a city? Email us at hello@chinatravelplaybook.com.