ChinaTravel

Three things I tell every client to pack that they never think of: 1. A power bank. China runs on phones — maps, payments, translation, everything. A dead phone means you're stranded. ¥80 at any convenience store gets you 10,000mAh. 2. An insulated thermos. Not for hot water (well, also for hot water) — but because most hotels and restaurants have free hot water stations, and cold bottled water from a thermos is surprisingly nice after a day of walking. 3. A small pack of tissues. Public bathrooms in China don't always have toilet paper. I learned this the hard way my first year in the industry. Never again. Everything else — clothes, toiletries, adapters — you can buy in China for less than bringing it from home. But these three? They'll save your trip. Full packing list on the blog.

Saw a confused tourist at the ticket machine in Chongqing North Railway Station today. He was holding a printed booking confirmation and trying to figure out what to do next. I told him: you don't need a paper ticket. Your passport IS the ticket. Just scan it at the gate and walk through. His face went from stressed to relieved in two seconds. That interaction reminded me how much has changed. 15 years ago I was the confused one — queuing for paper tickets, showing up an hour early just in case. Now? I book on 12306 while cooking breakfast, scan my passport at the station, and I'm on the train. The whole thing takes 10 seconds. I told the guy: if you're nervous about the train system, download 12306 and practice searching a route before your trip. Even if you're not booking yet, just get familiar with the interface. And remember — your passport is your ticket. No printing needed.

After 15 years of eating through every night market I can find — with my own kids in tow — here's my honest answer on street food safety in China: Most of it is perfectly safe. And some of it is the best meal you'll have in China. I follow rules I teach my clients too: Eat where locals eat. A stall with a line of Chinese customers is a good sign. Watch for high turnover. Constant fresh cooking is safer than food sitting out. Skip raw or lukewarm stuff. Stick to freshly fried, grilled, or steamed. Bring your own tissues or wipes. Street stalls don't have napkins. My kids have eaten street food across China — jianbing for breakfast, chuan'er (grilled lamb skewers) for dinner — never had a problem. Your stomach might need a day to adjust to the oil and spice if you're not used to it. That's not a safety issue, just an adjustment. My golden rule: if it smells good and you see locals eating it, go for it. Some of my best travel memories involve a plastic stool, a paper plate, and something I couldn't name but was delicious.

Can I use Google in China? Nope — not without a VPN. Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter/X — none of them work on China's domestic internet. I tell all my clients this before their trip, because I've seen too many people land at Beijing airport and panic when they can't check their messages. Here's what I recommend: Download a VPN before you leave home. Most VPN sites are blocked inside China. Install everything you'll need on your home WiFi: VPN app, WhatsApp, Google Maps offline, Alipay, DiDi. Test the VPN works before you board. Which VPN actually works in China? It changes constantly. The government blocks some, others get through. I update my list on the blog regularly. One thing people don't realize: hotel WiFi has the same restrictions. So plan ahead and you'll be fine.

Short answer: nope. Uber sold its China business to Didi in 2016, so the app won't work here. But honestly? Didi is better anyway. Works exactly like Uber with English interface and maps. I've been using it for years with clients who can't read a word of Chinese. One tip: link it to Alipay before you leave home. Saves the hassle of figuring out payment when you're jet-lagged at 2am outside the airport. Oh, and download the app BEFORE you land. Setting it up needs a SMS verification. Do it on WiFi at home.