ChinaPathbook
China without the guesswork.
Useful details for independent travel: where to go, what to copy, and where to verify it.
Start with a city
City hubs
北京
Beijing
A practical hub for landmark arrival details and onward rail search.
Open city hub →成都
Chengdu
A practical hub for Panda Base arrival details and a rail link to Chongqing.
Open city hub →重庆
Chongqing
A practical hub for riverfront landmarks, historic lanes, museums, city viewpoints and Chongqing municipality day trips.
Open city hub →上海
Shanghai
A base for People’s Square, the Lujiazui skyline, and practical arrival details.
Open city hub →张家界
Zhangjiajie
A base for Tianmen Mountain and the Wulingyuan core scenic area.
Open city hub →西安
Xi'an
A base for the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum and a live Beijing rail search.
Open city hub →昆明
Kunming
Yunnan’s capital pairs an urban core with Dianchi-lakeside cultural sites and the Stone Forest karst landscape. Use it as a base for city culture, lakefront sights and a dedicated day trip beyond the urban core.
Open city hub →大理
Dali
Dali is shaped by the historic city, Erhai Lake and Cangshan, with a strong Bai cultural context. Choose a base based on whether your days centre on the old town, Xiaguan logistics or Erhai’s northeast shore.
Open city hub →丽江
Lijiang
A northwestern Yunnan base for Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and onward journeys toward Tiger Leaping Gorge. Stay by the heritage component and route priorities you intend to use most.
Open city hub →香格里拉
Shangri-La
A practical highland base in Diqing for Dukezong Ancient Town, Songzanlin Scenic Area and Potatso National Park. Treat altitude, mountain weather and road access as live conditions.
Open city hub →景洪
Jinghong
The urban base for Xishuangbanna’s Dai culture, tropical rainforest landscapes and nearby wildlife sites. Use Jinghong for city services, then plan rainforest attractions as separate road trips.
Open city hub →深圳
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a coastal city on the east bank of the Pearl River Estuary, adjacent to Hong Kong. This hub connects a fast-changing urban core with waterfront parks, museums, cultural districts, coastal landscapes and historic Dapeng.
Open city hub →Keep these handy
Arrival details
重庆中国三峡博物馆
Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum
A history-and-art museum focused on Bayu, Three Gorges, wartime, migration and urban culture.
Address · Didi · transit →故宫博物院
Forbidden City
The Palace Museum's public route runs one-way, south to north.
Address · Didi · transit →慕田峪长城
Mutianyu Great Wall
A well-preserved Ming Great Wall section with dense watchtowers.
Address · Didi · transit →天坛公园
Temple of Heaven
A Ming and Qing ceremonial complex whose principal buildings include the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
Address · Didi · transit →Practical tools
Before you move.
Using Alipay as a visitor →Taking DiDi in China →China high-speed rail, without guesswork →A small China travel app stack →Summer Palace arrival: choose a gate first →Chongqing China Three Gorges Museum arrival →Xi'an City Wall: confirm the entrance before booking →Shanghai Metro luggage storage: a live-availability check →Beijing municipal-park tickets: use the official channel →Beijing Capital Airport: choose your city transfer →Beijing Capital Airport: first-arrival essentials →Shanghai Pudong Airport: choose a city transfer →Shanghai Airport Link Line: Pudong to Hongqiao →China payments: keep a backup beyond your phone →Shanghai Hongqiao Airport: choose the terminal first →BEIJING PASS: buy it with your passport →Forbidden City: book with your passport, then use the manual gate →Shanghai Metro: choose a payment path before the gate →Shanghai tourist service centers: use the one already on your route →Summer Palace tickets with a foreign phone: use the staff-assisted fallback →Mutianyu Great Wall: use the two-stage public-bus route →Temple of Heaven: book with your passport and save the QR code →Shanghai Museum on People’s Square: use the right branch and check peak reservations →Shanghai ferry: choose a pier, then check the live route →Shanghai transport: set up the English SH MaaS app before you need it →Shanghai one-day travel pass: use your passport registration details →Xi’an Airport Terminal 5: check the heritage museum before a long layover →Beijing Subway: try contactless overseas-card entry before buying a separate ticket →Nihao China: set up the UnionPay travel app before arrival →Shanghai Pass: use the prepaid card as a backup across transport and everyday purchases →Jingshan Park: reserve ahead by phone and match your passport at the South Gate →China rail: complete 12306 identity verification before buying your ticket →China’s 240-hour visa-free transit: confirm the country, onward journey, port and permitted area →Beijing Daxing Airport: choose the live city-transfer channel →China online arrival card: submit ahead if you are eligible →Shanghai accommodation registration: hotel or local-police path →Immigration help: use NIA 12367 for official questions →China SIM card setup: bring your passport to an operator service office →Shanghai shared bikes: locate, scan and follow the live app flow →Shanghai taxi: keep an English-language backup →Shanghai bus: choose a live payment path before boarding →GO BEIJING: start with the foreign-visitor service hub →China emergencies and passport loss: call the right number first →Chongqing departure tax refund: preserve the paperwork and goods →Shanghai train tickets: use your passport and the official rail channel →Shanghai airport service centers: solve arrival basics before leaving the terminal →Shanghai Maglev: tap a supported foreign bank card at the gate →China Railway Easy Travel: check luggage transfer before a long rail day →China customs: use the red channel when you need to declare—or are unsure →Beijing Capital Airport: buy airport transport tickets at Beijing Service →Shanghai Pudong Airport: handle a long layover without leaving the terminal →China domestic flights: check your power bank’s CCC mark →Beijing airport service counters: solve arrival basics before leaving →Beijing 12345 Online: ask for help in your preferred language →Daxing Airport language help: ask a service point to place the call →Shanghai Easy Go: open the English visitor hub inside Alipay →Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station: turn on indoor navigation before you exit →Shanghai public transport: choose a payment path before boarding →Shanghai Hongqiao Airport: use Terminal 1 services before a transit break →Amap / Gaode Map: save your hotel and destinations before you land →National Museum of China: reserve first, then confirm today’s entry details →Beihai Park: arrange the foreign-visitor reservation before you go →Shanghai railway stations: confirm the exact station before you leave →China bank cards: apply at a commercial-bank outlet with your passport →China cash and currency exchange: use an official exchange point and keep small notes →China metro: choose a single ticket, station pass or live QR code before the gate →China buses: carry small RMB or set up a card or QR code before boarding →China domestic flights: book through the airline or platform and confirm the fare rules →China rail ticket changes and refunds: use 12306 or the station ticket office →China hotel payments: ask about card acceptance before relying on it →Chongqing driving: get a Chinese temporary permit before renting a car →Shanghai departure tax refunds: choose the standard or refund-upon-purchase route →Yuyuan Garden: use the garden address, not a vague Old City pin →Oriental Pearl Tower: route to No 1 Century Avenue →Zhujiajiao: use Line 17 as the rail starting point →China hotel check-in: use your passport for residence registration →Staying outside a hotel: register your residence locally →China emergencies: keep the core numbers saved →China SIM cards: start at an operator service office →Opening a local bank-card account in China →RMB cash backup: ask for small notes or a change purse →Getting RMB cash: exchange points and compatible ATMs →China rail: use the manual identity-verification fallback →China rail boarding: carry the original ID used for the ticket →China domestic flights: choose an official booking channel, then confirm payment →China metro: buy a single ticket at the station when that is simplest →China metro QR codes: set up the transport code before the gate →Beijing Metro: foreign Visa or Mastercard tap-and-ride →China buses: carry small RMB change as a fallback →China bus cards: use a bus-company service outlet →Airport shuttles: use the Trip.com flight-information flow →Renting a car in China: line up documents before you reserve →Shanghai Metro: tap eligible cards at the gate →Shanghai Metro Daduhui: use the QR route with Alipay or WeChat →Shanghai Suishenxing: one transport code across city modes →Beijing Zoo: book with your passport and choose the Panda House ticket →Beijing railway stations: use Easy Travel for a local luggage handoff →Capital Airport to Badaling: use the direct airport-bus option →Beijing buses: check the stop board, then tell the conductor your destination →Olympic Central Axis sightseeing bus: buy a QR ticket at a listed stop →Shanghai Tower: route to the observatory at Lujiazui →China Art Museum: use the station exit that matches your line →China Maritime Museum: plan the Lingang destination precisely →Xujiahui Origin: build a walk around free sites and reservations →Gucheng Park at night: use Gates 5 or 8 and respect closures →Reserve Chengdu Panda Base Tickets and Enter With the Right ID →Reserve a Panda Tower Slot at Chengdu Panda Base →Plan a Two-Day Route Through Zhangjiajie National Forest Park →Book Tianmen Mountain Through Zhangjiajie’s Official Platform →Buy Chongqing Yangtze River Cableway Tickets From Authorized Channels →Extend a China tourist visa before it expires →Replace a China visa after losing your passport →Claim a departure tax refund on eligible China shopping →Shanghai Museum East: enter individually with your passport →Beijing Travel Pass: use the phone app instead of the older terminal →Beijing CUBe Card: a SIM-based backup for connectivity and transit →China 24-hour visa-free transit: keep your onward ticket and stay airside unless cleared →Grand Tang Mall: pair it with the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, then check the live programme →Tang Paradise: check the seasonal programme before you build a visit around it →Huaqing Palace: confirm the live entrance and programme before the Lintong trip →Arriving by train in Shanghai: use the 12306 transport-code handoff →Beijing Daxing Airport: check the time-limited free airport-bus offer →Beijing Jingtong app: switch your phone to English before the setup flow →China food delivery: set the address before you build the basket →China translation: download an offline backup before the first menu or message →DiDi: switch to English, then match the car before you get in →WeChat translation: use the message or photo tool when a Chinese reply needs a quick check →Taobao: save the delivery address before you search or check out →Shanghai QR Code: complete passport registration before you need a city service →China high-speed rail pet consignment: confirm the train icon before planning around it →China high-speed rail: check your power bank label and capacity before security →Shanghai Maglev and Metro Pass: confirm the transfer plan before buying →Chengdu Tianfu Airport: use the railway station in the GTC transfer hall →How to Choose a Base in Kunming →How to Choose a Base in Dali →How to Choose a Base in Lijiang →Shangri-La: Choose an Area to Stay →How to Choose a Base in Jinghong →Where to stay in central Shenzhen →Where to stay in Nanshan →Where to stay in eastern Shenzhen →Where to stay near Shenzhen’s Futian cultural district →Where to stay for northern and western Shenzhen →Dali Bai flavours: Three-Course Tea and rushan →Dali food basics: build a Bai-flavour shortlist →Xizhou food and market context →Planning a food stop in Shaxi →How to choose Dali restaurants without guesswork →Dali Ancient Town from the railway station: choose the town-side arrival point →Dali Ancient Town: start at South Gate and build a walk around Fuxing Road →Three Pagodas: make the visitor center your first stop →Cangshan’s Yudai Cloud Travel Road: treat it as a cableway-to-cableway route →Erhai Ecological Corridor: plan a low-impact visit, not a private rental or roadside stop →Dali’s Cangshan–Three Pagodas–Caicun route: use the official sequence as a planning spine →
Beijing to Xi'an →Chengdu to Chongqing →Beijing to Shanghai →Beijing to Chengdu →Shanghai to Xi'an →Chongqing to Xi'an →Beijing to Chongqing →Beijing to Zhangjiajie →Chengdu to Beijing →Chengdu to Shanghai →Chengdu to Xi'an →Chongqing to Beijing →Chongqing to Shanghai →Chongqing to Zhangjiajie →Shanghai to Chengdu →Shanghai to Chongqing →Xi'an to Beijing →Xi'an to Shanghai →Xi'an to Chengdu →