WELCOME TO ON MY WAY TO CHINA
Explore China with Confidence, Curiosity & Wonder
Real-world advice from more than 20 years of travelling in China—from visas and train tickets to wonderful discoveries you never expected.
This is a practical, continually updated travel guide. It draws on my journeys, including trips in 2024, alongside later research and updates. Because visa policies, apps and transport arrangements can change, always confirm important details with official providers before you travel.
Start Here: Your China Travel Checklist
New to China? Follow these eight guides in roughly this order. Each one tackles an important part of planning your trip, without overwhelming you with everything at once.
Visas & Entry
Find out what entry arrangements apply to your trip and passport.
Essential Apps
Set up the apps you’ll want for daily life, navigation and booking.
Alipay & WeChat
Understand the mobile payment systems used throughout China.
Phones, eSIMs & VPNs
Work out how to stay connected while you’re away.
Create Your Itinerary
Combine famous sights with the kind of experiences you love.
Book Accommodation
Choose the right hotel and know what to expect at check-in.
Train Tickets
Discover high-speed rail, ticket booking and boarding procedures.
Books About China
Explore China’s history, culture and people before you arrive.
The China That Surprises First-Time Visitors
One of my favourite things about talking with people after their first trip to China is hearing their surprise:
China is too large and varied to capture in a headline. The country I have come to know is full of contrasts: busy high-tech cities and centuries-old temples; futuristic transportation and quiet village streets; famous landmarks and ordinary conversations that stay with you long after you return home.
You don’t have to see China the way I do. I hope you’ll go with an open mind, meet people, explore beyond the obvious stops, and form your own impressions.
Just Look at How Beijing Has Changed!
One comparison I love sharing is the Beijing subway. Look at the network in 2007 and then compare it with the map from 2024. It’s a striking illustration of the city’s transformation.
Beijing Subway Map 2024
And that’s just one example. During my travels I’ve watched China expand its high-speed rail network, develop new airports, introduce electric buses and taxis, and make mobile payments part of everyday life. Beijing Capital Airport’s Terminal 3 opened in 2008; the newer Beijing Daxing International Airport opened in 2019.
But what stays with me isn’t only the infrastructure. It’s also the scenery, the historical sites, the food, the everyday kindness, and the experience of discovering a place for yourself.
What Might Surprise You?
- How convenient high-speed trains and urban transit can be.
- How much daily life relies on phone-based payments and apps.
- The variety of regional cuisines, landscapes and local cultures.
- The mix of remarkable engineering projects and preserved historical sites.
- The friendly conversations and unexpected discoveries that turn a trip into a memory.
An Important Travel Tip: Watch the Holiday Calendar
If you can, avoid the busiest parts of China’s May Day holiday and National Day holiday in early October, as well as major Spring Festival travel periods. Popular attractions, trains and hotels can be very busy and may sell out. Exact holiday dates and lengths vary, so check the official calendar for the year you’ll travel.
I Hope China Surprises You, Too
This website is my way of making your journey a little easier and a lot more enjoyable. Use the guides above, explore the menu, and leave room in your itinerary for something unexpected—a quiet temple, a fantastic meal, or a conversation you never saw coming.
Happy travels!
Mark
