About & methodology
Why this site exists
Since China expanded visa-free entry in late 2023, independent travel to China has exploded. But almost every guide you'll find online was written to sell you a tour — or was accurate two years ago, when "144-hour transit" was still a thing, street vendors still took cash, and Alipay still rejected foreign cards.
The information that is current lives scattered across Reddit threads and YouTube comments. We think there should be one place where the answer is structured, honest, and dated.
How we verify
- From the ground. We're based in China. We test payment flows with real foreign cards, ride the trains, book the attractions, and screenshot everything.
- Stamped with dates. Every guide carries a "verified" date. If a page is past 90 days, it turns amber until someone re-checks it. You never have to wonder how old the advice is.
- Official sources for policy. Visa and payment rules are cross-checked against the National Immigration Administration and official announcements — not other blogs.
- No selling. We don't operate tours. When we recommend an eSIM or a booking platform, we say why, and affiliate links (where they exist) are disclosed inline.
What we don't do
We don't sell tours, we're not an agency, and we won't tell you China is either a dystopia or a utopia. Just: here's how things actually work right now, and here's when we checked.
Contact
Found something outdated or wrong? That's the most valuable message you can send us:hello@chinatravelcheck.com.