Guides
Practical English-first how-to articles for traveling China. Each guide is evergreen reference — no copied blog spam, no affiliate filler. Currently 4 published; more added each month.
Train routes & network
City-pair deep-dives plus a single-page reference on how the HSR network works. We're rolling out one new route guide a month through 2026.
China High-Speed Rail Network Overview
PublishedNetwork stats, train classes, all stations and routes we cover, and how the system works — a single-page reference.
Beijing → Xi'an by High-Speed Train
PublishedThe single most popular first-time-visitor route: 4h10m–6h, ¥515+, 32 trains a day. Which Beijing station, scenery, booking tips.
Chengdu → Chongqing by High-Speed Train
PublishedThe easiest intro to China HSR: a G-train every 15 minutes, 1h15m, from ¥85. Great as a day trip.
Booking & payments
Getting a ticket into your hand, with a foreign passport and a foreign card.
12306 English Booking Walkthrough
PublishedRegister, book, pay, and board China high-speed rail with a foreign passport. Every step foreigners trip over, covered.
Alipay Tour Pass for Foreign Travelers
Coming soonHow to set up Alipay with a foreign card so you can pay anywhere in China, including 12306.
Before you travel
Visa, connectivity, and the other setup questions that come up before the trip.
Visa-Free Transit in China (2026)
Coming soonWho qualifies for 24/72/144/240-hour visa-free transit, and how to actually use it at the airport.
Getting a Chinese SIM Card or eSIM
Coming sooneSIM options that work day one, plus the registration steps for a physical SIM at the airport.
Looking for a specific route we haven't written up yet? The interactive HSR map has duration, price, and train-vs-flight data for every city-pair we cover.