Two tools in one place. The Survival Toolkit handles your trip: visa route, countdown checklist, first 24 hours, payments, trains, tax refund, phrase cards. The Digital Friction Index tells you, city by city, where foreign visitors actually get stuck — and how to get around it.
See the Friction Index → Open the Toolkit →
App-based real-name registration, Chinese-language first. Know the nearest international clinic before you need one.
SIM needs passport real-name registration, and some apps you rely on at home are not directly available. Buy the SIM at the airport; download offline maps first.
Top sights need real-name advance booking. Book 7 days ahead; same-day tickets at the gate are unreliable in peak season.
Smoothest overall: Shanghai and Shenzhen (2.4), then Beijing (2.6). Most friction overall: Xi'an (3.4), driven by ticket bottlenecks. Explore all 64 city × scenario scores →
National Immigration Administration Announcement No. 4 of 2026, effective 2026-08-20.
Most to 2026-12-31; Russia to 2027-12-31. Recheck after the year-end renewal.
The toolkit's visa checker walks your nationality, route and stay length to the right answer.
Entry rules change. This list tracks only verified changes — each with its official source and verification date.
National Immigration Administration Announcement No. 4 of 2026, effective 2026-08-20. Verified 2026-10-24.
Most to 2026-12-31; Russia to 2027-12-31. Year-end renewal under watch. Verified 2026-10-24.
A separate island scheme, not the national lists. Verified 2026-10-24.
Which visa route you are actually on.
What to do, and by when, before departure.
The exact order: SIM, payment, transport, hotel.
Set up both Alipay and WeChat Pay, a week early.
The calendar that saves the trip.
Passport booking, and the English alternative.
Money back before you fly — net rate about 9%.
Show, don't pronounce.
SIM, payments, trains — what actually works, with dates and sources.
Something this site does not cover? Ask it on the forum — answers link back to the tools and guides here.