📖 China Trip Guides
Last updated: August 2026 · By the PandaRoads team in China
PandaRoads travel guides are the free library behind every custom China plan: 3-day itineraries, visa rules, app setup, safety, budgets, and city comparisons, all updated for 2026. First, browse the guide that matches your trip. Second, download the relevant checklists. Finally, ask the local team anything on WhatsApp. Free, current, and written by people who live in China.
Three cities. Three itineraries. Zero tour groups. Written by people who actually live here.
3 Days in Beijing
Great Wall sunrise. Forbidden City deep-dive. A hidden Peking duck spot locals protect. PTO-optimized for the perfect long weekend.
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3 Days in Shanghai
Bund skyline. Soup dumplings that ruin you for life. Fabric-market suit made in 24 hours. A jazz bar from 1923.
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3 Days in Chongqing
The most futuristic city you've never heard of. Hotpot that rewires your brain. Yangtze cable car. There's nothing like it in America.
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China Visa Guide for US Travelers
Complete guide to getting a China visa in 2026: types, costs, step-by-step application, and the 144-hour transit loophole.
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Essential China Travel Apps
WeChat, Alipay, VPN, DiDi, and more — the 7 apps you need to download before landing in China.
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DIY vs Guided Tour: Real Costs
$1,050 DIY vs $2,450 group tour vs $4,200 private — the honest 7-day cost breakdown, plus when a tour is actually worth it.
Read Guide →Is China Safe for US Travelers?
Violent crime is rare, midnight streets are calm — and the State Dept advisory, common scams, and payment-app must-haves, explained honestly.
Read Guide →📩 China Travel Starter Kit
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