Three phases of a China trip — and what to read at each
China travel breaks into three jobs: decide, prepare, verify. This hub indexes the articles that answer each. PLANNING HUBS help you decide direction. BEFORE YOU GO handles the operational prep — visa, transport, money, connectivity, health. PROOF & FIELD NOTES is where real travellers' stories and our specialists' field intel live, so you can verify everything you've read.
Phase 1 · DECIDE (PLANNING HUBS). Five strategic articles plus one when-to-visit calendar. If this is your first China trip, start with the First-Time China Guide. If you know you want China but cannot pick the trip shape, use Design Your Journey or the Destination Decision Guide. If culture is the design driver, the Culture & History Guide ties imperial dynasties, ICH, and contemporary China into one frame. When-to-Visit covers month-by-month weather and the three Golden Weeks to avoid.
Phase 2 · PREPARE (BEFORE YOU GO). Nine operational articles you read in the 60-90 days before departure. Visa (2026 rules for 38+ visa-free nationalities), transport (when high-speed rail beats flights), payments (Alipay setup for non-Chinese passports), connectivity (eSIM vs hotel WiFi vs VPN), health, packing, etiquette.
Phase 3 · VERIFY (PROOF & FIELD NOTES). Real client stories with consent and identifying details preserved. Insider tips from senior guides — the things they would not write in a brochure but tell you privately on day one. The full blog index for everything else.
Decide · Prepare · Verify. Three phases. Eighteen entry points. Pick the column that matches where you are.
