Life guides
Everyday living basics: SIMs, hotels, food, apps, and connectivity.
18 guides available
Featured life guides
A decision guide explaining why physical SIM cards work better than eSIMs for most travelers in China, with clear do-and-don’t rules.
Buying a SIM at the Airport (What Actually Works)A first-hour survival guide to buying, registering, and verifying a SIM at Chinese airports without breaking payments or verification.
Hotel Check-in in China: What to ExpectA step-by-step guide to hotel check-in for foreigners in China, explaining passport checks, delays, and how to resolve common issues.
Hotel Foreigners PolicyOperational steps to confirm a hotel can check in foreign guests.
Translation Apps That Actually Work in ChinaHow to use translation apps effectively in China, with practical rules for counters, taxis, menus, and emergencies.
Wi-Fi and Public Internet in ChinaWhat actually works, what does not, and how to stay functional when public internet access fails.
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All life guides
- Buying a SIM at the Airport (What Actually Works)
A first-hour survival guide to buying, registering, and verifying a SIM at Chinese airports without breaking payments or verification.
- Dietary Restrictions in China: What Is Realistic
What dietary restrictions can and cannot be reliably accommodated in China, and how to eat safely without long explanations.
- Essential Apps for Foreigners in China (What to Install and Why)
A practical, real-world guide to the essential apps foreigners need in China, what each app is actually used for, how to set them up, and common problems you will face.
- Email and Messaging Access in China
What works, what breaks, and how to keep email, messages, and verification codes accessible while in China.
- English Menus in China: What to Expect
Where English menus exist, why they are unreliable, and better strategies for ordering food without depending on English.
- Etiquette, Queueing, and Public Behavior in China
Practical behavior rules to avoid friction in queues, public spaces, transport, and daily interactions in China.
- Hotel Check-in in China: What to Expect
A step-by-step guide to hotel check-in for foreigners in China, explaining passport checks, delays, and how to resolve common issues.
- Hotel Foreigners Policy
Operational steps to confirm a hotel can check in foreign guests.
- Ordering Food Without Speaking Chinese
A practical, low-stress system for ordering food in China without speaking Chinese, covering menus, QR ordering, and fallback methods.
- Phone Compatibility in China
How phone models, SIM setups, and settings affect connectivity, payments, and daily use in China.
- Police Registration Basics
Operational steps to confirm registration and avoid missing deadlines.
- Renting Apartments in China: Basics for Foreigners
When renting an apartment makes sense for foreigners in China, common pitfalls, and safer alternatives for short and long stays.
- Online Shopping Basics for Foreigners in China
What foreign visitors can realistically buy online in China, what usually fails, and when offline shopping is the better choice.
- SIM Card vs eSIM in China
A decision guide explaining why physical SIM cards work better than eSIMs for most travelers in China, with clear do-and-don’t rules.
- Tap Water in China: What Is Safe to Drink
Clear rules on tap water safety in China, why boiling is standard, and how travelers should handle drinking water with minimal risk.
- Translation Apps That Actually Work in China
How to use translation apps effectively in China, with practical rules for counters, taxis, menus, and emergencies.
- Wi-Fi and Public Internet in China
What actually works, what does not, and how to stay functional when public internet access fails.
- VPN Basics and Cautions (Staying Functional in China)
A practical continuity guide for staying functional in China when foreign services do not load, fail, or become unreliable.