China travel & sourcing guides (2026)
Practical, dated guides written by our team in China — visa rules, apps, costs, best travel months, sourcing and how to buy safely.
China Visa & Entry Guide 2026 (US Travellers)
Do US citizens need a visa for China? Usually yes — the 10-year tourist (L) visa costs about $140 and takes roughly a week. If China is a stopover to …
Essential China Apps 2026: Alipay, WeChat Pay & More
Seven apps cover about 95% of a China trip: WeChat and Alipay for payments, a VPN, DiDi for rides, a maps app, Google Translate offline, and Trip.com….
Best Time to Visit China 2026 (Month by Month)
The best time to visit China is spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), when Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing are comfortable and clear. The …
The Real Cost of a China Trip 2026 (Full Data)
A 7-day China trip costs roughly $92–$280 per person per day depending on style. A mid-range 7-day Beijing + Shanghai trip runs about $1,085 on the gr…
DIY China Trip vs Guided Tour 2026: Real Costs
DIY travel in China costs roughly $1,050 per person for 7 days (excluding flights), versus $2,000–$2,800 for group tours and $3,500–$5,000 for private…
Planning China with ChatGPT vs a Local Planner (2026)
AI is great for dreaming about China and rough planning, but it breaks down on live details — venues that closed, tickets that sell out, and booking r…
How to Verify a Chinese Supplier Before You Pay
Before sending money to a Chinese supplier, verify three things: that the company is legally registered, that it really manufactures (not just trades)…
1688 vs Alibaba: Where Importers Really Buy (2026)
Alibaba is built for international buyers; 1688 is China’s domestic wholesale site with lower prices but no English and no export support. Many import…
How to Import from China: A First-Timer’s Guide
Importing from China comes down to five steps: define your product, find and verify a supplier, order a sample, place the order with a pre-shipment in…
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