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10 Chinese Phrases the Writer Learned to Actually Use While Traveling in China
At 7:40 in the morning, the writer stood beside a ticket machine at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station with a suitcase in hand. The glass doors had just opened, cool air flowed out
Chinese Garden Art: Suzhou to Beijing's Summer Palace
Chinese gardens are "three-dimensional landscape paintings" — every step frames a composition, every window becomes a picture frame.
I Took a Slow Train from Kunming All the Way to Beijing
I'll admit it — I'd had a few drinks when I booked this ticket.
Top 5 Most Scenic High-Speed Rail Routes in China
In China, a high-speed rail ticket is more than just a ride — it's a front-row seat to some of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth. Trains slicing through karst pinnacles at 350
China Climate Zones & Best Travel Seasons
Temperate Monsoon (North/Northeast) : Four distinct seasons; Beijing averages 26°C in July, -3°C in January
In Qinhuangdao, I Skipped the Famous Seafood Spots and Looked for a Table Where I Could Eat Something Hot
When I arrived in Qinhuangdao in the evening, the sea breeze had already blown away half of the heat from the day. The leaves along the street turned softly in the wind, showing th
Seafood Along China's Coast: From Dalian to Zhanjiang
The closer a restaurant is to the water, the less likely it is to be where locals actually eat.
5-Day Guangxi: Guilin, Yangshuo & Longji Terraces
From Guilin: Li River, Yangshuo, Longji Rice Terraces, back to Guilin. 5 days to experience the finest scenery under heaven. Public transport covers the route well, also great for
Chinese Baijiu & Huangjiu: Gift & Tasting Guide
Baijiu and Huangjiu are China's two most important traditional spirits. One burns like fire, the other warms like jade — each with its own charm and customs.
A Plastic Stool in a Guiyang Night Market Made Me Drop My Tourist Distance
When I arrived in Guiyang that evening, the rain had just stopped. The road looked freshly wiped, and neon lights broke into red, green, and orange fragments in the puddles. I had
Ordering Mild Spice in Chengdu Taught Me Translation Cannot Fully Explain Heat
On my second evening in Chengdu, the rain had just stopped, and a small restaurant on the street had set plastic stools near the entrance as if inviting passersby into a cloud of w
The Great BBQ Map of China
At one in the morning, the street across from Jinzhou South Station is still lit up. Plastic stools spill onto the sidewalk while charcoal turns the pitmaster's face a deep red. A
The Art of Gift Giving in China
Last Chinese New Year, I stood in a shopping mall on Nanjing Road in Shanghai, clutching a gift list and sweating bullets. The list read: boss, landlady, girlfriend's parents, coll
What Truly Holds You on Dunhuang’s Old Street Is Not the Vast Night but the Apricot Drink and Firelight Under the Lamps
Night in Dunhuang does not arrive suddenly. It is like a shadow on the dunes, moving inch by inch from outside the city into the old street. I entered the street at dusk, when a pa
Top 10 Travel Routes in China
Starting from Xi'an and heading west to Dunhuang — even extending to Kashgar in Xinjiang — the Silk Road's appeal lies not in any single attraction, but in the cumulative weight of
Qipao: The Iconic Chinese Dress
The qipao photographs beautifully and has become one of the most popular cultural experiences for visitors to China. This guide covers everything from choosing a style to getting t
The Night I Stepped Behind the Shadow Puppetry Screen
That evening, when I entered a small theater in an old Chinese town, the sky was not fully dark yet. The stone street was still holding the warmth of the day, and the red lanterns
Where to Go for May Day? 8 Hidden Gems You Probably Haven't Heard Of
Every May Day, you're probably stuck in the same dilemma: go somewhere and face the crowds, or stay home and waste the holiday.
Stinky Tofu: The Street Snack That Smells Awful and Tastes Amazing
My first encounter with stinky tofu in Changsha was forced on me by the smell.
In Suzhou Gardens, I Learned to Find a Place to Sit Before Starting to Take Photos
The first time I felt that I had truly “seen” something in a Suzhou garden was not when I pressed the shutter at a famous photo spot, but after I sat down first. That day, not long
In Chongqing at night, I learned to treat fear as part of the view
If Chongqing in the daytime feels like a city of complicated structure, then Chongqing at night feels more like a three-dimensional dream. When I arrived at dusk, the sky was sinki
Silk Shopping Guide: Scarves, Qipao & Accessories
Silk is one of the most worthwhile purchases in China. From scarves to qipao, from bedding to undergarments, Chinese silk offers far more variety than you'd imagine.
Mobile Payments in China: Can Foreigners Use Alipay and WeChat Pay?
Before coming to China, many people worry about one thing: I don't have a Chinese bank card — can I actually pay for things here?
Yangtze River Cruise: A Unique Experience
The Yangtze cruise is about slowing down. You stay on a floating hotel, watch scenery shift outside your window, go ashore for day trips, and return to the same cabin every night.