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View all →How to pay for the metro in China: cards, QR codes, tickets
Foreign contactless cards now open metro gates in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu, and an Alipay QR code covers most other cities. Here is what each method requires, and how to set one up before you land.
Shanghai in Three Days: The Classic Night-View Walking Route
A day-one Shanghai walk from Nanjing Road to the Bund, with a ¥2 ferry crossing instead of a ¥100 river cruise, and the time the lights go off.
Yongjia Road: bookshops, coffee and garden villas in Shanghai
A single stretch of Yongjia Road holds a vintage bookshop, three specialty coffee shops, and a run of garden villas — including the former homes of Xia Yan and Rong Zhixun.
DiDi in China without a Chinese phone number
DiDi's mainland app accepts foreign phone numbers and international cards, so you can book cars without a Chinese SIM. The one thing you need is a single verification SMS, plus a payment route that actually works.
China train classes and sleepers: which berth to book
Second class is fine for a few hours; overnight you want a berth with a door. What each class costs, how the berths are laid out, and how to choose a specific tier when you book.
Sleeping on the 85th Floor of Jinmao Tower at Grand Hyatt Shanghai
The Grand Hyatt Shanghai puts you on the 85th floor of Jinmao Tower, sleeping 300-plus metres above the city. Here is what that height actually gets you.
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