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View all →Hong Kong to mainland China: pick the right border crossing
Five practical ways across the Hong Kong–mainland border, with the opening hours that decide which one you can actually use — and who needs a visa rather than a ticket.
China train station gates: when they close, when to arrive
The ticket gate closes 2 to 7 minutes before your train leaves, and it does not reopen — even if the train is still at the platform. Arrive 25 to 30 minutes early and you will never have a problem.
Booking China HSR tickets with a foreign passport
A foreign passport works for high-speed rail in China, but you must clear a one-off identity check before you can buy anything, and passport holders are barred from the self-service machines.
China airport SIM cards: prices, hours, and when to skip them
You can buy a local SIM in the arrivals hall at Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen airports — with your passport and about ¥100–300. Here is where the counters are, when they close, and the one reason to buy an eSIM instead.
Which Apps Are Blocked in China — and What to Use Instead
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, X and Uber are blocked across mainland China at network level. Here is what replaces each one, and why the workaround has to be installed before you fly.
eSIM in China: buy and install it before you fly
An international eSIM works across mainland China and sidesteps the Great Firewall on mobile data — but it has to be installed before you leave. Here is the order that works.
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