China's Digital Arrival Card 2026: The NIA 12367 App Every Visitor Now Needs
China replaced its paper arrival card on 20 November 2025 with a mandatory digital version (CDAC). Almost every foreign visitor now has to file it within 72 hours of landing via the NIA 12367 app or a WeChat/Alipay mini-program. Here's the complete walkthrough.
Paying in China 2026: Why TourCard Is Mostly Obsolete and What to Do Instead
If a 2023 travel blog told you to set up Alipay TourPass (now called TourCard) to pay in China, that advice is out of date. Since late 2023, Alipay and WeChat Pay both accept foreign Visa, Mastercard, and Amex cards directly. Here is what changed, and when TourCard is still worth keeping as a backup.
How to Use DiDi in China Without a Chinese Bank Account (2026 Guide)
You can't download the standalone DiDi app and have it work — but you don't need to. Here's the Alipay mini-program path every foreign tourist now uses in China.
Do You Need a VPN in China? The Honest Answer
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail — all blocked in China. Here's what actually works behind the Great Firewall and how to set it up before your flight.