China travel sourcebook

Official & reference directory

55 carefully grouped links for visiting, living, traveling, paying, and doing business in China. Start with an official source for rules; use service and editorial links for practical comparison.

20official government and public-service sources7practical categories

What “Official” means here

Only government agencies, government portals, public-service authorities, and official city tourism portals receive the Official label. Apps, banks, marketplaces, publishers, and local media are listed separately. China Knowhow is independent and is not affiliated with the State Council or any listed organization.

8 sources

National government & public services

Primary English-language entry points for immigration, customs, taxation, investment, and general public services.

OfficialChina Government — English ServicesCentral government services and policy information in English.OfficialGuide for Business Expatriates in China 2025Government guide to entry, residence, work, tax, payments, and daily life.OfficialNational Immigration AdministrationImmigration rules, visa-free transit notices, and entry-exit services.OfficialWelcome to China — Foreigner Service ManualMobile English manual for foreign visitors and residents.OfficialChina Services InfoEnglish public-service, business, travel, and city information.OfficialChina Customs — Service CenterCustoms procedures, declarations, and traveler information.OfficialInvest in ChinaMinistry of Commerce portal for foreign investment information.OfficialState Taxation AdministrationEnglish tax policies, notices, and service information.

10 sources

Payments & banking

Official guides plus the product owners of the payment and banking services visitors are most likely to encounter.

ServiceAlipayConsumer payment platform; the most complete visitor experience is in the app.ServiceAlipay Global Merchant PortalMerchant-facing international portal, not the consumer travel app.OfficialGuide to Payment Services in ChinaGovernment guidance for overseas visitors using cards, cash, and mobile pay.ServiceWeChatOfficial international product site for the messaging and services app.ServiceWeixin / WeChat Product OverviewTencent overview of Weixin and WeChat products.ServiceWeixin Pay for Visitors to ChinaTencent update on overseas cards, wallets, and visitor payment access.ServiceUnionPay InternationalInternational card acceptance, products, and cardholder services.ServiceUnionPay — Explore Mainland ChinaVisitor-oriented mobile payment and card-use information.Officiale-CNY Guide for ForeignersGovernment introduction to using the digital yuan as a foreign visitor.ServiceBank of China — Individual ServicesEnglish personal banking products and service information.

6 sources

Maps, trains, ride-hailing & mobile service

Official operators and product owners for intercity rail, mapping, taxis, and mobile connectivity.

OfficialChina Railway 12306Official English railway ticketing and passenger service portal.CommercialTrip.com China TravelEnglish booking platform for transport, hotels, and attractions.ServiceAMap Global AppOfficial app-store entry for AMap; English availability varies by platform.ServiceDiDi GlobalOfficial international site for the ride-hailing platform.ServiceChina Mobile — Foreign Visitor SIM GuideOfficial mobile service guidance for overseas visitors.ServiceChina Unicom — International VisitorsVisitor-facing mobile plans, SIM, and connectivity information.

10 sources

Chinese business & global commerce

Company-owned marketplaces and international sourcing platforms. These are commercial services, not government endorsements.

CommercialAlibaba.comGlobal business-to-business sourcing marketplace.CommercialAlibaba Buyer CentralBuyer education, sourcing tools, and account guidance.CommercialAlibaba Group — Business OverviewOfficial corporate overview of Alibaba's businesses and platforms.CommercialAliExpressInternational consumer marketplace operated by Alibaba Group.CommercialTaobao GlobalTaobao's global-facing shopping entry; language support varies.CommercialBaopalsEnglish interface for shopping from major Chinese marketplaces.CommercialMade-in-China.comInternational supplier and product sourcing platform.CommercialGlobal SourcesBusiness-to-business sourcing, supplier, and trade-show platform.CommercialDHgateCross-border wholesale and retail marketplace.CommercialTemuInternational consumer shopping marketplace.

9 sources

Official tourism & city portals

National, provincial, and municipal English-language portals for destination information and local public services.

OfficialTravel ChinaNational English-language tourism information portal.OfficialBeijing InternationalOfficial Beijing government English portal and public services.OfficialVisit BeijingOfficial English destination information for Beijing.OfficialShanghai International ServicesOfficial Shanghai government services and city information.OfficialMeet in ShanghaiOfficial English destination and visitor information for Shanghai.OfficialGoChengduEnglish city and tourism information for Chengdu.OfficialXi'an English PortalOfficial Xi'an government news, services, and visitor information.OfficialExplore HainanEnglish visitor information for Hainan province.OfficialGuangzhou InternationalOfficial Guangzhou government English portal.

9 sources

Independent travel planning

Commercial publishers, review platforms, operators, and booking marketplaces useful for comparing itineraries and experiences.

EditorialLonely Planet — ChinaIndependent destination overview and trip-planning articles.EditorialRough Guides — ChinaIndependent destination guides and suggested itineraries.CommercialTripadvisor — ChinaTraveler reviews and commercial booking comparisons.CommercialTravelChinaGuideCommercial English travel information and tour services.CommercialChina HighlightsCommercial travel guides, itineraries, and private tours.CommercialChina DiscoveryCommercial trip-planning content and tour services.CommercialWildChinaCommercial small-group and custom travel operator.CommercialKlook — Mainland ChinaCommercial activities, attractions, and transport bookings.CommercialViator — ChinaCommercial marketplace for tours and activities.

3 sources

Local life & relocation

English-language local media and relocation platforms. Useful context, but not official advice.

LocalSmartShanghaiEnglish local listings, events, services, and city guides for Shanghai.LocalThe BeijingerEnglish local news, events, dining, and community information for Beijing.LocalWellceeEnglish-friendly housing, roommate, jobs, and city-life platform.

Links and service availability can change. For visas, immigration, customs, tax, or other time-sensitive decisions, verify the latest rule directly with the responsible authority.