Practical guides for your China transit window
Every article covers the blockers generic travel sites skip — firewall workarounds, Alipay setup, train booking — built around entry airport and hours you actually have.
72 Hours in Shanghai: A Real Transit Plan
Entry at Pudong, exit at Hongqiao — this guide covers which neighborhoods fit a 3-day window, the exact subway lines to take at 6 AM, and where to eat without a Chinese bank card.
Includes: firewall-safe apps to download before landing, Alipay tourist mode setup, and a day-by-day hour count so you never miss your connection.
More layover guides
Booking Bullet Trains as a Foreign Visitor
The Great Firewall: What Actually Works in 2025
Alipay Tourist Mode: Pay Without a Chinese Bank
48 Hours in Chengdu on a Tight Connection
Three apps, one travel eSIM, and the right VPN to download before your flight — this is the only firewall guide written for a 144-hour window, not a long-stay expat.
Trip.com works. Here is exactly how to pick the right seat class, pay without a Chinese bank card, and collect your ticket at the station kiosk.
Tourist mode lets you link a foreign Visa or Mastercard and pay anywhere Alipay is accepted. Setup takes under five minutes if you do it before landing.
Pandas, hotpot, and a walkable old quarter — this is what fits in 48 hours if you land at Tianfu, skip the tourist traps, and know which metro line to take.
Know your hours. Build your plan.
The AI planner turns your entry airport, exit port, and available hours into a day-by-day itinerary — no visa, no guesswork, no generic advice.