Use official government or immigration sources as the final authority. Community posts can reveal confusion, but should not decide the answer.
China Travel Made Easy · Source Library
Official sources first. Local experience second.
This library tracks the sources used for China Travel Made Easy articles and tools. For policy-sensitive topics like visa-free transit, arrival cards, payments, and railway tickets, official Chinese or platform-authoritative sources should be the fact backbone.
Back to the article archiveHow to use these sources
Use Chinese government service guidance plus Alipay, WeChat Pay, 12306, Trip.com, or other platform-official pages where available.
Use official tourism pages for facts and opening information, then add local experience and social trend observations for context.
official
Official Chinese source
visa-entry
Conditions for Foreign Nationals Applying for 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Policy
240-hour visa-free transit rules, eligible countries, core conditions, eligible ports, permitted stay areas, arrival card links
National Immigration Administration, Exit and Entry Administration of P.R. China · Last checked 2026-06-02 visa-entryChina widens visa-free access in latest opening-up move
Context on China visa-free access expansion and official policy direction
The State Council, The People’s Republic of China · Last checked 2026-06-02 visa-entryOnline Arrival Card Filling for Foreigners
Online arrival card instructions and entry preparation references
National Immigration Administration, Exit and Entry Administration of P.R. China · Last checked 2026-06-02 paymentsGuide to Payment Services in China
Official payment options for visitors, including bank cards, mobile payments, cash, and account services
The State Council, The People’s Republic of China · Last checked 2026-06-02 paymentsChina issues guideline on further optimizing payment services
Policy background on improving payment convenience for foreigners and elderly users
The State Council, The People’s Republic of China · Last checked 2026-06-02 discover-chinaTravel China Official Tourism Site
Official tourism inspiration, destinations, attractions, and cultural travel references
Official China tourism portal · Last checked 2026-06-02 market-contextChina says 2025 inbound trips top 150 million
Inbound tourism trend context and market opportunity framing
State Council Information Office / Xinhua · Last checked 2026-06-02 visa-entryShanghai 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide
City-level official explanation of 240-hour visa-free transit for Shanghai-related itinerary planning; NIA remains final authority
Shanghai Municipal Government English Portal · Last checked 2026-06-02 citiesChengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Official reference for Chengdu panda base visitor planning, conservation context, opening notices, and reservation checks
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding · Last checked 2026-06-22 citiesMount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System
UNESCO reference for Mount Qingcheng and Dujiangyan as a Chengdu-area heritage day trip
UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Last checked 2026-06-22 transportChengdu Tianfu International Airport
Official airport reference for Chengdu arrivals, airport services, and ground transport checks
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport · Last checked 2026-06-22 cultureChengdu - UNESCO Creative Cities Network
Confirming Chengdu's UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy status
UNESCO · Last checked 2026-06-23 cityTravel in Shanghai - Shanghai Municipal Government
Official Shanghai travel information, attractions, events and visitor guidance
Shanghai Municipal Government · Last checked 2026-07-02 cityShanghai Travel Guide - Meet in Shanghai
Shanghai tourism promotion, attractions, performances, exhibitions and city travel information
Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism · Last checked 2026-07-02 cultureShanghai Museum
Official museum opening hours, locations, exhibitions and visitor notices
Shanghai Museum · Last checked 2026-07-02 transportShanghai Airport Official Website
Official airport information for Pudong and Hongqiao airports
Shanghai Airport Authority · Last checked 2026-07-02 transportShanghai Maglev - Shanghai Airport Official Information
Official Shanghai Maglev operating hours, ticket price and airport transfer information
Shanghai Airport Authority · Last checked 2026-07-02 cityForeigner's Guide to Travelling in Beijing
Official visitor guidance covering hotels, transportation, attractions, dining and practical travel services in Beijing
The People's Government of Beijing Municipality · Last checked 2026-07-23 ticketingBeijing Attraction Ticketing Guide
Official navigation portal for attraction ticketing and reservation channels in Beijing
The People's Government of Beijing Municipality · Last checked 2026-07-23 ticketingThe Palace Museum Official Ticketing
Current real-name booking, passport, advance-sale, entrance, exit and visitor-flow rules for the Forbidden City
The Palace Museum · Last checked 2026-07-23 ticketingThe Palace Museum International Visitor Information
English-language opening, ticketing, passport and visitor information for the Forbidden City
The Palace Museum · Last checked 2026-07-23 ticketingWhich Attractions in Beijing Still Require Reservations?
Official reservation channels and advance-booking guidance for Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum and major Beijing museums
The People's Government of Beijing Municipality · Last checked 2026-07-23 ticketingMutianyu Great Wall Notice to Visitors
Real-name reservations, passport entry, shuttle bus, cable car, ropeway, slide and visitor guidance for Mutianyu
Mutianyu Great Wall Scenic Area · Last checked 2026-07-23 transportBeijing Airport Visitor Information
Official updates and visitor guidance for Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport
The People's Government of Beijing Municipality · Last checked 2026-07-23 cityXi'an Attractions and Travel Information
Official travel context and attraction information for Xi'an
The People's Government of Shaanxi Province · Last checked 2026-07-28 ticketingEmperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum Ticket Information
Real-name reservations, passport entry, ticket scope, time slots and current visitor rules for the Terracotta Warriors
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum · Last checked 2026-07-28 cultureShaanxi History Museum Visitor Information
Current reservation, identity-document, admission, venue and visitor guidance for Shaanxi History Museum
Shaanxi History Museum · Last checked 2026-07-28 cultureXi'an City Wall
Official historical context, visitor gates and practical information for Xi'an City Wall
The People's Government of Shaanxi Province · Last checked 2026-07-28 cultureSilk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor
Official World Heritage context for Chang'an and the transnational Silk Roads corridor
UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Last checked 2026-07-28platform-official
Platform official source
payments
Pay in the Chinese Mainland with Alipay+
Platform-official Alipay+ guidance for overseas users paying in the Chinese mainland
Alipay+ · Last checked 2026-06-02 transportChina Railway 12306 English Site
Official train ticketing and railway travel reference for foreign visitors
China Railway 12306 · Last checked 2026-06-02 paymentsTencent enhances mobile payment experience for overseas users visiting China
Weixin Pay setup context for overseas users, international card linking, and visitor payment experience
Tencent / Weixin Pay · Last checked 2026-06-02 paymentsTencent announces initiatives to make inbound payments easier during APEC 2026
Recent Tencent context on PayPal World integration, international card fee waiver, overseas wallets, and multilingual guidance for visitors
Tencent / Weixin Pay · Last checked 2026-06-02 transport12306 China Railway English Account Center and Help
12306 English account, ticketing help, passenger account and booking support references
China Railway 12306 · Last checked 2026-06-02 internet-accessAbout eSIM on iPhone
General eSIM device support context for travelers preparing mobile data before arriving in China
Apple Support · Last checked 2026-06-02 apps-translationDownload languages to use offline in Google Translate
Platform guidance for offline translation preparation before travel
Google Translate Help · Last checked 2026-06-02 apps-mapsApple Maps availability and features
Platform context for map availability and travel navigation preparation
Apple · Last checked 2026-06-02 paymentsSet up Apple Pay
Official Apple Pay setup guidance, including China mainland notes and cross-border card context
Apple Support · Last checked 2026-06-15 paymentsLearn where to use Apple Pay
Official Apple Pay merchant acceptance and NFC use guidance, including China mainland notes
Apple Support · Last checked 2026-06-15 paymentsSupported countries for Google Wallet & tap to pay
Official Google Wallet country and tap-to-pay support context for traveler payment planning
Google Wallet Help · Last checked 2026-06-15 paymentsPay in store with Google Wallet
Official Google Wallet contactless in-store payment guidance for NFC-capable devices
Google Wallet Help · Last checked 2026-06-15media-context
Media context
discover-china
Living like a local trend enhances China Travel allure
Context for foreign traveler interest in local lifestyle experiences in China
People’s Daily Online · Last checked 2026-06-02 paymentsTencent to allow PayPal payments through WeChat networks in China
Recent media context on Tencent and PayPal World support for inbound tourist payment convenience; use Tencent official source as authority
Associated Press · Last checked 2026-06-02community-signal