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How to Visit China Without a Tour: Complete Travel Guide
How to Visit China Without a Tour: Independent Travel Guide
In this episode of the BoldlyGo Podcast, DeAndre Coke sits down with Stefan Krasowski, an experienced points and miles traveler who has visited every country in the world, lived in China for more than a decade, and traveled to every Chinese province. Stefan shares how studying Mandarin from a young...
I have visited every country in the world, lived in China for more than a decade, and traveled to every Chinese province. Studying Mandarin from a young age eventually led me to China, and living there introduced me to the points and miles world. Many assumptions American travelers have about visiting China do not match the experience on the ground. From choosing where to go to understanding how the country has changed for international visitors, here is a practical guide for exploring China independently.
One of the biggest challenges for points travelers is actually getting to China. With many pre-pandemic routes still missing, you may need to get creative with positioning flights and connections through places like Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Look for award availability on airlines including EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air, understand partner availability, and plan far in advance. Once in China, set up essential apps including Alipay, WeChat, and DiDi. Physical credit cards and cash have largely disappeared from everyday transactions, so foreign visitors need to navigate China's mobile-first ecosystem.
For domestic travel, China's high speed rail network can often be a better option than flying. Avoid overpaying for domestic airfare, and find exceptional hotel value across Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, and IHG. Small details make a major difference on a first trip, from translation tools and local transportation to hotel quirks and cultural differences.
Forget the group tours—this episode of the BoldlyGo Podcast unlocks the secrets of exploring China on your own. Stefan Krasowski, a world traveler who has lived in China for more than a decade and visited every province, shatters American assumptions and reveals how to plan an independent adventure. He covers creative award routing through Taiwan and Japan, essential mobile tools like Alipay and WeChat, why high-speed rail beats flying, and insider hotel hacks at Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, and IHG. If you've dreamed of China but thought it required a tour guide, this practical guide will change your mind.
I have visited every country in the world, lived in China for more than a decade, and traveled to every Chinese province. Studying Mandarin from a young age eventually led me to China, and living there introduced me to the points and miles world. Many assumptions American travelers have about visiting China do not match the experience on the ground. From choosing where to go to understanding how the country has changed for international visitors, here is a practical guide for exploring China independently.
One of the biggest challenges for points travelers is actually getting to China. With many pre-pandemic routes still missing, you may need to get creative with positioning flights and connections through places like Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. Look for award availability on airlines including EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Korean Air, understand partner availability, and plan far in advance. Once in China, set up essential apps including Alipay, WeChat, and DiDi. Physical credit cards and cash have largely disappeared from everyday transactions, so foreign visitors need to navigate China's mobile-first ecosystem.
For domestic travel, China's high speed rail network can often be a better option than flying. Avoid overpaying for domestic airfare, and find exceptional hotel value across Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, and IHG. Small details make a major difference on a first trip, from translation tools and local transportation to hotel quirks and cultural differences.
Host DeAndre Ko interviews Stefan Krosowski, who says he studied Chinese from a young age, lived in China for more than a decade and visited every Chinese province. They discuss how Americans may feel intimidated by China, and Stefan says that after the pandemic independent travel has become easier and more accessible, with licensed guides at major sites that can be added to a do-it-yourself trip. For a first 10-day visit he suggests choosing a region or two at most, and points to Chengdu, Sichuan and neighboring Chongqing, noting that Beijing in summer is very hot. He also mentions Gansu as a less-visited province, and Fujian and Guangdong for travelers with southern Chinese heritage. On reaching China with points and miles, he says many pre-pandemic flights have not resumed, direct US, Canada and Mexico awards are scarce, and travelers often position through places such as Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong or Japan; he mentions Cathay Pacific, EVA and Japan Airlines, advance booking and separate tickets. On arrival, he stresses the electronic arrival card and the importance of setting up Alipay or WeChat Pay and DiDi before going, entering your name as it appears in the passport's machine-readable lines, and warns that Google Maps is not updated for China while DiDi can work as a map. For getting around, he says domestic flights are often delayed and airports can be remote, while bullet trains are timely with fixed seating; he explains that big cities have several train stations, that train codes such as D indicate faster trains, and that tickets are sold a few weeks ahead, with popular routes released around 10:00 a.m. China time. He says international chain hotels often offer strong value, but some new hotels sit in development zones away from tourist areas, air conditioning may be limited, and pools require a swimming cap. On language, he says many people under 50 learned English in school and are more comfortable reading and writing than speaking, translation apps help, and a yes may only mean the person heard you, so keep questions short and clear.
In a podcast interview, host DeAndre Ko talks with Stefan Krosowski, who has lived in China for more than a decade and visited every Chinese province, about visiting China independently. Stefan says independent travel has become more accessible, and covers where to go on a first 10-day trip, why direct award flights from North America are scarce, and the apps to set up before arrival: Alipay or WeChat Pay, and DiDi. He compares high-speed trains with domestic flights, explains how Chinese train stations and ticket releases work, describes hotel value and quirks, and shares advice on language barriers.
A podcast guide to visiting China independently: first-trip regions, apps and payments, bullet trains versus flights, hotels and language tips.
How to Visit China Independently: Apps, Trains and Hotels
11:32 Major tourist sites in China have officially trained and licensed guides next to the ticket office, and Stefan says they are very affordable. He suggests adding a guide or driver to an independent trip when you want depth at one site.
30:34 Stefan says the electronic arrival card is the most important item to complete before you travel. You still need a visa unless your country and type of travel qualify for a visa waiver.
31:19 Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay for mobile payments, plus DiDi for rides, before arriving. Stefan says many stores and restaurants only scan payment codes, and physical credit cards are now limited to some high-end restaurants and hotels.
32:37 When an app asks for your name, enter it the way it appears in the machine-readable lines at the bottom of your passport photo page, which puts your last name first. Stefan says this is where many people get stuck.
34:40 Google Maps is not updated or supported in China, so directions and road information may be out of date or wrong. Stefan suggests using it for research and hotel photos, and using DiDi as a mapping tool.
43:13 Big Chinese cities often have more than one train station. The older station mostly serves local trains, while fast bullet trains use newer stations farther out, so check which station you are booking.
44:29 Stefan says he usually picks a bullet train over a flight when the train ride is 5 hours or less, because getting to and waiting at the airport adds time. Tickets are digital and the passport is scanned at the gate.
45:12 Train tickets are usually sold only a few weeks ahead, and popular routes are released around 10:00 a.m. Chinese time. Stefan says peak business routes such as Beijing to Shanghai can sell out quickly.
47:12 Choose hotels by location rather than only by brand. Stefan says some new international hotels sit in business development zones, citing a Wuhan example, that are far from the traditional downtown tourists want.
49:00 If you plan to swim anywhere in China, including a hotel pool, you need a swimming cap, or the pool will make you buy one. Stefan also suggests booking rooms with windows that open because air conditioning may be limited.
54:50 Google Translate is not supported in China and only partly works on a phone network, so Stefan says other translation apps such as Bing Translate can help. He adds that people are very willing to help foreign visitors.
57:56 Stefan says a yes in China often does not mean yes and can just mean the person heard you. Keep questions brief and clear, and let people answer in a way that shows they understood.
11:32 Major tourist sites in China have officially trained and licensed guides next to the ticket office, and Stefan says they are very affordable. He suggests adding a guide or driver to an independent trip when you want depth at one site.
30:34 Stefan says the electronic arrival card is the most important item to complete before you travel. You still need a visa unless your country and type of travel qualify for a visa waiver.
31:19 Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay for mobile payments, plus DiDi for rides, before arriving. Stefan says many stores and restaurants only scan payment codes, and physical credit cards are now limited to some high-end restaurants and hotels.
32:37 When an app asks for your name, enter it the way it appears in the machine-readable lines at the bottom of your passport photo page, which puts your last name first. Stefan says this is where many people get stuck.
34:40 Google Maps is not updated or supported in China, so directions and road information may be out of date or wrong. Stefan suggests using it for research and hotel photos, and using DiDi as a mapping tool.
43:13 Big Chinese cities often have more than one train station. The older station mostly serves local trains, while fast bullet trains use newer stations farther out, so check which station you are booking.
44:29 Stefan says he usually picks a bullet train over a flight when the train ride is 5 hours or less, because getting to and waiting at the airport adds time. Tickets are digital and the passport is scanned at the gate.
45:12 Train tickets are usually sold only a few weeks ahead, and popular routes are released around 10:00 a.m. Chinese time. Stefan says peak business routes such as Beijing to Shanghai can sell out quickly.
47:12 Choose hotels by location rather than only by brand. Stefan says some new international hotels sit in business development zones, citing a Wuhan example, that are far from the traditional downtown tourists want.
49:00 If you plan to swim anywhere in China, including a hotel pool, you need a swimming cap, or the pool will make you buy one. Stefan also suggests booking rooms with windows that open because air conditioning may be limited.
54:50 Google Translate is not supported in China and only partly works on a phone network, so Stefan says other translation apps such as Bing Translate can help. He adds that people are very willing to help foreign visitors.
57:56 Stefan says a yes in China often does not mean yes and can just mean the person heard you. Keep questions brief and clear, and let people answer in a way that shows they understood.
0:33 Meeting guest Stefan Krosowski
6:45 Why China feels intimidating
9:33 Independent travel versus a tour
13:36 Where to go on a first trip
19:01 Getting to China with points
30:09 Essential apps before arrival
39:12 Trains versus domestic flights
45:35 Hotels and points in China
52:46 Traveling without speaking Mandarin
1:04:44 Final thoughts on travel
0:33 Meeting guest Stefan Krosowski
6:45 Why China feels intimidating
9:33 Independent travel versus a tour
13:36 Where to go on a first trip
19:01 Getting to China with points
30:09 Essential apps before arrival
39:12 Trains versus domestic flights
45:35 Hotels and points in China
52:46 Traveling without speaking Mandarin
1:04:44 Final thoughts on travel
China independent travelChina travel appsAlipay and WeChat PayChina high-speed railChina hotels pointsFirst trip to ChinaDiDi in ChinaChina travel podcastCan you visit China without joining a tour?
Stefan says opportunities for independent travel have increased tremendously, even for first-time visitors. He notes licensed guides at major sites can be added to a do-it-yourself trip and are more flexible than a tour group.
Which apps should you set up before arriving in China?
Stefan says the base level is Alipay or WeChat Pay for mobile payments and DiDi for rides. He recommends setting them up in advance, because verification can take a day or two.
Do you need cash or credit cards in China?
Stefan says cash is almost never used and physical credit cards are limited to some high-end restaurants and hotels. He links a foreign card to the payment app instead.
Should you take the train or fly within China?
Stefan says domestic flights are commonly delayed and some airports are remote. He prefers a bullet train when the ride is 5 hours or less, with fixed seats and a passport scan at the gate.
Is Google Maps reliable in China?
No. Stefan says Google Maps is not updated or supported in China, so use it only for research and use DiDi or another local map for directions.
What helps when you do not speak Mandarin?
Stefan says many people under 50 learned English in school and read it more comfortably than they speak it. He suggests translation apps, short clear questions and not assuming that a yes means full understanding.
