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China: Xi’an, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing
73
items Based on various cities and our experience living here as foreign expats (feel free to comment questions if there’s a section here you want to learn more about; I’ll add as I think of/discover more!)
Map
Sections
6
Helpful tips for navigating China
Xi’an
Shanghai
Beijing
Chengdu
Chongqing
Helpful tips for navigating China
Dianping is the Yelp here.
Meituan is for delivery of not just food, but groceries, medicine, flowers, alcohol…seriously feel free to abuse it (don’t abuse alcohol, I mean the convenience of the app!).
Rednote is kinda like instagram.
You don’t ...
Apps for China Travel (check caption and link)
If I weren’t living in China, Alipay would be preferred because you don’t need to link a Chinese debit card to it to verify…long story about WeChat. Anyways, download and add your cards before you go, enjoy the in app translation.
How to Use Alipay in China 2025: Alipay for Foreigners | Trip.com
You don’t need cash in China. Just use Alipay and WeChat. If living here, ask others for if they have a contact for something you’re looking for. It’s a “I have a guy for that” kinda culture.
How To Use WeChat (Weixin) — Complete Guide For First Timers
Didi is their taxi system - use the mini program in Alipay
Using Didi/Taxi via Alipay for Foreigners
The blue Alipay bikes have been easiest for us to use and have been in any Chinese city we’ve visited. A great way to get around.
How to Use Bike-sharing Apps in China as Foreigners: Yellow, Blue, Green
I use it for the metro, walking, and biking routes. I also like to star and save places here to visit.
AMap is a friendly map app for me
Reminder that Google only works if you have a vpn. I prefer the Google image translate if I can use it. Otherwise, have a back up. Also know that the scan feature on WeChat can translate pictures.
Translation apps
Mullvad and Astrill for us. Also don’t show off your vpn when you’re around China since most locals are restricted from using it. The govt turns the other cheek to foreigners using it. There’s a lot to explain here, just a tip!
Working VPNs for China - Read Me First!
Hi! is a hot pot chain in China. Don’t knock it just bc of that fact! Great experiences, food, and vibes here always.
Haidilao Hot Pot
She has great food recs and info from so many places in China!
Blondie in China
Xi’an
Near downtown, big and lovely to walk around. Metro exits right into the park
Qujiang Lake Park, Xi'an
Biased rec bc I live near here and visit it often. Line 8 and line 5 metro nearby. Bottom floor has Yuan Village which is a next level food court with tons of local foods.
Qujiang Creative Circle
This opened up in 2024/25 time. Beautiful to see and walk around, near the TV tower. Lots of western restaurant options. Across the street there’s more as well as a historic site with signs that have English translations!
Xi'an Tree creates a gathering point at Xi’an Centre Culture Business District
Sharky is a restaurant/bar next to the city wall. Great areas to walk around here. I think the live band is nightly starting at 9pm, Filipinos, nice people. Free pool table
【Sharky鲨鱼美式餐厅酒吧】foreign bar
Always a nice break to be around other English speakers! Good food, smoky bar, but good times
THE CRAIC IRISH PUB, Xi'an - Restaurant, Bar
There are 2 Commune locations in Xi’an. Both are great and have lots of other places nearby to walk around. One is bordering the wall, one is close enough to the pagoda.
COMMUNE （西安量子晨店） – Xianease
We love this area. Street food galore. Touristy, but historic. Option to pay to go up the stairs of the pagoda, but not necessary to enjoy the area. Joy City mall is here also. Go to the 4th floor to get some great views of Dayanta (translating to gi...
Big Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE ...
SO good. Look for the longer lines or steaming pot of pork. It’s made with one of two kinds of bread. 1 version is more bready, like a bagel. The other is flakier. I prefer the flaky one. If you have the option to add fresh peppers, even better!
Roujiamo: The Best Chinese Burgers In Xian, China | Lost Plate China
So delicious! Look for stalls where they’re slapping and stretching those heavenly noodles
Hunting for the Best Biang Biang Noodles in Xi’an – Where They’re More Common Than Convenience Stores! - Kosupa Travel
So delicious! Look for stalls where they’re slapping and stretching those heavenly noodles
Hunting for the Best Biang Biang Noodles in Xi’an – Where They’re More Common Than Convenience Stores! - Kosupa Travel
“Spicy cold skin noodles”, definitely worth ordering
Liangpi in Xian - Enjoy the Authentic Food Like Locals
Line 2 metro takes you to the drum and bell towers. You can buy a ticket for one or both. Bring your passport. I enjoyed both, but preferred the drum tower since there was some live music with ancient instrument musicians and a view of Muslim street
Xian Drum Tower: Opening Hours, Ticket, Fee, Performance, Map
Beautifully painted inside. It really is the center of town!
Bell Tower of Xi'an, the Geological Center of the City
This page knows more than I do about the food here! staple area to walk around, I like the narrow alleys
50 Must-Eat Street Food Dishes of Xi'An's Muslim Quarter
Gotta pay to play. We went during Chinese new year around February/March (depends on the lunar calendar), and they had a beautiful lantern display throughout the park that made it that much more amazing. Some cafes and such inside also
Tang Paradise
Nice and free to walk around. Lots of locals. Some play areas for kids. Mini children’s amusement park here for cheap!
Changle Park
Near here are some former apartment buildings that have art shops within them. Keep an eye for where people are walking in and out of to know where to go, enjoy exploring!
Arts Street (Shu Yuan Men) in Xian, China
Free, but must reserve your spot before you go
Shaanxi History Museum
Look for the site of the well in the big first building. There are 3 exhibits, all very interesting and a must! Enjoy the ice cream bars from anywhere notable in China😋
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum
Hiking is an option in Xi’an, but best to go with someone who knows where they’re going. Some areas are closed to foreigners. This is the most famous mountain in the area
Hua Shan hike from Xi'an
Amazing show! All in Chinese, so helpful to read the story before or after you go.
Song of Everlasting Sorrow Show, Tang Dynasty Dance in Xian
Shanghai
Great, trendy area to walk around
Shanghai Jing'an Area
Be aware of when Chinese national holidays are to avoid larger crowds. We went in March and the spring festival was nice with lots of flowers and decent weather. The light show at the end of the night is amazing! Small boardwalk area outside the park...
Shanghai Disneyland Park
We enjoyed staying here when we went to Disney. They provide a shuttle and it’s not far at all from the park. Costco is also just down the street, which we were excited about!
Courtyard Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone - Near Disney
If you want the chance to afford luxury, stay here. Or, just get a pool pass for the day and enjoy the view of the bund. Great bars and restaurants inside with live music nightly. Biggest bed we’ve ever seen, let alone slept in. Near the metro. Would...
W Shanghai - The Bund - Luxury Hotel With Cocktail Bar & Pools
I think it was hourly until 10pm that the ball light show happens. Definitely mesmerizing and fun to watch!
The Bund (Wai Tan) (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)
Not so much a garden as a touristy area, but definitely still worth it to walk through
Yu Garden
Did you really go to Shanghai if you didn’t try a soup dumpling?
The best xiaolongbao in Shanghai: where to eat soup dumplings in China’s biggest city
Area to walk around
Nanjing Road, Shanghai - China's Premier Shopping Pedestrian Street
Pay by QR code or go to the desk inside to get a ticket. Nice to walk through
Jing'an Temple - Shanghai
Very cool
Zhujiajiao Water Town: A Detail-Packed Guide from Shanghai
Beijing
Gotta go! My friend recommended this man and his wife from WeChat (ID: wxid_a026givfli9x22) and they were wonderful! Picked us up from our hotel early to beat the crowds, we were basically the first people on the wall that morning, so enjoyed the vie...
Great Wall of China | Definition, History, Length, Map, Location, & Facts
Must go! Very cool and artsy to walk around and get lost in
798 Art District - Art News - Artists - Musicians - 798district.com
GREAT beer! Locations throughout Beijing
Jing-A Brewery
Some of the best Thai food we’ve ever had, and we’ve been to Thailand.
正泰泰园THAI GARDEN(蓝色港湾店)
I think it’s mostly closed on Mondays. Need to book tickets in advance (through WeChat or a tour guide). Get there early.
Forbidden City
IMO there is nowhere central to stay in Beijing and it takes 45-60min to get anywhere using the metro. Plan accordingly!
AMA about Beijing subway system^^
They don’t call it Beijing Peking duck for nothing
[Request] Best Peking duck in Beijing.
Unlike other universals, there isn’t an app to check the ride times, only the WeChat mini program. It was so busy when we visited in August with people still on holiday. Fastpass, if you can afford it, or go when China isn’t on break.
Universal Beijing Resort
They have a small food cart outside their restaurant where they sell a crème brûlée donut that I still dream about
Mel's Drive-in | Universal Beijing Resort
We took a long metro to get over to their Olympic area to walk around. It was just okay, but we chose to not see it all so maybe we missed something.
National Stadium, Beijing - Herzog & de Meuron
Chengdu
China Adventures (Cindy: cacindy2) is helpful for all parts of China. We did a panda and Buddha tour and it was great! Note that the Buddha is hours outside of the city.
Leshan Giant Buddha, our tour guide rec in comments
There are 2 in the area. One reserve is further out in Dujiangyan but we loved it there. The other is closer to the city and larger, also a great experience!
For convenience, do the one closer in town. For an extra city and slightly less crowded, d...
Panda info : r/Chengdu
There are 2 in the area. One reserve is further out in Dujiangyan but we loved it there. The other is closer to the city and larger, also a great experience!
For convenience, do the one closer in town. For an extra city and slightly less crowded, d...
Panda info : r/Chengdu
Experience it more than once. Some places offer 4 broths, but 1-2 is normal. Some places have spice bars and others give it to you (dipping in garlic, sesame oil, and cilantro minimally).
Hot Pot in Chengdu
Really enjoyed visiting here! The water is SO blue and the history is really incredible.
Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Sichuan: Map
We enjoyed staying here. Cool street, good food, and many parks nearby. Also, an opera with lots of cool acts and an ancient tea house.
E-HOTEL - (Chengdu, China)
Classic to see the mask changing - still a mystery! Some hot pot places will even do it. The operas have a variety of fun acts.
Sichuan Opera Show | Chengdu Tour Guide
Great to walk around
WenShuFang Folk and Culture Street (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE ...
Another great area for walking
Kuanzhai Alley (宽窄巷子)
Somewhat underwhelming for us, cool to see but didn’t spend much time here.
Tianfu Square (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)
Didn’t make it out to the national park areas nearby but would have loved to!
Jinji Valley (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)
Chongqing
Such a cool experience and so delicious! Note that there weren’t any public bathrooms nearby, but you can always find one in a nearby metro station
The Chongqing Days: Bomb Shelter Hot Pot
Bring your passport for any Chinese attraction, just in case. Waited for a while to cross, cool, but not necessary.
Yangtze River Cableway
walk on the bridge at night or book a boat tour to get the best views. Nothing much going on inside the area, but very pretty to look at!
Hongya Cave (2025) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Reviews)
Great walking area
Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street
Loved it here
Ciqikou Ancient Town - Chongqing
Entertaining!
Chongqing’s Observation Deck + Skywalk | Trip.com Chongqing
Take line 2 to experience it, then go downstairs to watch!
A train that runs through a building 🙉😳Chongqing | Trip.com Chongqing
Wish we had more time to go to the national parks nearby chongqing, they look INCREDIBLE.
Visit Chongqing and Wulong: Authentic Tips from a Local Guide
Definitely the vibe of if you see a long line, it’s food worth waiting for.
Best local food and nightlife in Chongqing
Hilarious to not know about this until after experiencing it. Some buildings are more drastic than others! Easy to get confused😂
Which floor is the ground floor in Chongqing? #China #Chongqing #cyberpunk #重庆 #travel
Hilarious to not know about this until after experiencing it. Some buildings are more drastic than others! Easy to get confused😂
Which floor is the ground floor in Chongqing? #China #Chongqing #cyberpunk #重庆 #travel