[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site":3,"footer-latest":238,"article-blog-unlocking-china-what-every-traveler-should-be-aware-of":271},{"chrome":4,"settings":149,"website":236},{"siteHeader":5,"siteMenu":47,"siteFooter":68,"pageTransition":126,"notFoundScreen":129},{"key":6,"section_template":6,"values":7,"source":46},"siteHeader",{"logo":8,"name":10,"tagline":12,"brandAriaLabel":13,"navAriaLabel":14,"navItems":15,"showStatus":40,"statusText":41,"ctaButton":42,"menuOpenLabel":45,"showProgress":40},{"url":9,"alt":10,"width":11,"height":11},"\u002Fbrand\u002Fa-mark-current.svg","Jesther Bas",120,"Digital · Photo · Code · Road","Jesther Bas, home","Primary",[16,20,24,28,32,36],{"label":17,"url":18,"number":19},"Home","\u002F","01",{"label":21,"url":22,"number":23},"About","\u002Fabout","02",{"label":25,"url":26,"number":27},"Creative Writings","\u002Fjournal","03",{"label":29,"url":30,"number":31},"Editorial","\u002Fnews","04",{"label":33,"url":34,"number":35},"Digital Services","\u002Fwork","05",{"label":37,"url":38,"number":39},"Contact Us","\u002Fcontact","06",true,"Open for projects",{"label":43,"url":38,"newTab":44},"Let's talk",false,"Open menu","template",{"key":48,"section_template":48,"values":49,"source":46},"siteMenu",{"dialogLabel":50,"closeLabel":51,"navAriaLabel":52,"navItems":53,"showEmail":40,"showSocials":40},"Site menu","Close menu","Mobile",[54,56,58,61,63,65,66],{"label":17,"url":18,"number":55},"00",{"label":57,"url":34,"number":19},"Work",{"label":59,"url":60,"number":23},"Photos","\u002Fphotos",{"label":62,"url":26,"number":27},"Journal",{"label":64,"url":30,"number":31},"News",{"label":21,"url":22,"number":35},{"label":67,"url":38,"number":39},"Contact",{"key":69,"section_template":69,"values":70,"source":46},"siteFooter",{"ctaIndexLabel":71,"ctaEyebrow":72,"ctaTitle":73,"ctaUrl":38,"copyLabel":74,"copyMessage":75,"blurb":76,"clockLabel":77,"clockTimezone":78,"clockOffsetLabel":79,"exploreTitle":80,"exploreLinks":81,"latestTitle":94,"latestSource":95,"latestFallback":99,"socialsTitle":112,"copyright":113,"legalAriaLabel":114,"legalLinks":115,"backToTopLabel":124,"wordmark":125},"(Next)","Have an idea, a trip or a system in mind?","Let's build something worth remembering.","Copy","Email copied","Full-stack engineer, photographer and slow traveler. Building systems by day, chasing light the rest of the time.","Local time","Asia\u002FManila","· GMT+8","Explore",[82,84,86,88,90,92],{"link":83},{"label":57,"url":34,"newTab":44},{"link":85},{"label":59,"url":60,"newTab":44},{"link":87},{"label":62,"url":26,"newTab":44},{"link":89},{"label":64,"url":30,"newTab":44},{"link":91},{"label":21,"url":22,"newTab":44},{"link":93},{"label":67,"url":38,"newTab":44},"Latest stories",{"source":96,"category":97,"limit":98},"blog","",3,[100,104,108],{"link":101},{"label":102,"url":103,"newTab":44},"Mae Hong Son Loop, 8 days","\u002Fjournal\u002Fthe-mae-hong-son-loop-in-8-days",{"link":105},{"label":106,"url":107,"newTab":44},"Slow boat on the Mekong","\u002Fjournal\u002Fthe-taste-of-the-mekong-slow-life-slow-time-on-a-slow-boat-in-laos",{"link":109},{"label":110,"url":111,"newTab":44},"Egypt visa guide","\u002Fjournal\u002Fpharaohs-permit-your-essential-guide-to-the-egypt-visa","Elsewhere","Jesther Digital. All rights reserved.","Legal",[116,120],{"link":117},{"label":118,"url":119,"newTab":44},"Privacy policy","\u002Fprivacy",{"link":121},{"label":122,"url":123,"newTab":44},"Terms","\u002Fterms","Back to top ↑","Jesther",{"key":127,"section_template":127,"values":128,"source":46},"pageTransition",{"enabled":40},{"key":130,"section_template":130,"values":131,"source":46},"notFoundScreen",{"backgroundImage":132,"indexLabel":137,"eyebrow":138,"title":139,"lead":140,"primaryButton":141,"secondaryButton":143,"errorIndexLabel":145,"errorEyebrow":146,"errorTitle":147,"errorLead":148,"hideFooter":40},{"url":133,"alt":134,"width":135,"height":136},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F15\u002F90412a611b4846de90c771b21e418dd0_20260112_012224.jpg","Flags at a border checkpoint",4000,2252,"(404)","Wrong turn","Off the map.","This page doesn't exist, or it moved. Even good travelers get lost sometimes.",{"label":142,"url":18,"newTab":44},"Back home",{"label":144,"url":26,"newTab":44},"Read the journal","({code})","Something broke","Not your fault.","This page ran into a problem on my side. Try again in a moment, or head back home.",{"profile":150,"seo":169,"ui":179,"articleSettings":185},{"email":151,"socials":152},"hello@jestherbas.com",[153,157,161,165],{"network":154,"url":155,"icon":156},"Facebook","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.facebook.com\u002Fjestherdigital\u002F","facebook",{"network":158,"url":159,"icon":160},"Instagram","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fjestherthen","instagram",{"network":162,"url":163,"icon":164},"LinkedIn","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.linkedin.com\u002Fin\u002Fjesther-bas","linkedin",{"network":166,"url":167,"icon":168},"X (Twitter)","https:\u002F\u002Fx.com\u002Fjestherthen","x",{"siteName":10,"titleTemplate":170,"defaultDescription":171,"defaultOgImage":172,"twitterHandle":174,"personName":10,"jobTitle":175,"organizationName":176,"locale":177,"themeColor":178},"%s — Jesther Bas","Professional web developer and designer offering remote, high-quality digital solutions worldwide. Reliable, efficient, and location-independent services.",{"url":173,"alt":97},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fwebsite-og-images\u002F1\u002Ff5a0117217dd4268952c1306a25edb4c_20251221_144724.jpg","@jestherthen","Full-stack engineer","Jesther Digital","en","#0a0a0a",{"skipLinkLabel":180,"breadcrumbAriaLabel":181,"copiedMessage":182,"copyFailedMessage":183,"emailCopiedMessage":75,"linkCopiedMessage":184},"Skip to content","Breadcrumb","Copied to clipboard","Press Ctrl+C to copy","Link copied",{"breadcrumbHomeLabel":17,"breadcrumbJournalLabel":62,"breadcrumbNewsLabel":64,"breadcrumbAriaLabel":181,"authorName":10,"publishedLabel":186,"byLabel":187,"showReadingTime":44,"readingTimeLabel":188,"progressLabel":189,"tocTitle":190,"shareLabel":191,"shareFacebookLabel":192,"shareXLabel":193,"shareLinkedinLabel":194,"copyLinkLabel":195,"copyLinkToast":184,"factboxIcon":196,"authorCardLabel":197,"authorCardTitle":198,"authorBio":199,"authorAvatar":200,"authorLink":202,"postNavLabel":204,"previousLabel":205,"nextLabel":206,"commentsTitle":207,"commentsIntro":208,"commentNameLabel":209,"commentNameError":210,"commentEmailLabel":211,"commentEmailHint":212,"commentEmailError":213,"commentBodyLabel":214,"commentBodyError":215,"commentButton":216,"commentSendingLabel":217,"commentSuccess":218,"commentErrorMessage":219,"relatedIndexLabel":220,"relatedEyebrow":221,"relatedTitle":222,"relatedLink":223,"inShortTitle":225,"sourcesTitle":226,"staleNotice":227,"staleAfterDays":228,"newsNavLabel":229,"olderLabel":230,"newerLabel":231,"moreNewsIndexLabel":220,"moreNewsEyebrow":232,"moreNewsTitle":233,"moreNewsLink":234},"Published","By","{minutes} min read","Reading progress","On this page","Share","Share on Facebook","Share on X","Share on LinkedIn","Copy link","map","About the author","Written by Jesther Bas","Full-stack engineer and photographer who works from wherever the Wi-Fi holds up. Writes about slow travel, visas and building things.",{"url":97,"alt":97,"width":201,"height":201},0,{"label":203,"url":22,"newTab":44},"More about me","More stories","Previous","Next","Comments","Have a tip or a question? Leave a comment.","Name","Please enter your name.","Email","Never shown publicly.","Enter a valid email address.","Comment","Please write a comment.","Post comment","Sending…","Thanks! Your comment is awaiting approval.","Something went wrong. Please try again.","(More)","Keep reading","More from {location}.",{"label":224,"url":26,"newTab":44},"All stories","In short","Sources","This update is from {date}. Details may have changed since.",90,"More news","Older","Newer","Other updates","Recent news.",{"label":235,"url":30,"newTab":44},"All news",{"customScripts":97,"primaryColor":237},"#921709",{"source":239,"total":240,"items":241},"cms",13,[242,252,261],{"type":96,"slug":243,"url":244,"title":245,"excerpt":246,"category":247,"categorySlug":248,"date":249,"image":250,"featured":44},"the-taste-of-mekong-river-from-slow-life-slow-time-on-a-slowboat-in-laos","\u002Fjournal\u002Fthe-taste-of-mekong-river-from-slow-life-slow-time-on-a-slowboat-in-laos","The Taste of Mekong River from Slow life slow time on a slowboat in Laos","Experience slow travel on Laos' Mekong River. Discover how to take the scenic slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang with local insights and travel tips.","Travel and Guide","travel-and-guide","2025-02-08",{"url":251,"alt":245},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F19\u002Ff6d2dbb19c6f452c8293e79283f0c748_20260112_013709.jpg",{"type":96,"slug":253,"url":111,"title":254,"excerpt":255,"category":256,"categorySlug":257,"date":258,"image":259,"featured":44},"pharaohs-permit-your-essential-guide-to-the-egypt-visa","Pharaoh Permit Your Essential Guide to the Egypt Visa","Complete guide to Egypt tourist visas: visa on arrival countries, e-visa eligibility, embassy requirements. Get your visa for the Pyramids today!","Visa","visa","2025-02-06",{"url":260,"alt":254},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F18\u002F3bfc22c1d2e64008b9d7343518cd7f7e_20260112_013406.jpg",{"type":96,"slug":262,"url":263,"title":264,"excerpt":265,"category":266,"categorySlug":267,"date":268,"image":269,"featured":44},"unlocking-china-what-every-traveler-should-be-aware-of","\u002Fjournal\u002Funlocking-china-what-every-traveler-should-be-aware-of","Unlocking China What Every Traveler Should Be Aware Of","Discover essential China travel tips: SIM cards, VPN access, payment apps, and regional insights. Plan your adventure with our expert guide. Start exploring!","China Travels","china-travels","2024-09-24",{"url":270,"alt":264},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F16\u002F35359db786d448eaa0af5dccb14871cd_20260112_012633.jpg",{"source":239,"article":272,"previous":303,"next":306,"related":307,"commentCount":201},{"type":96,"slug":262,"url":263,"title":264,"excerpt":265,"category":266,"categorySlug":267,"date":268,"image":273,"featured":44,"id":275,"lead":265,"location":97,"author":10,"authorAvatar":97,"coverImage":276,"coverCaption":97,"toc":278,"body":300,"tags":301,"commentsIntro":97,"relatedTitle":97,"staleNotice":97,"seoTitle":274,"seoDescription":265,"canonical":97,"ogImage":270,"updated":302,"allowComments":40},{"url":270,"alt":274},"China Travel Guide: Essential Tips for Every Visitor",16,{"url":277,"alt":274},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Fbanners\u002F16\u002F0b02e934bf3c4f42abf500c2ac2170a9_20260112_012728.jpg",[279,282,285,288,291,294,297],{"id":280,"label":281},"which-sim-card-to-choose","Which SIM Card to Choose?",{"id":283,"label":284},"payments","Payments",{"id":286,"label":287},"ride-hailing-services","Ride-Hailing Services",{"id":289,"label":290},"shared-rides","Shared Rides",{"id":292,"label":293},"transportation-payments","Transportation Payments",{"id":295,"label":296},"accommodation","Accommodation",{"id":298,"label":299},"food-recommendations","Food Recommendations","\u003Cp>Exploring China can be quite challenging if you don’t have any knowledge about the country. You must be equipped with information to make your journey easier. I will do my best to provide you with the best information I can, all based on my personal experiences exploring and wandering through amazing Mainland China.\u003Cbr>China has a multitude of locations to visit, as the country is divided into different regions such as Xinjiang, Tibet, Yunnan, Sichuan, and more. Each region offers a unique set of activities, so it’s essential to plan well. However, it can also be rewarding to explore the area without a strict itinerary—just follow your instincts.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"which-sim-card-to-choose\">\u003Cstrong>Which SIM Card to Choose?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>China Mobile is the best among the three major network providers—China Unicom, China Telecom, and China Mobile. However, there are some drawbacks to these networks. If you plan to visit the Xinjiang region, I recommend using China Unicom; otherwise, China Mobile is the best option for most areas. (I am not paid to advertise this; it's just my personal opinion based on my experience.)\u003Cbr>Before you dive into your adventure in China, you should know that accessing the World Wide Web can be difficult, as many services are blocked. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter (now known as X), Instagram, TikTok, and even Google are not accessible inside China. However, you can still manage to access these services with the help of a VPN. Be aware that many larger VPN companies like NordVPN and ExpressVPN may be restricted in China. I won’t disclose the VPN I used, as it might lead to blocking issues, but feel free to contact me, and I will be happy to assist you with your trip.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"payments\">\u003Cstrong>Payments\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>Carrying a lot of cash can be cumbersome, especially when you have to count your money after each purchase. When you arrive in China, it's essential to download Alipay and WeChat, which are the primary payment platforms. You can ask for assistance from tourist information centers in China to help you set these up. Cashless payments are widely accepted, so you won’t need to carry too much cash as long as you have internet access and your phone charged (which is necessary). Additionally, you'll need a Chinese phone number for fast verification with WeChat and Alipay.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"ride-hailing-services\">\u003Cstrong>Ride-Hailing Services\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>Uber does not operate in China; instead, you can use local services such as Didi or Meituan for food delivery, car rentals, and carpooling.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"shared-rides\">\u003Cstrong>Shared Rides\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>Shared rides, such as electric bicycles or manual bicycles, can be convenient for exploring the city. You can use Meituan, Didi, or Alipay for these services, but you won’t necessarily need to download those apps if you have WeChat, as it integrates many functions. WeChat offers a variety of mini-programs, but remember to disable your VPN while using these mini-programs.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fuploads\u002Fmedia\u002Farticle\u002F1726682739_jdigital-image-JBD0371703717.JPG\" alt=\"China Shared Bikes\">\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"transportation-payments\">\u003Cstrong>Transportation Payments\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>For train and bus travel, Alipay will be extremely useful. Forget about buying train tickets or carrying cash for bus fares. Just open Alipay, navigate to the \"Transport\" function, and a QR code will be generated for you. Simply let the bus or train machine scan the code—easy, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"accommodation\">\u003Cstrong>Accommodation\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>Finding accommodation can be a bit tricky for foreigners, as many booking applications are in Chinese. However, you can use apps like Ctrip, Qunar Travel, and also \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002FTrip.com\">Trip.com\u003C\u002Fa> for reservations, on the other hand, you can still use regular applications like Agoda, \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002FBooking.com\">Booking.com\u003C\u002Fa>, and Traveloka but these applications will give you limited options when choosing an accommodation.  Always check if the accommodation accepts foreigners. Additionally, China has issued a notice stating that accommodations and hotels in China must not reject any foreigners who wish to check-in. Here’s a breakdown of the relevant information:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Application: \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ctrip.com\u002F\">Ctrip\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cbr>Application: \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.qunar.com\u002F\">Qunar Travel\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cbr>China's Notice for Accommodation and Hotels information can be found here: \u003Ca target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fm.weibo.cn\u002Fstatus\u002F5038055805682382?sourceType=weixin&from=10E5295060&wm=9006_2001&featurecode=newtitle&s_channel=4&s_trans=2868229490_5038055805682382&jumpfrom=weibocom\">Notice from China\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong>\u003Cbr> \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fuploads\u002Fmedia\u002Farticle\u002F1725960482_001sJxoygy1hq25tuigqbj60zu1z9qmy02.jpg\" alt=\"China Notice\">\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\" id=\"food-recommendations\">\u003Cstrong>\u003Cbr>Food Recommendations\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\u003Cp>This might be the most challenging part of the article, which will define the different kinds of food you should find and expect while traveling to the country but let me try to elaborate on each of the famous foods that you must try:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Col>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Beijing:\u003Cbr>Peking Duck: Famous for its crispy skin and succulent meat, often served with thin pancakes, hoisin sauce, and sliced vegetables.\u003Cbr>Jianbing: A popular street food breakfast item, these savory Chinese crepes are filled with eggs, scallions, cilantro, and various sauces.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Sichuan:\u003Cbr>Mapo Tofu: A spicy dish made with tofu, ground pork, and Sichuan peppercorns, known for its unique numbing spiciness.\u003Cbr>Chuan Chuan (Skewered Meats): Various meats and vegetables are grilled on skewers and served with spicy dipping sauces.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Yunnan:\u003Cbr>Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles: A famous dish of rice noodles served in a rich broth with an array of toppings, including meat, vegetables, and raw eggs.\u003Cbr>Yunnan Ham: A cured ham known for its rich flavor, often served in thin slices as an appetizer or ingredient in other dishes.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Xinjiang:\u003Cbr>Lamb Kebabs: Grilled skewers of marinated lamb, seasoned with cumin and chili, reflecting the region's strong Muslim influence.\u003Cbr>Nang (Flatbread): A traditional leavened flatbread, commonly served alongside meals, often enjoyed with stews or kebabs.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Guangzhou (Cantonese):\u003Cbr>Dim Sum: A variety of small dishes, including dumplings, buns, and pastries, traditionally enjoyed with tea.\u003Cbr>Char Siu (BBQ Pork): Sweet, glazed pork that is roasted until caramelized and often served with rice or noodles.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Shanghai:\u003Cbr>Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao): Delicate dumplings filled with savory broth and meat, usually steamed to perfection.\u003Cbr>Sheng Jian Bao: Pan-fried buns that are crispy on the bottom and filled with juicy pork and broth.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Hunan:\u003Cbr>Spicy Chicken (Chuanchuan): Diced chicken cooked with ground chili, garlic, and other spices, known for its intense flavors and heat.\u003Cbr>Steamed Fish Head with Diced Hot Peppers: A signature dish featuring fish head steamed with a generous amount of hot chili peppers for a spicy kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cp>Fujian:\u003Cbr>Buddha Jumps Over the Wall: A luxurious soup made with fish, seafood, chicken, and Chinese herbs, treasured for its complex flavors.\u003Cbr>Oyster Omelet: A popular street food dish made with eggs, oysters, and sweet potato starch, often served with a savory sauce.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Fol>\u003Cp>Each region in China has it's culinary traditions, making the food culture rich and diverse. Be sure to try local specialties wherever you go!\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fuploads\u002Fmedia\u002Farticle\u002F1726682840_jdigital-image-JBD0334403344.JPG\" alt=\"Xinjiang\">\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>",[],"2026-01-31",{"title":304,"url":305},"New ETA System for the visa-exempt traveler to Thailand","\u002Fjournal\u002Fnew-eta-system-for-the-visa-exempt-traveler-to-thailand",{"title":254,"url":111},[308,312,316],{"type":96,"slug":243,"url":244,"title":245,"excerpt":246,"category":309,"categorySlug":97,"date":97,"image":311,"featured":44},{"id":310,"name":247,"slug":248},1,{"url":251,"alt":245},{"type":96,"slug":253,"url":111,"title":254,"excerpt":255,"category":313,"categorySlug":97,"date":97,"image":315,"featured":44},{"id":314,"name":256,"slug":257},4,{"url":260,"alt":254},{"type":96,"slug":317,"url":305,"title":304,"excerpt":318,"category":319,"categorySlug":97,"date":97,"image":320,"featured":44},"new-eta-system-for-the-visa-exempt-traveler-to-thailand","New Thailand ETA system starts Dec 1, 2024 for 93 visa-exempt countries. Get 60-day stay + 30-day extension. Check if you need to apply.",{"id":310,"name":247,"slug":248},{"url":321,"alt":304},"https:\u002F\u002Fcloud.codevast.com\u002Fnews-articles\u002F1\u002Ffeatured\u002F17\u002Fa18b869138434a1f9205cbc280b96de7_20260112_013044.jpg"]