The China Field Guide — Everything First-Timers Actually Need to KnowBy Expedition EastPlanning your first trip to China? You've probably already noticed that China doesn't work like other countries. Google is blocked. Cash is basically useless. Your bank card only works at certain ATMs. Most apps you rely on daily won't function without a VPN — and you can't download a VPN once you're there.Most travel guides skim over this stuff. This one doesn't.The China Field Guide is a comprehensive, no-nonsense guide written by someone who actually lives in China, speaks Mandarin, and has navigated every single one of these challenges firsthand. No recycled advice from someone who visited Shanghai for a week. No affiliate-stuffed "top 10 VPN" lists from people who've never tested them behind the Great Firewall. Just practical, honest, experience-tested guidance that will save you hours of frustration and make your trip dramatically smoother.What's inside:Before You Go — Visa types and how to apply (including a visa agent recommendation that saves you the headache of doing it yourself), which VPNs actually work in China right now, how to set up an eSIM so you're connected the moment you land, which apps to download before you board, and a printable pre-trip checklist so nothing gets missed.Money & Payments — Step-by-step Alipay and WeChat Pay setup for foreign cards, because arriving in China without mobile payments is like arriving in a country where nobody accepts your currency. Plus ATM guidance, cash strategy, and currency exchange tips.Arriving in China — Airport navigation, how to fill out your digital arrival card before you land, getting to your hotel via DiDi, what to expect at hotel check-in as a foreigner, the 24-hour police registration rule that nobody tells you about, and a first-48-hours action plan so you're not scrambling.Getting Around — High-speed rail booking (and why the electronic gates won't read your passport), DiDi tiers explained honestly, metro systems and the passport verification catch, domestic flights, taxis, and long-distance buses.Daily Life — How restaurant QR code ordering works, dining etiquette, dietary restriction phrases in Chinese, safe QR code scanning habits, shopping and bargaining, pharmacy navigation, hospital access, air quality awareness, and a detailed scam breakdown so you recognize the tea ceremony scam, the art student scam, and the fake monk scam before they happen to you.Experiencing China — A regional guide so you understand what each part of the country offers, must-visit cities with suggested durations, lesser-known cities that most tourists never discover, food by region, photography dos and don'ts, connecting with locals, and what's actually worth bringing home.This guide is for you if:→ You're visiting mainland China for the first time and don't want to waste the first three days of your trip figuring out how things work→ You've read conflicting advice online and want a single, trustworthy source from someone who's actually on the ground→ You want to show up prepared — payments working, VPN installed, apps downloaded, and a clear plan for your first 48 hours→ You care about experiencing China beyond the tourist surface but don't know where to startThis guide is NOT for you if:→ You've lived in China and already know how everything works→ You're looking for a day-by-day itinerary (this is a how-to-navigate guide, not a tour plan)Format: Digital download — PDF and web-accessible. Read it on your laptop while planning, save it to your phone for offline access in China.Written by Expedition East — a China-based content creator with years of on-the-ground experience living, traveling, and navigating mainland China as a foreigner.