Most first-time China travel mistakes are predictable and avoidable: underestimating payment setup complexity, overstuffing itineraries, booking hotels that don't accept foreigners, and assuming apps will just work. This is the page to read before you book anything.
First-timers consistently make the same 6-8 avoidable mistakes that derail otherwise well-planned trips.
The top mistakes are all fixable before departure: payment setup, hotel verification, itinerary pacing, app preparation
Read this before booking flights and hotels — not after
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Tell me your situation and what feels uncertain. Get practical steps that work in the real conditions, not just theory.