China Guide Blog
523 articles Β· Page 6 of 33
From Cowrie Shells to Paper Money: A History of Chinese Currency 2026
China invented paper money and ran a bronze coin standard for two thousand years. A walk through the history of Chinese currency, from cowrie shells to the modern renminbi.
Hainan's Free Trade Port Is Now Fully Operational: What It Means for Travelers 2026
Hainan's island-wide free trade port customs system is now in operation. Here is how duty-free shopping, tax rules and entry for foreign visitors work in 2026.
Birdwatching in China: Wetlands, Cranes and the World's Greatest Migration Highway 2026
China sits on the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, one of the planet's great bird migration routes. Where to go, when to go, and how to visit its wetlands responsibly in 2026.
The 24 Solar Terms: China's Ancient Calendar That Still Runs Daily Life 2026
The 24 solar terms are a 2,000-year-old Chinese calendar system still used to time farming, festivals, food and health. Here is what each term means and how to follow them in 2026.
Chinese Micro-Dramas (ηε§) 2026: The 90-Second Episodes Out-Earning the Box Office
Micro-dramas β vertical, 90-second Chinese series β now out-earn the country's cinema box office. A 2026 look at the genre, its pay-to-unlock model, and why it is going global.
How English Is Actually Taught in Chinese Schools: An Honest Look 2026
English is compulsory in Chinese schools, yet many graduates still struggle to speak it. Here is how the system really works, from primary class to gaokao and university.
Kaiping Diaolou 2026: The Fortified Towers China's Overseas Millionaires Built β And Left Behind
Kaiping Diaolou β 1,800 fortified towers in rural Guangdong built with overseas remittances a century ago. A 2026 guide to the UNESCO villages, the hybrid architecture, and how to get there.
The An Lushan Rebellion (755β763): The Forgotten War That Ended the Tang Golden Age
The An Lushan Rebellion of 755β763 killed a larger share of China's people than almost any war in history and ended the Tang golden age. The data, the causes, and why it still shapes China.
Cycling China's Countryside: The Greenway Revolution Opening Rural Heartland to Foreign Cyclists
China has built over 30,000 km of dedicated cycling greenways connecting villages, rice terraces, and historic towns. Here's everything foreign cyclists need to know in 2026.
China's Deep-Sea and Polar Science Surge 2026: New Icebreaker, Mariana Dive, and Billion-Dollar Ambitions
In 2026 China is pouring billions into the deep sea and the poles β a new PC2 icebreaker, sustained Mariana Trench dives, a fifth Antarctic station, and a fast-rising share of global polar papers.
China's High-Speed Rail Network Just Added 2,400 km of New Routes β Here's What Foreign Travelers Should Know
China Railway's 2026 network expansion added routes connecting smaller cities to major tourism hubs, with new ticketing features and luggage policies that directly benefit foreign passengers.
The Art of Paper Cutting (Jianzhi): A Traditional Chinese Craft Foreign Visitors Can Actually Learn in an Afternoon
China's 1,500-year-old jianzhi paper-cutting tradition is finding new life in hands-on workshops across Xi'an, Yangzhou, and Foshan, open to curious foreign tourists.
China's 'Quality Education' (Suzhi Jiaoyu) Push: Inside the Schools Replacing Rote Learning with Maker Labs
Beyond the Double Reduction cramming crackdown, China is pushing 'Quality Education' (Suzhi Jiaoyu): maker labs, coding, art, and labor classes. What the 2026 rollout looks like in real schools.
Chinese Nianhua: The 1,000-Year-Old New Year Woodblock Prints Hiding in Rural Homes (2026)
Nianhua β Chinese New Year woodblock prints β decorated ordinary homes for a thousand years. A 2026 look at the four great schools, the craft, and why a dying folk art is suddenly cool again.
How China's Gaokao Tutoring Gap Is Creating Unexpected Opportunities for International Students
Post-2021 tutoring bans reshaped China's education landscape. International students studying in China are now finding unique academic advantages β and a new tutoring market is emerging around them.
Ningxia Travel Guide 2026: Western Xia Tombs, the Yellow River's First Bend, and the Desert at Shapotou
The definitive 2026 guide to Ningxia β China's overlooked Hui Muslim heartland. Western Xia pyramids, Helan Mountain rock art, the Tengger Desert at Shapotou, and how to get there with real data.