This is my experience, not official advice
The guides on Scratch & Roam are what worked for me on my own trips, so far Christmas 2025 and Easter 2026 in China. Your trip can be different. Your passport, your bank, your phone, the city, the hotel and even the person on the desk can change what happens.
Rules change, so check before you fly
Visa and entry rules, arrival cards, payment apps, eSIMs, VPNs, trains and hotel deposits can change quickly, sometimes without warning. Each guide shows the date I checked it and the sources I used. Before you fly, open the official page again and look at the date.
Where to check
Use the official source for your passport and travel date: the embassy or government travel page, your airline, your hotel, your bank and the app itself. If an official source and one of my guides disagree, trust the official source and tell me so I can fix the guide.
Health, safety and emergencies
Nothing here is medical, legal or emergency advice. Any emergency numbers or contacts I mention are a starting point, not a plan. Arrange travel insurance, find out how to reach your own country's embassy, and ask your hotel or employer whether there is an English-speaking contact or an expat-friendly hospital where you are staying.
Prices and availability
Prices, opening times and availability change. Where I give a price, it is the price on the date shown on the page, with no promise it is still the same today.
Links and partners
Some links are affiliate links. If you book through one I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read the affiliate disclosure for which ones, and what we booked ourselves.
Something out of date?
Email me at scratchandroam@gmail.com or leave a comment on the video. When a rule changes I update the guide and its checked date. You can also read the privacy page and browse all China guides.