Free Travel Tools
Every free tool, in one place
18 free, no-sign-up tools that run in your browser — to plan your trip and handle the small things once you land. No app to install, no account to make.
Plan & track
3 toolsChina Trip Planner
Build a day-by-day offline itinerary, export to PDF or text unlimited, and share it all with one link. Free, no sign-up, your data stays on your device.
Open tool → PlanDeparture Calculator
Enter your flight time and city, and see exactly when you should leave for the airport so you never miss a flight.
Open tool → PlanChina Travel Budget Calculator
Set your trip length, group size, cities and travel style to get an instant budget range, per-person cost and a category breakdown in 11 currencies.
Open tool →Visa & entry
3 toolsVisa Checker
Answer two questions and see in 2 minutes whether you need a visa or already qualify for visa-free or transit entry.
Open tool → EntryArrival Card
Fill China's digital arrival card before you fly, so you're not doing it on a screen in a queue at the airport.
Open tool → EntryStay Registration
See who must register your stay with the police within 24 hours of checking in, and how to do it without stress.
Open tool →Money & payments
4 toolsAlipay Setup
Bind your foreign card to Alipay step by step and pay by scanning a code almost anywhere in China.
Open tool → MoneyWeChat Pay Setup
Get WeChat Pay working on your phone so you can scan-and-pay at shops, taxis and small vendors.
Open tool → MoneyCurrency Converter
Convert RMB to your home currency with live 2026 rates, so you always know what something really costs.
Open tool → MoneyTax Refund Guide
See what tourist purchases you can claim back, the minimums, and where the refund counters are at the airport.
Open tool →Connectivity
2 toolsConnectivity Picker
Compare travel eSIM, local SIM and home roaming side by side, and pick what actually keeps you online in China.
Open tool → ConnectGreat Firewall Checker
Check which apps work in China without a VPN, and what to download and set up before you lose signal on the plane.
Open tool →On the ground
6 toolsDiDi Guide
Order a ride with DiDi without a Chinese SIM or fluent Mandarin — your destination is sent in Chinese for you.
Open tool → GroundAMAP Guide
Read China's main maps app, search in English, and navigate to an address like a local.
Open tool → GroundSubway QR Guide
Get your metro QR pass in major Chinese cities, so you can ride the subway by scanning your phone.
Open tool → GroundTime Zone Converter
Compare China time with home at a glance, so you never miss a call or a checkout time.
Open tool → GroundChina Plug Type
Check whether your plugs and voltage work in China, and what adapter to pack.
Open tool → GroundChina Public Holidays
See the 2026 public holiday peaks and which weeks to avoid, so you're not stuck in the biggest crowds.
Open tool →Want the full playbook — every setup, app and transit tip in one offline guide? See China Travel Essentials 2026 →
Official sources
Tools on this page link to official and authoritative sources: the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the national rail booking platform 12306, and the China Meteorological Administration. Rules and prices change — confirm with the official source before you book.