Before you go
Good to know
Not survival, not emergency. Just the things nobody puts in the guidebook because they're too small — until one of them is the whole story of your Tuesday.
The bathroom question, answered
Squat cubicles, half doors, no tissue. What to expect, what to carry, and where the Western toilets hide.
4-minute read →
The X-ray at every metro door
Bags through the scanner at every station, everywhere. It's fast once you know the routine.
4-minute read →
Luggage storage is easier than you'd think
Hotels hold bags for free, stations have staffed storage, and nobody needs to drag a suitcase past the last temple of the day.
4-minute read →
Shared bikes: the cheapest hour in a city
Stacked at every metro exit, unlocked with the app you already have — and one parking rule that catches visitors out.
6-minute read →
Parcels and robots at your hotel
Online shopping lands at the front desk, and in some hotels a robot brings it to your door.
5-minute read →
The small list
- Maps: Google Maps is out of date here and its transit directions don't work. Apple Maps is the better Western option; the local apps (Amap, Baidu) are excellent and Chinese-only.
- Power: 220V, two-pin sockets. Most North American plugs fit as-is; UK and European devices need an adapter.
- Water: don't drink the tap. Hotels leave bottles or a kettle; convenience stores sell 500ml for about ¥2.
- Convenience stores answer most small problems — 24 hours, every neighbourhood, and a toilet you can use without buying anything.
- Bargaining: expected in markets, never in malls. If there's a price tag, it's the price.
- Cartoons are coming. We're adding illustrations through these guides — the words are the load-bearing part for now.
There's more where this came from.
Read the latest insider notes →Two new posts a week — the things a non-resident can't know, written down before they cost you a morning.