Food Guide
Shanghai Food Guide: Local Dishes and Restaurants
A practical Shanghai food guide covering local dishes, Chinese restaurants, Michelin meals, Black Pearl restaurants, and how to build a balanced first food plan.
Shanghai is not China.
Explore real China with Local China Tours
The city collection
Shanghai
East China, China
The city collection
Beijing
North China, China
The city collection
Chengdu
Southwest China, China
Lane-house streets, late dinners, contemporary culture. Get to know Shanghai one neighborhood at a time.
Explore Shanghai
Hutong walks, neighborhood kitchens, and the Great Wall. Find your own rhythm in the capital.
Explore Beijing
Tea houses, Sichuan kitchens, and a city that rewards taking your time. Start with the local essentials.
Explore Chengdu Local China Tours picks
On foot in
the French Concession
Shanghai
Tree-lined streets, lane houses, and a little room to wander. A local guide to a slower side of the city.
A local lens
City Guide
Shanghai French Concession Walking Guide
Follow a practical Former French Concession walk through Wukang Road, Anfu Road, lane-house streets, cafes, architecture, rest stops, photo timing, and route alternatives.
City Walk
Beijing Hutong Walking Guide: Qianmen and Yangmeizhu Xiejie
Walk from Qianmen through Yangmeizhu Xiejie, Beijing Fun, and Xixinglong Street with a flexible route, neighborhood etiquette, food, and timing advice.
Payments
How to Pay in China in 2026 for Everyday Travel
A practical payment plan for visitors to China, with real examples for shops, restaurants, hotels, metro gates, taxis, and trains.
Transport
How to Use China's High-Speed Trains Without Stress
Book China high-speed trains with a foreign passport, verify your identity, choose the correct station, and plan boarding, changes, and refunds.
Local voices
China, from
the inside.
Local China Tours Editorial Team
Travel planning editors
The Local China Tours editorial team researches practical travel information for visitors to China, using official sources and identifying details travelers should verify before a trip.
Meet the editorFind your next stop
Explore our China
From familiar skylines to a street you haven’t walked before. Start somewhere that speaks to you.
Hover a name. Find your next stop.Tap a name to preview, then explore.
Places to begin
All city guides Shanghai
Shanghai is China's easiest modern city for international visitors, ideal for stylish stopovers, food-focused trips, and east-coast itineraries that feel polished rather than rushed.
Beijing
China's capital blends imperial landmarks, contemporary culture, and the smoothest arrival experience for first-time visitors who want context as much as sightseeing.
Chengdu
Chengdu works for travelers who want panda reserves, tea-house culture, and one of the country's most memorable culinary scenes without losing comfort or walkability.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou is an elegant contrast to Shanghai, ideal for tea culture, lakeside walks, and a slower east-China stop that still feels refined and accessible.
Go a little further
Journeys with local perspective
4-Day Beijing City Break
A focused capital-city itinerary that balances the Great Wall, imperial landmarks, and neighborhood texture for visitors short on time.
Private departureFrom $1,280 / traveler
Great Wall · Private guide · Fast arrival-ready
5-Day Guilin and Yangshuo Adventure Tour
A private Guilin and Yangshuo outdoor itinerary with river scenery, countryside cycling or walking, adjustable adventure options, and enough flexibility for weather and recovery.
Private departureFrom $1,720 / traveler
Nature-forward · Active options · Private pacing
6-Day Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou Escape
A polished east-China route that pairs Shanghai's energy with water-town elegance and Hangzhou's slower lake-and-tea atmosphere.
Private departureFrom $1,890 / traveler
East China · Luxury-friendly · Rail-connected
Have a route or pace in mind? Tell us what you are looking for and we will follow up by email.
Plan your China trip