Practical guides for Australians going to China
The questions our clients ask before every trip, answered once and kept up to date.
- 20 October 2026 · before you go, money
How to set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with an Australian card before you land
China runs on two payment apps. Both now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard. Set one up at home, in ten minutes, and your first day in Shanghai gets a lot easier.
Read the guide - 20 October 2026 · before you go, planning
Best time to visit Shanghai and Beijing from Australia, month by month
Weather, crowds, prices and holidays for each month in Shanghai and Beijing, matched against Australian school holidays, so you can pick dates that work.
Read the guide - 20 October 2026 · before you go, phones
Phone, eSIM and VPN for China: what Australians need to set up before flying
How to keep your phone working in China: eSIM vs local SIM vs roaming, which apps are blocked, whether you need a VPN, and the five things to install before you leave Australia.
Read the guide - 20 October 2026 · before you go, visas
China visa-free entry for Australians: how the 30-day rule works
Australian passport holders can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days. What it covers, what it does not, what happens at the border, and when you still need a visa.
Read the guide - 20 October 2026 · business, sourcing
How to verify a Chinese factory before you order: a checklist for Australian buyers
Six checks that separate a real factory from a trading company or a scam: business licence, export records, the site visit, production evidence, references and payment terms.
Read the guide - 20 October 2026 · shanghai, getting around
Pudong airport to central Shanghai: Maglev, metro, taxi or private car
Four ways to get from Shanghai Pudong (PVG) to the city centre, with real times, prices in RMB and AUD, and which one suits a family with luggage after a 10-hour flight from Melbourne.
Read the guide - 20 October 2026 · shanghai, itineraries
Shanghai in 4 days: an itinerary that works for a first visit from Australia
A realistic four-day Shanghai itinerary for Australians: what to see each day, where to stay, how long things actually take, and the day trip worth doing.
Read the guide - 20 October 2026 · shanghai, itineraries
Shanghai layover: what you can see in 6, 10 or 24 hours at Pudong
How to use a Shanghai stopover on an Australian passport: visa-free rules for transit, how long you need between flights, three itineraries by length, and when it is not worth leaving the airport.
Read the guide - 20 October 2026 · shanghai, families
Shanghai with kids: what works, what to skip, and how to pace the days
A family guide to Shanghai from Australia: the museums and parks children actually enjoy, where to eat with picky eaters, prams and strollers, and how to plan a day that ends before meltdown.
Read the guide - 20 October 2026 · before you go, planning
What to pack for China: the Australian traveller's list
A packing list for Shanghai and Beijing by season, with the things Australians forget: documents, medication, power, the Great Wall day, and what you can buy there instead.
Read the guide - 20 October 2026 · business, sourcing
Yiwu market guide for Australian importers: how it works and how to use two days well
What the Yiwu International Trade Market is, how its districts are organised, what minimum orders and prices look like, how to avoid the common mistakes, and how to get there from Shanghai.
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