Layover logistics · 6 guides
Layover logistics
The unglamorous parts that decide whether a layover works: getting in from the airport, dropping your bags, registering your stay, and staying out of trouble.
Transfers, storage, and rules
Start with the return-to-airport buffer, then work backwards through bags, transport, and registration.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China Airport to City: Transfers Compared for Every Major Layover HubHow to get from China’s main airports to the city center, costs, times, and the best option for PEK, PKX, PVG, SHA, CAN, TFU, XIY, and more.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026China High-Speed Rail for Tourists: Booking with a PassportHow to book and ride China’s high-speed trains as a foreigner, passport ticketing, 12306 vs Trip.com, station procedures, and what it costs.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026DiDi and Ride-Hailing in China: A Guide for ForeignersHow to set up and use DiDi in China with a foreign phone number and card, plus the taxi alternative, price expectations, and the safety checks that matter.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Hotel Registration for Foreigners in China: The 24-Hour RuleForeign visitors in China must register their accommodation within 24 hours. What hotels handle for you, what to do if you stay privately, and why it matters.
- Updated Oct 16, 2026Luggage Storage at China’s Airports: What It Costs and Where to Find ItWhere to leave your bags during a China layover, airport left-luggage, station lockers, hotel storage, and the option most travelers overlook.
- Updated Sep 16, 2026Is China Safe for Tourists? Scams, Risks, and What to Actually Watch ForChina is statistically very safe for travelers. Here are the real risks on a layover (taxi scams, tea-house cons, and pickpocketing) and how to avoid each.