Evergreen · Visa & entry · 6 min read
China visa-free for Australians — what's actually changed in 2026
The short version: 30 days, no application, confirmed through the end of 2026. The longer version has a few useful edges.
Mei Lin·
The blog
Things we've learned
running trips like yours.
Research notes, practical primers, and the occasional pushback on conventional wisdom. Written by the people who run the trips: Mei Lin and the Xi'an ground team. For travellers in the long months before they book.
Destinations · 8 min readTerracotta Army: tickets, early access, and what most tours get wrong
The warriors are not a tourist trap. The tour version of the warriors is. They are different products, and the difference is which gate you enter through, and when.
Mei Lin·
- Destinations · 7 min read
How many days do you need in Xi'an?
We are asked this question more than any other about Xi'an. The honest framing is not 'minimum' versus 'maximum' but 'what does each day buy you'.
Mei Lin·
Practical · 7 min readIs it safe to travel to China right now? An Australian's honest guide
Short answer: yes, with the same situational awareness you'd take to Tokyo or Seoul. The longer answer is more useful, because 'safe' means different things to different travellers.
Mei Lin·
Seasonal · 8 min readBest time to visit China: a month-by-month, region-by-region guide
The wrong question is 'when should I visit China'. The right question is 'when should I visit the China I want to see'. They are different countries by season.
Mei Lin·
Need the practical side?
The practical questions (visas, payments, connectivity, the small mechanics) live in a separate index.