Do you have a registry?

We do not. Your presence is the best gift for us.

With a US passport, do I need a visa to visit China?

Generally, yes. And we recommend that. You will need to apply in person at your local Chinese consulate.

If you are planning to visit a third country or region (eg: Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan) after, then there is also a 10-day visa-free transit policy option. Relative US State Department page here.

Here are some examples when you need (√) and do not need (×) a visa:

√ USA–Nanjing–USA

√ USA–Shanghai–Nanjing–USA

× USA–Nanjing–Hong Kong–USA

× USA–Shanghai–Nanjing–Japan / South Korea / Thailand

Here is a helpful article and here is the 10-day visa free policy.

Regardless of your itinerary, Ian would strongly recommend that everyone applies for a 10-year Chinese visa so they can visit often and avoid any complications.

What is the best airport to fly into?

Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) is the closest airport. From NYC / SF, we recommend a layover in South Korea (ICN) or Hong Kong (HKG).

If you are planning to visit Shanghai or Beijing prior, there are direct flights from NYC / SF. Nanjing is 1-3 hours away by high-speed railway.

Which type of visa would I apply for?

For tourism, you will need the L visa. You will need a valid passport, visa application form, recent passport photo, and travel information. The visa application system is here.

We recommend applying more than two months in advance of traveling.

How do I pay for things in China?

Mobile payments are widely adopted in China. We recommend setting up Alipay in advance, here is an article on how to set it up.

Cash is always a good fall-back option and visa credit cards are also accepted at some places. Note that tipping is not necessary.

What else would I need to prepare for a trip in China?

We recommend downloading a few apps in advance: Amap (Gaode map) for accurate local navigation, a translation app (Google Translate / Waygo), Didi (Chinese Uber), Alipay (for payments), and VPN (ExpressVPN, NordVPN).

Generally, the "Great Firewall of China" does not apply to foreign SIM cards. We recommend an international roaming plan or global e-sim to surpass needing a VPN.