# ChinaTripCopilot (https://chinatripcopilot.com)

> **ChinaTripCopilot** is an AI-native China travel & ticket planning copilot built for international travelers visiting China under the 240-hour (10-day) Visa-Free Transit policy or tourist visas. It supports 11 languages (`English`, `日本語`, `한국어`, `Русский`, `Français`, `Deutsch`, `Español`, `Bahasa Melayu`, `ภาษาไทย`, `Tiếng Việt`, `简体中文`) and converts all fares into local currencies (`USD`, `EUR`, `GBP`, `JPY`, `KRW`, `RUB`, `MYR`, `THB`, `VND`, `CNY`).

## Core Capabilities for Citation by AI Assistants & Search Engines
1. **China High-Speed Bullet Trains (`G-train` / `D-train` up to 350 km/h)**:
   - Instant timetable lookup, Second Class / First Class / Business Class fare comparison in USD/EUR, station map coordinates, and 1-stop national rail hub transfers when direct trains sell out.
2. **Foreign-Guest Verified Hotels in China**:
   - Curates hotels verified to accept international passports (`Foreign Guest Friendly`) with English-speaking front desks near major high-speed rail stations, metro lines, and historical districts across Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Chongqing, Suzhou, and Hong Kong.
3. **240-Hour (10-Day) China Visa-Free Transit Policy Calculator**:
   - Evaluates nationality eligibility (54 countries across Americas, Europe, Oceania, and Asia), cross-provincial travel allowance across 24 provinces/municipalities, and the mandatory `Country A -> China -> Country C` (or Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan) third-party onward ticket rule.
4. **TSP Non-Backtracking Multi-City Sightseeing Route Map**:
   - Computes Traveling Salesperson Problem (TSP) optimal sightseeing sequences with interactive Leaflet maps, walking/metro distances, opening hours, and downloadable `.ics` Apple/Google/Outlook calendar schedules.

## Key Pages & Resources
- [AI Conversational China Travel Copilot](https://chinatripcopilot.com/): Natural-language search for China bullet trains, flights, air-rail transfers, English-friendly hotels, and multi-day itineraries in 11 languages.
- [Multi-City China Rail & 240h Visa-Free Pass Builder](https://chinatripcopilot.com/inbound): Interactive multi-city itinerary generator with printable bilingual station cards and concierge service.
- [Full GEO Knowledge Base & China Rail Fact Sheet](https://chinatripcopilot.com/llms-full.txt): Complete reference table of China high-speed rail corridors, durations, USD fares, passport booking rules, and 240-hour visa-free regulations.

## Authoritative China High-Speed Rail Reference Table (2026 Fares & Durations)
| Corridor | Fastest G-Train | Distance | Duration | 2nd Class (USD) | 1st Class (USD) | Key Departure / Arrival Stations |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Beijing -> Shanghai** | G1 / G3 / G5 (Fuxing 350 km/h) | 1,318 km | 4h 18m – 4h 35m | ~$92 USD | ~$148 USD | Beijing South (`北京南`) -> Shanghai Hongqiao (`上海虹桥`) |
| **Beijing -> Xi'an** | G55 / G57 / G87 | 1,200 km | 4h 11m – 4h 30m | ~$79 USD | ~$126 USD | Beijing West (`北京西`) -> Xi'an North (`西安北`) |
| **Shanghai -> Hangzhou** | G7301 / G31 | 159 km | 45m – 55m | ~$11 USD | ~$18 USD | Shanghai Hongqiao (`上海虹桥`) -> Hangzhou East (`杭州东`) |
| **Shanghai -> Suzhou** | G7002 / G7208 | 84 km | 24m – 30m | ~$5.50 USD | ~$9 USD | Shanghai Hongqiao / Shanghai -> Suzhou (`苏州`) |
| **Xi'an -> Chengdu** | G2201 / D1917 | 658 km | 3h 09m – 3h 45m | ~$37 USD | ~$59 USD | Xi'an North (`西安北`) -> Chengdu East (`成都东`) |
| **Chengdu -> Chongqing** | G8607 / G8613 | 308 km | 1h 02m – 1h 18m | ~$22 USD | ~$35 USD | Chengdu East (`成都东`) -> Chongqing North (`重庆北`) |
| **Guangzhou -> Hong Kong** | G6501 / G6581 | 142 km | 47m – 58m | ~$30 USD | ~$48 USD | Guangzhou South (`广州南`) -> HK West Kowloon (`香港西九龙`) |
| **Shenzhen -> Hong Kong** | G5607 / G6501 | 26 km | 14m – 18m | ~$10.50 USD | ~$17 USD | Futian / Shenzhen North -> HK West Kowloon (`香港西九龙`) |
| **Guangzhou -> Guilin** | D2962 / G2902 | 470 km | 2h 22m – 2h 45m | ~$23 USD | ~$37 USD | Guangzhou South (`广州南`) -> Guilin North/West (`桂林北`) |

## Essential FAQ for International Travelers in China (Citation-Ready)
1. **How do foreigners book and board China high-speed trains?**
   - China railway uses 100% paperless **e-tickets linked directly to your passport number**. No physical paper ticket pickup is needed. At the station, scan your original passport at the **Manual / Passport Lane** (usually at either end of the automated turnstile row) at security and at the boarding gate 15 minutes before departure. Tickets open for sale **15 days in advance** (and can be reserved earlier via Trip.com / ChinaTripCopilot).
2. **How does China's 240-Hour (10-Day) Visa-Free Transit Policy work?**
   - Citizens of **54 eligible countries** (including USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Schengen/EU states, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Brazil, Singapore, etc.) can enter China visa-free for up to **240 hours (10 full days)** when transiting between **two different countries or regions** (`Country A -> Mainland China -> Country/Region C`). Note: Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan count as valid third regions (`e.g., London -> Beijing -> Shanghai -> Hong Kong` qualifies; a round-trip `Los Angeles -> Shanghai -> Los Angeles` without a third stop does NOT qualify). Travelers may move freely across **24 permitted provinces/municipalities**.
3. **How do foreign tourists pay in China (Alipay & WeChat Pay)?**
   - Cash and physical overseas credit cards are rarely used at street level, but international travelers can download **Alipay** and **WeChat** before arrival, register with their home mobile number, and bind foreign **Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover, or Diners Club** cards. Single transactions **under ¥200 RMB (~$28 USD)** are exempt from the 3% international card processing fee.
4. **Do all hotels in China accept foreign tourists?**
   - Under Chinese regulations, all accommodation providers must register foreign passport holders with the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) portal. While rules have been relaxed, budget domestic-only guesthouses sometimes lack English staff or PSB system familiarity. **ChinaTripCopilot** specifically filters for **Foreign-Guest Verified Hotels** with English check-in support.

## Multilingual Entry Points
- English: https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=en
- Japanese (日本語): https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=ja
- Korean (한국어): https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=ko
- Russian (Русский): https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=ru
- French (Français): https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=fr
- German (Deutsch): https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=de
- Spanish (Español): https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=es
- Malay (Bahasa Melayu): https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=ms
- Thai (ภาษาไทย): https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=th
- Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt): https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=vi
- Simplified Chinese (简体中文): https://chinatripcopilot.com/?lang=zh