About ChinaCheapo
Practical China travel consulting and sharper trip planning for independent visitors.
Tony Xi
Founder of ChinaCheapo · Based in Shanghai
Born in Shanghai. I built ChinaCheapo from a personal obsession with travel, route planning, and showing people the version of China they usually miss.
I've traveled across most regions of China and spent years learning the practical details that shape a trip — payment setup, transport timing, visa rules, local rhythm, hotel tradeoffs, and where tourists waste money.
What I Do
ChinaCheapo has two layers. The first is free practical guides — visa-free entry rules, digital payment setup, transport booking, packing lists, and deal comparison tools for flights, hotels, trains, eSIMs, and activities. Everything you need to plan a China trip without guesswork.
The second layer is paid custom itinerary planning. I design hour-by-hour travel plans tailored to your pace, budget, and interests. Not generic templates — actual routing with transport times, backup options, and the kind of micro-decisions that save you hours on the ground.
I've served travelers from Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea. Whether it's a 5-day Beijing sprint or a 3-week cross-country loop, I focus on making the trip work mechanically so you can focus on the experience.
Why I Built This
Most China travel content online is either outdated, overly generic, or written by people who visited once. I wanted to build something that reflects how China actually works for independent travelers — the real payment friction, the real transport options, the real costs.
ChinaCheapo Deals is the comparison and booking arm of that mission. Instead of sending you to a single platform, we show you options across Trip.com, Klook, Booking.com, and others so you can make informed choices.
How It Works
Search
Use our tools to find flights, hotels, trains, activities, eSIMs, and insurance.
Compare
We show options from Trip.com, Booking.com, Klook, and other trusted platforms.
Book
Click through and book directly. Same price or better, with no hidden fees.
Affiliate Disclosure
Transparency matters. ChinaCheapo Deals earns commissions when you click on affiliate links and make a purchase or booking through our partner sites. This includes Trip.com, Booking.com, Klook, GetYourGuide, Airalo, WorldNomads, and other travel service providers.
These commissions come at no extra cost to you. The price you pay is the same whether you click through our site or go directly to the provider. In many cases, we negotiate exclusive deals that may actually save you money.
Our recommendations are based on genuine research and testing. We only recommend products and services we believe provide good value for travelers visiting China. Affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial opinions or rankings.
Need a Custom China Itinerary?
I offer personalized trip planning at hour-level detail: city sequence, transport timing, budget tradeoffs, and insider tips that generic guides can't provide. Ideal for first-time visitors who want precision.
Email Me About Planningtony@chinacheapo.com — usually replies within 24 hours