Many first-time travelers arrive in China well-prepared but rely on outdated digital tools like Google Maps. This guide explains which apps you truly need in 2026, which popular apps require a VPN, and why local platforms offer a more accurate travel experience. Includes practical insights from real guest experiences in Shanghai.

A ceramic artist from Seattle joins our Soup Dumpling class during her first trip to China, sharing stories about Chinese ceramics, culture, and a heartfelt Dragon Boat Festival experience at Yin Studio.

Originally from Germany and now living in Shanghai, this guest first discovered Yin Studio through a Tai Chi class booked on a travel platform. After joining our membership community, she returned with a friend for a private calligraphy workshop, showing how one cultural experience can lead to another.

Three exchange students from Germany and Austria spent four months exploring China, visiting cities like Beijing, Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Zhangjiajie. Despite their love of cooking, they had never taken a cooking class in China—until their final weeks in Shanghai. Their first Chinese cooking experience? Learning how to make authentic Xiaolongbao at Yin Studio.