→Joran
American Expat · Chengdu Husband · China Travel Guy
Helping foreigners travel China without the headaches since 2021
Hey there, I’m Joran!
Greetings from Chengdu, China!
I’m your average California guy who somehow ended up living in the heart of Sichuan province, married to the most amazing woman from Chengdu, and completely obsessed with all things China.
How a SoCal Guy Ended Up in the Land of Spicy Hot Pot
Let me set the scene: It’s 2021, I’m fresh out of college, and I’ve got this wild idea to teach English in China for “just one year.” Fast forward to 2026, and here I amstill here, speaking (very broken) Mandarin, eating chili oil for breakfast, and married to a wonderful Sichuanese woman who still laughs at my terrible Chinese accent.
Why ChinaBound?
Let’s be realtraveling in China as a foreigner can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube blindfolded sometimes.
- VPN struggles? I’ve spent more hours troubleshooting VPNs than I care to admit.
- WeChat Pay confusion? My first attempt to buy bubble tea ended with me holding up a line and sweating profusely.
- Visa nightmares? Don’t even get me started on my first visa application…
I created ChinaBound to be the resource I wish I had when I first arrived. No fluff, no outdated information, just real advice from someone who’s actually lived through the chaos.
What You’ll Find Here
- No B.S. Visa Guides Updated for 2026, because Chinese visa rules change faster than my wife’s mood during mango season.
- Payment Hacks How to actually use Alipay/WeChat Pay without a Chinese bank account (yes, it’s possible!).
- City Guides From Beijing’s Forbidden City to Chengdu’s street food stalls, I’ve got you covered.
- Cultural Survival Tips Like why you should never refuse a cup of tea, or why “la” () really means “prepare for your taste buds to explode.”
Let’s Connect!
Got questions? Drop me an email at hello@chinaboundtravel.com. I promise I’ll respond faster than you can say “nihao”!
Cheers,
Joran
American expat, Sichuan husband, and your go-to China travel guy