Your China pre-arrival checklist

Work through the five stages before you fly. Your progress is saved on this device.

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1

Check your visa

Know your entry status before you book anything else. Read the visa guide →

Confirm your passport is valid for 6+ months past your stayImmigration checks this first.
Check if your country is on the visa-free list57 countries for 240h transit; about 50 for a 30-day stay.
Book onward/return ticket if using 240-hour transitYou need a confirmed seat to a third country.
Save your visa or exemption details offlineA screenshot beats a spotty connection at the counter.

2

Set up payment

China runs on QR codes. Set this up before you leave. Read the payment guide →

Download Alipay and add your Visa/MastercardThe single most useful app. Has a built-in translate button.
Set up WeChat PaySometimes needs a friend's scan to verify — do it at home.
Tell your bank you're travelingPrevents your card being frozen for "suspicious" foreign charges.
Carry a little RMB cash as backupStreet food and small vendors sometimes can't take foreign cards.

3

Get connected

The step most people get wrong. Read the full internet guide →

Pick an eSIM or roaming plan that works in ChinaeSIM/roaming keeps Google & WhatsApp working, no VPN needed.
Install and test a VPN before you flyIf using a local SIM. You usually can't download one after landing.
Download offline maps for your first cityAmap and Apple Maps both do offline areas.
Save your hotel address in Chinese charactersShow it to a taxi driver — done.

4

Download the apps

Six essentials. All have English interfaces. Read the apps guide →

AmapMaps and transit. Google Maps doesn't work well in China.
DiDiRide-hailing. Accepts foreign cards.
12306Official train booking. Register with your passport.
Baidu TranslateOffline Chinese translation. Camera mode reads menus.
Trip.com or CtripHotels that accept foreign guests.

5

Book ahead

The things that sell out or turn you away. Read the itinerary guide →

Book hotels that accept foreign guestsNot all do. Filter for "foreign guests" on Trip.com.
Reserve big museums & sites in advanceForbidden City and others need a timed reservation.
Rough out a day-by-day routeEven a loose plan makes trains and stays much cheaper.
Note the big holiday dates — Golden Week, Labor Day, Spring Festival — and avoid them if you canPrices and crowds spike. Check the calendar before booking.

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