CHINA ARRIVAL CHECKLIST

Get ready for
your first day.

Work through entry checks, mobile data, payments and your first transfer. Keep a copy you can open offline.

Build my arrival plan Go to the checklist ↓

TAILOR THE CHECKLIST

What needs doing first?

Answer four questions to put the most useful steps first.

Already have something sorted?
Tick it off in your checklist below.

No passport details.
No email address.

THE ESSENTIALS

A little different.
Not difficult.

Start with what makes your first day easier.
Everything else can wait.

01 / CONNECT

Your phone is
your travel kit.

Choose a connection for your actual phone and the apps you need — not just the biggest data allowance.

  • Check the device is unlocked and supports the plan.
  • Ask how the plan handles the apps you rely on.
  • Keep access to your home number for bank codes.
Which data option fits me? +

Check the device and the plan: Confirm the exact phone model, carrier lock, mainland coverage, activation timing and the plan’s data-routing arrangements. A travel eSIM can be useful, but the provider—not the eSIM label—determines its supported services.

Separate data from a phone number: Most travel eSIM plans are data-only. Check calls, SMS, tethering and local-number requirements separately. For a local SIM, confirm the operator’s identification requirements and your device compatibility.

Keep bank verification available: Ask your bank how it will authenticate payments abroad and your carrier whether your home number can receive the relevant messages. Preserve a bank-approved fallback and avoid unwanted data roaming on the home line.

Prepare an offline first day: Save the hotel’s Chinese address, booking, connection instructions and support details. Test these with Wi-Fi and data off. Follow the chosen plan’s settings on arrival; do not assume switching to hotel Wi-Fi preserves the same app access.

Read the complete updated guide

Source scope checked 29 October 2026; current app screens, fares and exact availability still vary.

02 / PAY

One way to pay.
One way to back it up.

Set up a mobile wallet before you need it. Keep a physical card and some RMB as your plan B.

  • Install Alipay or WeChat from the official app store.
  • Try linking your international bank card in advance.
  • Check verification, fees and limits in the app.
What should I check first? +

Set up before the first purchase: Install the official Alipay or WeChat app, register and follow the current card-linking and identity prompts. Eligible international cards can be linked, but issuer and merchant conditions still matter.

Read the transaction screen: Check the merchant, amount, currency and fees before approving. Your wallet’s service charge, issuer’s foreign-use charges and exchange conversion may be different components. Never share a password or bank verification code.

Keep a backup away from the app: Bring a physical card and plan for some RMB cash. Use a matching-network ATM or qualified exchange service and check charges first. An app failing should not leave you without a way to reach the hotel.

Keep purchase records: Retain receipts and transaction references. A merchant refund follows the payment arrangement; a departure VAT refund is a separate qualifying-store process, not an automatic benefit of wallet payment.

Read the complete updated guide

Source scope checked 29 October 2026; current app screens, fares and exact availability still vary.

03 / MOVE

Know where
you’re going first.

Don’t plan your whole trip at baggage claim. Save your hotel address and your first route before you fly.

  • Save the hotel name and address in Chinese.
  • Check your airport’s official transport information.
  • For trains, match booking details to your passport.
Airport and rail, without the guesswork +

Match the transfer to your landing: Check the airport’s own transport page for your terminal, arrival time and luggage. Save a fallback if public transport has finished. Do not use an old last-train screenshot as the plan.

Save the exact destination: Keep the hotel’s Chinese name, address, telephone number and booking offline. Follow official taxi signs or check the booked car and plate. A map pin alone can lead to the wrong branch or entrance.

Complete rail verification first: Use official China Railway 12306 and the exact details from your travel document. Pending or failed identity checks are not clearance to buy; foreign-passport users can use the document-photo verification route or a station counter. Carry the original document used for the ticket.

Check equipment before domestic flights: Review the operating carrier’s current battery and liquids rules. Domestic flights prohibit power banks without clear CCC markings and recalled models; an item accepted on your inbound international flight may not qualify for the next leg.

Read the complete updated guide

Source scope checked 29 October 2026; current app screens, fares and exact availability still vary.

Your essential checklist

Before booking: confirm current entry rules with official immigration guidance and your airline. Nationality, passport, route, arrival point and dates all matter.

WHEELS DOWN. DEEP BREATH.

Your first hour,
in the right order.

You don’t need to know everything.
Just your next move.

  1. 01

    Get connected

    Activate your planned data connection. If it fails, use your saved setup instructions or ask at an official service desk.

  2. 02

    Check your backups

    Confirm your hotel address is available offline and your bank codes can reach you. Keep your passport and payment backups accessible.

  3. 03

    Take your first route

    Follow airport signs to your chosen transport. For a taxi, use the official queue and show the driver the Chinese address.

  4. 04

    Check in. Settle in.

    At your hotel, present the required travel documents; the hotel handles accommodation registration. For a private-home stay, coordinate the required registration with your host. Then settle in.

ONE SMALL THING
THAT REALLY HELPS

Save this before you fly.

Your hotel’s Chinese name, street address, phone number and booking confirmation — as a screenshot, not just a link.

THE QUESTIONS EVERYONE HAS

A few things
worth knowing.

Content checked .
Recheck official guidance before travel.

Will my usual apps work in China?+

Some overseas services are restricted on mainland networks. Availability can differ between local mobile data, Wi-Fi, home-carrier roaming and travel eSIMs. Ask the specific provider about the apps you need; no connection method is a blanket guarantee. Download alternatives and save essential information offline before travel.

Do I need a Chinese phone number?+

Not for every trip, but some local services or verification flows may require one. Many travel eSIMs provide data only. Check the apps and bookings you plan to use rather than assuming any data plan includes calls, SMS or a mainland number.

Can I rely only on my international credit card?+

Don’t make it your only option. Direct card acceptance varies by merchant. A supported card linked to a mobile wallet is useful, but not every transaction is eligible. Keep a physical card and some RMB as backups, and check your bank’s charges.

Does this tell me whether I need a visa?+

No. This is an arrival-preparation guide, not an entry-eligibility checker. Use the official immigration authority or Chinese embassy/consulate for your passport, nationality, route and dates, and confirm boarding requirements with your airline. Visa-free and transit rules have specific conditions and can change.

National Immigration Administration ↗
Where is my checklist saved?+

Only in this browser’s local storage. We don’t ask for an email, passport number or payment details. It won’t automatically sync to another device, and clearing browser data may remove it. Use “Save checklist” for a text copy, or “Print / save as PDF” for a printable version.

USEFUL, NOT OVERCONFIDENT

Good advice shows its sources.

Independent guidance. No paid rankings or affiliate links in this edition.
Rules, app flows, fees and availability can change. Check the linked source before you commit.

Sources & editorial notes +

Commercial-provider information is used for technical caveats, not as an independent comparison. Recommendations are based on your selected needs, not payment from a provider.

Read our full current guides to entry and transit, rail booking and 2026 departure-tax refunds. Each lists its source scope and trip-specific checks.

Photo credits & privacy

Saved routes and checklist answers stay only in this browser. Enquiries submitted with consent are stored in a private database for the verified owner; a draft can be downloaded instead. Enquiry references and private status tokens stay in this browser tab, not the email or trip text. Payments and bookings are disabled in this private service concept. No third-party analytics or paid rankings are used.

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