China Travel Checklist for First-Time Visitors (2026)

First-time visitors to China usually fall into one of two camps: people who over-researched and are still anxious, and people who under-researched and got blindsided. This checklist is designed to put you in neither camp.

It covers everything from 8 weeks out to your first day on the ground — organized so you can work through it in order without missing the things that actually matter.

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8+ Weeks Before You Leave

Visa

• [ ] Determine which visa type you need (tourist L-visa for most visitors; M-visa for business)
• [ ] Check if your country has a visa-free agreement with China — this changes, so verify against the current official list or your local Chinese embassy
• [ ] If you need a visa: gather documents (passport, photo, itinerary, hotel confirmation, bank statement, round-trip flights)
• [ ] Apply at your nearest Chinese consulate or through a registered visa agent
• [ ] Verify your passport has at least 6 months validity beyond your travel dates and two blank pages

Health Prep

• [ ] Check if any vaccinations are recommended for China travel (consult a travel health clinic)
• [ ] Get a dental checkup if you have any outstanding issues — dental work is much cheaper in China, but you don't want to discover a problem mid-trip
• [ ] If you take prescription medication, ensure you have enough supply for the full trip plus 2 weeks buffer
• [ ] Check whether your medications are legal to bring into China (some controlled substances require documentation)
• [ ] Get travel insurance with medical coverage — verify it covers emergency evacuation

Flights and Accommodation

• [ ] Book round-trip flights — required documentation for visa applications
• [ ] Book accommodation for at least the first few nights before arrival (hotel registration required for visa)
• [ ] Confirm your accommodation can accept foreign passports (some budget guesthouses cannot)

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4–8 Weeks Before You Leave

Phone and SIM Setup

• [ ] Check if your phone is unlocked (required to use a Chinese SIM or eSIM)
• [ ] Decide: get an eSIM before you leave, or buy a SIM card at the airport in China
  • eSIM (recommended): services like Airalo, Nomad, or Yesim offer data-only plans for China; activate before you land
  • Airport SIM: China Unicom and China Mobile booths at major airports — bring your passport; setup takes 10–20 minutes
• [ ] Download your eSIM provider's app and confirm it's activated before departure day

Apps to Install Before You Leave

Install these while you still have unrestricted app store access:

• [ ] WeChat — non-negotiable; register your account and link a phone number while abroad
• [ ] Alipay — set up the international version with your foreign bank card before you arrive
• [ ] Didi — China's dominant ride-hailing app; set up with your phone number
• [ ] Google Maps / Apple Maps — download offline maps for your destination cities
• [ ] Amap (高德地图) — more accurate in China than Google Maps; English interface available
• [ ] Translate app (Google Translate or DeepL with Chinese offline pack downloaded)
• [ ] Your bank's app — enable international transactions; notify your bank you'll be in China

Payment Setup (Critical — Do This Early)

• [ ] Alipay International Version: Link a Visa or Mastercard to Alipay's international wallet. This is your primary payment method for everything from restaurants to metro rides to shops.
  • Download the Alipay app → tap "Tour Pass" or complete international verification → add your foreign card
  • Test a small transaction before you leave if possible
• [ ] WeChat Pay: Harder to set up with a foreign card, but doable. If you can link a card, do it — some merchants only accept WeChat Pay
• [ ] Inform your bank you'll be traveling to China so they don't block foreign transactions
• [ ] Get some cash in RMB — airport and hotel exchange desks work; bring USD or EUR for easiest exchange
• [ ] Know the daily ATM withdrawal limit on your card for international use

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1–2 Weeks Before You Leave

Connectivity and VPN (Honestly Addressed)

• [ ] Understand what's blocked in China: Google (Search, Maps, Gmail, Drive), Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter/X, YouTube, many news sites
• [ ] Decide if you need a VPN:
  • If you depend on Google Workspace for work: yes, you need one
  • If you use WhatsApp to stay in touch with family: consider switching to WeChat or Telegram pre-trip, or get a VPN
  • If you can use WeChat for communication and don't need Google tools: you can manage without
• [ ] If you're getting a VPN: set it up and test it before you leave — it's much harder to configure from inside China
• [ ] Note: VPN use in China is technically restricted. Many travelers use them without issue; this is a legal gray area, not a guarantee.

Practical Prep

• [ ] Screenshot or save offline copies of: hotel addresses in Chinese characters, emergency contacts, your flight details
• [ ] Know the emergency numbers: 110 (police), 120 (ambulance), 119 (fire)
• [ ] Download a translation app with Chinese offline language pack
• [ ] Know the phrase for your hotel in Mandarin — even just having it in your phone to show a driver is useful
• [ ] Check the weather for your destination — pack accordingly; China's climate varies dramatically by region and season

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Departure Day

• [ ] Passport + visa (physical copy, not just digital)
• [ ] Travel insurance documents — have them accessible, not just in email
• [ ] eSIM activated / physical SIM bought
• [ ] Alipay loaded with foreign card and tested
• [ ] Local currency (RMB) — even a small amount for arrival logistics
• [ ] Hotel address in Chinese characters saved offline
• [ ] Offline maps downloaded for destination city
• [ ] All prescription medications in original labeled packaging

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First 24 Hours in China

Clearing Immigration

• [ ] Fill out arrival card if required (check requirements before your flight — regulations change)
• [ ] Have your hotel address written in Chinese characters ready to show if asked
• [ ] Customs: declare any currency over USD 5,000 or items above customs limits

Getting Online and Getting Around

• [ ] Activate your eSIM or head to a SIM card booth at the airport (bring your passport)
• [ ] Turn off data roaming on your home SIM once local SIM is active
• [ ] Download Didi if you haven't — you can do it from the airport with your new SIM
• [ ] Use the subway from major airports when possible — it's reliable, cheap, and air-conditioned. Didi from PVG (Shanghai) or PEK (Beijing) takes longer and costs significantly more.

Registering at Your Accommodation

• [ ] Hand over your passport when checking in — hotels are required to register foreign guests
• [ ] Ask the hotel front desk: nearest metro station, nearest pharmacy, and how to call the front desk from your room

First Payment Test

• [ ] Try your Alipay QR code at a convenience store (7-Eleven or FamilyMart are everywhere)
• [ ] If it fails: check your foreign card settings, or use cash for now and troubleshoot later

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During Your Stay

Payments Day-to-Day

• [ ] Always keep some cash on hand — smaller towns and local markets may not accept mobile payments
• [ ] Hotels and larger restaurants generally accept foreign credit cards; smaller places often don't
• [ ] Check ATMs: look for UnionPay, VISA, or Mastercard logos. HSBC and Citibank ATMs have the best foreign-card fee structures.

Navigation

• [ ] Amap is more accurate than Google Maps for China — use it for metro routes, walking directions, and finding addresses
• [ ] Most metro systems now accept Alipay QR for fare payment — check your city's metro app instructions
• [ ] Taxis taken from official taxi ranks are safe; avoid anyone who approaches you in arrivals offering rides

Staying Healthy

• [ ] Drink bottled or boiled water — tap water is not safe to drink in China
• [ ] Most large pharmacies (药店, yào diàn) carry basic over-the-counter medicines; staff often have some English
• [ ] If you feel unwell and it's not urgent: go to a private international clinic rather than a public hospital — it's faster and has better English support
• [ ] Know where the nearest international hospital or clinic is in your city before you need it

Communication

• [ ] Use WeChat for day-to-day contact with locals — it's the primary messaging platform
• [ ] Google Translate's camera mode is useful for reading menus, signs, and labels
• [ ] Hotel staff are your best resource for real-time help — front desk teams at international hotels usually have solid English

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Before You Fly Home

• [ ] Keep medical records if you received any healthcare in China — your home doctor will want them
• [ ] Check customs restrictions for what you're bringing back (certain food items, plant matter, animal products are restricted)
• [ ] Convert any remaining RMB back to your home currency before leaving — it gets harder after
• [ ] Back up any photos/files to cloud storage you can access at home

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A Note on the Reality of China Travel in 2026

China is not as difficult as some people make it sound. Payment works. Navigation works. Most tourist infrastructure in major cities is set up for international visitors. But it does require a different setup than most Western travel destinations — the apps matter, the payment setup matters, and you'll have a much smoother time if you do the legwork before you land.

The single biggest mistake first-time visitors make is showing up without Alipay or WeChat Pay ready. Everything else can be figured out on the fly. Payment cannot.

If you want a curated setup guide that walks you through the Alipay and WeChat setup in detail, download the ChinaEasey Travel Survival Kit →

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Related Reading

• What Apps Do I Need Before Going to China?
• Can Foreigners Use Alipay in China?
• Alipay vs WeChat Pay for Tourists
• Can Foreigners Go to Hospitals in China?