Travel Essentials

China Travel Checklist: Everything You Need Before Your Trip

Planning your first trip to China? Use this practical China travel checklist to prepare your visa, payments, internet, apps, trains, accommodation and essential documents before you go.

Updated September 202614 min read

Planning your first trip to China can feel a little different from planning a trip elsewhere.

Hotels are easy to book. High-speed trains connect most major destinations. Public transport in big cities is extensive. But some of the things you normally rely on while traveling — your usual payment card, map app, messaging service or train-booking website — may work differently in China.

The good news is that most of this is easy to prepare before you leave.

This checklist covers the essentials: entry requirements, payments, internet access, useful apps, transport, accommodation and a few small things that can make your first days in China much smoother.

Quick China Travel Checklist

Before your flight, make sure you have:

A passport valid for your trip
The correct visa, or confirmation that you qualify for visa-free entry
Your first accommodation details
Your arrival information ready
Alipay and/or WeChat installed
At least one international bank card available for mobile payments
A backup physical bank card and access to some cash
A plan for mobile data or roaming
Your essential China travel apps downloaded
Train or domestic flight bookings for busy travel dates
Offline copies of important reservations and documents

If you have these sorted, you have already dealt with most of the things that cause problems for first-time visitors.

1. Check whether you need a visa

Do this before anything else.

China's entry rules depend on your nationality, passport type, purpose of travel, length of stay and itinerary.

As of September 2026, China offers unilateral visa-free entry to ordinary passport holders from a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Brazil.

Under the current policy, eligible travelers can generally enter for tourism, business, visiting relatives or friends, exchanges or transit for stays of up to 30 days.

However, visa-free entry does not cover every type of visit. Activities such as work, study and journalism may require the appropriate visa or prior approval.

Visa policies can also change, so check the current rules for your passport before booking non-refundable travel.

2. See whether the 240-hour visa-free transit policy applies to you

If China is a stop between two different countries or regions, you may qualify for China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy.

As of August 2026, the policy covers nationals of 57 countries and operates through 65 designated ports in 24 provincial-level regions.

Eligible travelers can stay within the permitted areas for up to 240 hours, or 10 days.

The important word is transit.

For example:

Tokyo → Shanghai → Paris

may qualify if you meet the other requirements.

But:

Tokyo → Shanghai → Tokyo

does not normally meet the requirement of traveling onward to a third country or region.

Your nationality, entry port, exit port, onward ticket and places you plan to visit all matter.

Do not build an itinerary around the transit policy until you have checked that your exact route qualifies.

3. Prepare your China Arrival Card

Most foreign travelers entering China need to provide arrival information.

Since November 2025, foreign travelers have been able to submit their China Arrival Card information online before departure through official National Immigration Administration channels.

The official service is free.

If you do not complete it in advance, you can still submit the information after arriving at an entry port using available electronic services or a paper arrival card.

Be cautious of third-party websites that charge a fee simply to submit an arrival card. Chinese immigration authorities have issued warnings about websites pretending to be the official service.

It helps to have the following information ready:

Passport details
Flight or other arrival information
Your first accommodation in China
Your hotel or host's address

Read next: How to Fill in the China Arrival Card

4. Save your hotel name and address in Chinese

This takes about a minute and can save you a surprising amount of trouble.

Before arriving, save:

Hotel name in English
Hotel name in Chinese
Full Chinese address
Hotel phone number
A screenshot of your booking

Do not rely only on the English hotel name.

If you need to show your destination to a taxi driver, ask someone for directions or deal with a weak internet connection, the Chinese name and address will usually be much more useful.

A screenshot is also better than assuming you will always be able to open your booking app.

5. Set up mobile payments before you leave

China uses mobile payments extensively in everyday life.

Cash remains legal tender, and international bank cards are accepted at many hotels, larger shops and tourist-oriented businesses. But for daily spending — convenience stores, cafés, restaurants, taxis and small shops — QR-code payments are often the easiest option.

Foreign visitors can register for Alipay and WeChat Pay and link supported overseas bank cards without opening a Chinese mainland bank account.

Major international card networks supported by Chinese mobile-payment services include Visa and Mastercard, although the exact cards, payment limits and fees can vary by service and issuing bank.

Before your trip

Install:

Alipay
WeChat

Then:

Create your account
Complete identity verification if requested
Add an international bank card
Familiarize yourself with the payment screen
Check that your bank allows overseas transactions

Don't rely on only one payment method

A good setup is:

Primary: Alipay or WeChat Pay

Backup: the other mobile-payment app

Backup to the backup: a physical bank card and access to RMB cash

Mobile payments are convenient, but account verification, bank security checks or temporary connection problems can happen.

Having more than one way to pay makes travel much easier.

Read next: How to Pay in China as a Foreigner

6. Sort out your internet access

Do not wait until you land to think about mobile data.

Your phone will probably be part of almost everything you do in China:

Payments
Navigation
Translation
Train tickets
Ride-hailing
Hotel information
Messaging
Restaurant searches

That makes internet access one of the most important things to prepare.

Your main options are:

International roaming

Often the simplest option if your home carrier offers a reasonable China roaming package.

Travel eSIM

Convenient for compatible phones and easy to arrange before departure.

Chinese SIM card

Useful for longer stays, heavier data use or travelers who need a local Chinese phone number.

Wi-Fi

Hotels, airports and many public places offer Wi-Fi, but it is better treated as a backup rather than your only connection.

Some international websites and online services may not be accessible in the same way when you are using a mainland Chinese internet connection.

Before departure, think about which services you rely on every day and whether your chosen connection method will allow you to use them.

Read next: China eSIM Guide for Travelers

7. Download your essential China apps before departure

You do not need twenty Chinese apps on your phone.

For a first trip, start with a small set that covers the basics.

Alipay

Primarily useful for payments, but it also provides access to many everyday travel services and mini-programs.

WeChat

Useful for communication, payments and services that operate through WeChat mini-programs.

Amap / Gaode Maps

One of China's major navigation apps.

It is particularly useful for local public transport, walking routes and finding nearby businesses.

Its English-language experience may vary, so it is worth trying before your trip.

Depending on your device, Apple Maps can also be useful in mainland China.

12306

China Railway's official train-booking platform.

If you plan to travel by train, this is the most important railway app to know.

Trip.com

Often easier for international travelers who want an English-language interface for hotels, trains and domestic transport.

Didi

One of the main ride-hailing services used in China.

Didi services may also be available through other apps, including Alipay.

Translation app

Keep at least one translation app ready.

Offline Chinese language packs can be particularly useful when your connection is weak.

Local tip

Download your important apps and create your accounts before your trip. Troubleshooting account verification while standing in an airport arrivals hall is not a great introduction to China.

8. Learn how Chinese train travel works

If your itinerary includes more than one city, there is a good chance you will use China's railway system.

High-speed rail is one of the easiest ways to travel between many major destinations.

Foreign passengers can buy real-name train tickets using a valid passport through China Railway's official 12306 platform, railway stations and authorized sales channels.

For electronic tickets, you normally use the same passport you used to book your ticket when entering the station, passing ticket checks and boarding the train.

You generally do not need to collect a traditional paper ticket simply to board.

A few things are worth knowing before your first journey:

Bring the original passport used for the booking.
Passengers and luggage go through security checks.
Large Chinese railway stations can be very large.
Ticket gates stop admitting passengers before departure.
Leave enough time for security and passport checks.
Check the full station name carefully.

One city can have several major stations.

For example:

Shanghai Railway Station

and

Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station

are different stations in different parts of the city.

The same is true in many large Chinese cities.

Read next: How to Take China's High-Speed Trains as a Foreigner

Read next: How to Use 12306 as a Foreigner

9. Don't assume your international bank card works everywhere

International bank cards are increasingly useful in China, but you should not expect to tap your Visa or Mastercard directly at every small merchant.

Direct card payments are more common at places such as:

International hotels
Larger department stores
Airports
Some chain stores
Tourist-oriented businesses

For small everyday purchases, mobile payment is often much more convenient.

Cash is also still accepted and can be useful as an emergency backup.

The safest approach is not to choose between cash, card or mobile payment.

Have more than one available.

10. Understand accommodation registration

Foreign visitors staying in China are required to have their accommodation registered.

If you stay in a hotel

Hotels are responsible for registering foreign guests with the relevant public security authorities.

In practice, you normally provide your passport when checking in and the hotel handles the registration.

If you stay somewhere other than a hotel

If you stay in a private home, with friends or family, or in another residence rather than a hotel, you or the person accommodating you generally need to complete accommodation registration within 24 hours of arrival.

Since September 21, 2026, online accommodation registration for foreigners staying in residences other than hotels has been implemented nationwide.

Registration can be completed through official National Immigration Administration online channels. In-person registration through local public security authorities remains available.

This is separate from your Arrival Card.

For most first-time visitors, the simple rule is:

Hotel: give the hotel your passport at check-in.

Private accommodation: make sure the accommodation registration is completed within 24 hours.

Read next: Accommodation Registration in China for Foreigners

11. Keep copies of important documents

Keep digital copies of:

Passport photo page
Visa, if applicable
Travel insurance
Hotel reservations
Flight bookings
Train bookings
Important contact information

It is also useful to keep important information available offline.

Save screenshots rather than relying entirely on cloud storage or an app that requires an internet connection.

A photo or photocopy of your passport is useful as a backup, but it does not replace the original passport when official identification is required.

12. Check your plugs and chargers

China uses 220V / 50Hz electricity.

You may encounter several socket types, with Type A and Type I-style sockets among the most common.

Many modern phone, camera and laptop chargers support a wide voltage range such as 100–240V.

Check the small print on your charger before plugging it in.

If your plug does not fit Chinese sockets, bring a travel adapter.

A compact universal adapter is especially useful if China is one stop on a longer international trip.

13. Plan your route from the airport before you arrive

Your first hour in a new country is much easier when you already know how you are getting to your accommodation.

Before departure, check:

Which airport and terminal you arrive at
Approximate travel time to your hotel
Whether the metro is still running at your arrival time
Whether an airport railway is available
Approximate taxi or ride-hailing options
Your hotel's Chinese name and address

Be especially careful in cities with more than one airport.

For example, Beijing and Shanghai both have multiple major airports, and they can be far apart.

14. Don't build your itinerary too tightly

China is large.

Very large.

Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu and Guangzhou may all appear as simple dots on the same country map, but traveling between them involves significant distances.

High-speed trains make many journeys easier, but fast transport does not make the country small.

For a first visit, spending more time in fewer places often gives you a better experience than racing through five cities simply because a train connects them.

Leave some room in your itinerary for ordinary parts of daily life too.

A neighborhood breakfast shop, an evening walk through a park, a local market or a small café can tell you just as much about a city as its major attractions.

Final 24-Hour Check

The night before your flight, check these one more time.

Entry

[ ] Passport
[ ] Visa or visa-free eligibility confirmed
[ ] Arrival information prepared
[ ] First hotel address saved in English and Chinese
[ ] Return or onward journey information available if relevant

Money

[ ] Alipay installed and set up
[ ] WeChat installed
[ ] International bank card available
[ ] Overseas transactions enabled
[ ] Backup payment method available

Internet

[ ] Roaming, SIM or eSIM arranged
[ ] Essential apps downloaded
[ ] Important information saved offline
[ ] Translation app ready

Transport

[ ] Airport-to-hotel route checked
[ ] Train tickets booked if necessary
[ ] Correct railway stations confirmed
[ ] Hotel Chinese address saved

Documents

[ ] Hotel reservations
[ ] Flight bookings
[ ] Passport copies
[ ] Travel insurance information
[ ] Important contact details

Once those are done, you are ready for China.

One Last Thing

China can look complicated before your first trip because some of its everyday systems may be unfamiliar.

Once you arrive, most of them make much more sense.

You do not need to understand every Chinese app, speak fluent Mandarin or plan every meal before you leave home.

Set up the essentials, keep a few backup options and give yourself enough space to figure things out as you go.

Travel China Like a Local doesn't mean knowing everything before you arrive. It means understanding enough to travel with confidence — and staying curious about the rest.

Official Sources

This guide was checked against information published by:

National Immigration Administration of the People's Republic of China
The State Council of the People's Republic of China
China Railway 12306

Entry policies, visa exemptions and travel procedures may change. Check the latest official information before departure.