China is one of the easiest countries to travel once three things are in place: a way in, a way to pay, and a way to stay online. Get those sorted before you fly and everything else — taxis, maps, trains, hotels — slots in within your first hour on the ground.
Work down this list before departure. Tick the essentials (entry, money, connectivity) first; the rest you can do on the plane.
Entry: visa or visa-free
Sort how you get in first — it shapes everything else.
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Check if you qualify for visa-free entry
Many nationalities now get 30-day visa-free entry, and 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit covers most of the country. Confirm your eligibility before assuming you need a visa.
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Apply for a tourist (L) visa if needed
If you don’t qualify for visa-free, apply for an L visa well ahead — processing takes time and needs an itinerary and hotel bookings.
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Fill the China arrival card
You can complete the immigration arrival card online before you fly to skip the paper queue on landing.
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Check your passport has 6+ months validity
Standard for entry — renew first if it’s close to expiring.
Money: go cashless with Alipay or WeChat
China runs on mobile QR payments. Set this up before you fly and you’ll pay like a local from day one.
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Install Alipay and link a foreign card
Alipay (and WeChat Pay) now accept foreign Visa, Mastercard and Amex. Alipay is the easiest for tourists — set it up and verify your card before departure so it’s ready on arrival.
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Or set up WeChat Pay
WeChat Pay works the same way and is worth having as a backup — a few places take one and not the other.
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Carry a little backup cash
Cashless covers ~99% of trips, but a few hundred yuan in cash is handy for tiny rural vendors and emergencies.
Connectivity: data + the Great Firewall
You need mobile data the moment you land — and a way around the firewall so Google, WhatsApp and Maps keep working.
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Buy a China-ready eSIM before you fly
A travel eSIM gets you online the instant you land, and most route your traffic outside the Great Firewall so Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Gmail just work — no separate VPN needed.
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Or pick an alternative eSIM
Several providers cover China well. Compare data amounts and firewall routing before you buy.
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Know what’s blocked
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Western news are blocked without a firewall workaround. Plan offline maps and Chinese app alternatives as a backup.
Getting around: DiDi & Amap
Two apps replace a rental car and a paper map — both work for foreigners.
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Install DiDi for taxis
DiDi is China’s Uber, with a full English interface — you pin your destination on a map, so there’s no language barrier. You can also hail it inside Alipay or WeChat with no separate download.
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Install Amap for navigation
Google Maps doesn’t work properly in China (blocked, and the position is offset). Amap (高德) launched an English version in 2025 — it does walking, driving, transit, real-time buses and metro maps, and works in guest mode.
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Book high-speed rail tickets
China’s high-speed rail is the best way between cities. Book with your passport on 12306 or in English on Trip.com.
Bookings: hotels, transfers, tickets
A few things are smoother booked in English before you go.
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Book foreigner-friendly hotels
Not every Chinese hotel registers foreign guests. Stick to international chains or English-listed properties to avoid being turned away at check-in.
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Pre-book an airport transfer
After a long flight, a pre-booked transfer or chartered car with an English-speaking driver beats hunting for a taxi rank.
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Plan your route & must-see tickets
Some big sights (the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army) sell timed tickets that book out — line up your itinerary early.
The moment you land
A quick on-arrival sequence so your first hour is smooth.
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Activate your eSIM & connect
Switch your eSIM line on before leaving the plane or at the gate so you’re online through immigration.
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Open DiDi or find the metro
Hail a DiDi from the arrivals hall, or take the airport metro — top up with Alipay’s transport QR.
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Drop a pin on your hotel in Amap
Save your hotel in Amap so you can always navigate back, in Chinese or English.
Affiliate disclosure — the eSIM, Trip.com and Klook links above may earn us a commission, at no cost to you. They never change which option we recommend. Read the full policy.
Frequently asked questions
What do I really need to set up before travelling to China?
Three things matter most: a way in (visa or visa-free entry), a payment method (Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card), and connectivity (a China-ready eSIM that routes around the Great Firewall). Sort those before you fly and the rest — DiDi for taxis, Amap for maps, hotel and train bookings — falls into place quickly.
Do I need a VPN for China in 2026?
Not necessarily. Most travel eSIMs route your data outside the Great Firewall, so Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Gmail work without a separate VPN. Install a VPN as a backup before you arrive (you can’t easily download one inside China), but for many travellers a good eSIM is enough.
Can I pay everywhere in China with a foreign card?
Physical card terminals are rare. Instead, link your foreign Visa, Mastercard or Amex inside Alipay or WeChat Pay and pay by QR code — this now works across the vast majority of shops, restaurants, taxis and transit. Carry a little cash as a backup for tiny rural vendors.
Which apps should I download before going to China?
Alipay (payments), a China eSIM app, DiDi (taxis), and Amap (maps and navigation, with an English mode). Optionally WeChat as a payment and messaging backup, and Trip.com for booking trains, flights and hotels in English. Download them before you arrive, since some are hard to install once you’re behind the firewall.