Your China travel checklist.
Everything to sort before you fly — visa, airport arrival, payments, data and the apps you'll actually use — in the order that makes your first day in China effortless. Each step links to a full how-to guide.
China is one of the easiest countries to travel once four things are in place: a way in, a route from the airport, a way to pay, and a way to stay online. Get those sorted before departure and the remaining tasks become simple setup checks instead of airport decisions.
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 an L tourist visa if needed
If you don’t qualify for visa-free, start the L-visa process well ahead — processing takes time and may need itinerary or lodging details.
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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.
Local movement: ride, map, rail
Pick the tools you will open first when you leave the airport or station.
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Choose your ride-hailing route
Decide whether you will open DiDi directly or through Alipay/WeChat, then save your first hotel and airport pickup notes before landing.
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Pick a mainland map app
Prepare one China-ready map for walking routes, metro exits, bus options and hotel pins. Use the transport guide to decide which app fits your phone.
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Confirm any intercity rail legs
If your route has trains, keep the passport number, station names and ticket channel consistent before you start booking.
Bookings: hotels, transfers, tickets
A few things are smoother booked in English before you go.
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Check China’s public holidays and working weekends
If your dates overlap Spring Festival, Labour Day or National Day, reduce city changes and move transport and timed-attraction bookings to the front of the plan.
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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
Arrange your first pickup before departure if you want an easier arrival: a reserved transfer or chartered car keeps the taxi queue from becoming your first China task.
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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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Save your airport-to-hotel plan
Choose your airport route before boarding: know the final public-transport option, your hotel area, and the licensed taxi, DiDi or transfer fallback if you land late.
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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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Choose the first transfer
Use the signed ride-hailing zone, taxi queue or airport metro; avoid deciding while juggling bags and roaming setup.
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Save the hotel location
Keep the first hotel pinned in your map app and screenshot the address so you can recover if data or search fails.
Disclosure — some eSIM, rail, hotel and transfer links above are commercial. The checklist order and linked editorial guidance stay independent. Read the checklist disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
What should I arrange before going to China?
Four things matter most: a way in (visa or visa-free entry), an airport-to-hotel plan, 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 for payments, a China data/eSIM app, one ride-hailing route, one mainland map app, and a booking app if you will reserve trains or hotels in English. WeChat is useful as a payment and messaging backup. Download before arrival so you are not troubleshooting app stores on airport Wi-Fi.