First-Time China Checklist
(2026)

By China Travel OS  ¡¤  Updated 2026  ¡¤  Everything you need to prepare before visiting China

I've lived in China for years. Every time a friend visits for the first time, I send them a version of this list. This is the cleaned-up, battle-tested, 2026 edition ¡ª organized by when you need to do each thing, not by category. Start at the top. Check things off as you go.

Part 1: Before You Fly

Do these at home, with stable WiFi and your passport in hand. Some of these take a few days (eSIM delivery, bank approvals), so don't leave them for the night before.

Passport & Visa

• Check your passport validity. Must have at least 6 months left from your entry date. If it expires sooner, renew now ¡ª airlines will deny boarding.
• Apply for a Chinese tourist visa (L visa). Most nationalities need one. Apply at your local Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC). Processing takes 4¨C5 business days. Some nationalities may qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit ¡ª check eligibility before you apply.
• Make copies of your passport. One physical copy in your bag, one photo on your phone, one in your email. Hotels register you with the police ¡ª having a copy speeds things up.

Payments

China runs on mobile payments. Cash exists but it's inconvenient ¡ª many places don't keep change. Set these up before you fly.

• Download Alipay and link your foreign card. Visa / Mastercard are best, Amex works but has more rejections. Verify your identity with your passport in the app. Takes ~10 minutes. Full Alipay setup guide
• Download WeChat and set up WeChat Pay as backup. Useful for small shops, mini-program ordering, and backup payment. More finicky than Alipay. Full WeChat Pay guide
• Add a second card if you have one. Risk-control freezes can hit one card and not the other. I keep a Visa and a Mastercard in both apps.
• Tell your bank you're traveling to China. Otherwise your first Alipay transaction might get flagged as fraud and blocked.

Internet

Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail ¡ª many Western services are inaccessible on mainland networks. You need two things: a way to get online, and a way to get around the block.

• Buy and install an eSIM before you fly. Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad all work. Some travel eSIMs route data through Hong Kong or Singapore, which may make certain blocked services available without a VPN, but routing varies by provider and plan. 3¨C10 GB for a 1¨C2 week trip, $8¨C20. Full eSIM guide
• Install and test a VPN. Pick one provider, install it, log in, test Gmail and YouTube. Do NOT wait until you land ¡ª VPN provider websites are blocked in China. Choose a provider with recent China reports and test it before departure ¡ª availability and reliability change over time. Full VPN setup guide
• Download offline maps. Open Amap or Apple Maps and download the offline map for your destination city. Google Maps data in China is outdated ¡ª don't rely on it.

Essential Apps

• Download Amap (¸ßµÂµØͼ). It's the Google Maps of China ¡ª accurate, real-time traffic, English UI may be available (check your app version). Apple Maps also works well in China and has English labels. Full apps guide
• Download a translation app. Google Translate with the Chinese offline pack downloaded, or Pleco (the best Chinese-English dictionary). Camera translation is your superpower ¡ª point at menus, signs, packaging. Full apps guide
• Download DiDi (µÎµÎ³öÐÐ). China's Uber. Has an English interface, accepts foreign cards via Alipay. Full apps guide
• Download Meituan (ÃÀÍÅ). For food delivery. Mostly Chinese UI, but the photo-heavy interface is navigable. Links to your WeChat or Alipay for payment.

Travel Essentials

• Book your first night's accommodation. Hotels need to register you with the police within 24 hours. Trip.com has English listings and foreign card payment.
• Book trains in advance if traveling during Chinese holidays. Trains sell out 2¨C3 weeks ahead during Spring Festival, National Day (Oct 1¨C7), and Labor Day (May 1¨C5). Full train guide
• Get travel insurance. Make sure it covers medical evacuation. Public hospitals in China are efficient but rarely accept foreign insurance directly ¡ª you pay upfront and claim later.
• Pack a universal power adapter. China uses Type A and Type I sockets (220V). Most hotel rooms have USB ports, but bring an adapter for your laptop.

Part 2: When You Land

You just got off the plane. Do these in order ¡ª they take about 15 minutes total and make the rest of your trip frictionless.

• Turn off Airplane Mode. Your eSIM should connect within 30¨C60 seconds. If it doesn't, go to Settings ¡ª Cellular ¡ª turn on the eSIM line and set it as your data line.
• Turn on your VPN and connect. Pick a server close to China (Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore). Test by opening Google.com.
• Open Alipay, do a test payment. Scan any QR code ¡ª even a vending machine at the airport works. Make sure the payment goes through before you're standing at a restaurant without backup.
• Open Amap or Apple Maps, check your route to the hotel. If you're taking the metro, Amap gives step-by-step transit directions including which exit to use. Google Maps won't give transit directions in China.
• Message someone at home. "Landed, eSIM works, payment works." It takes 30 seconds and saves your family from googling "China number emergency."

Part 3: Your First 48 Hours

The first two days set the tone. These three things will make you feel like you know what you're doing ¡ª even if you don't.

• Learn the metro. Buy a single-journey ticket at any station machine (has English). Or better: open Alipay ¡ª Transport ¡ª get the city's transit QR code. Scan at the gate. Metro is the fastest way around any Chinese city and costs £¤2¨C8 per ride.
• Order something digitally. Even if it's just a coffee. This is not about the coffee ¡ª it's about proving to yourself that the system works. Open Alipay, scan the shop's QR code, pay. If ordering via mini-program (Starbucks, Luckin), use WeChat ¡ª its mini-program support is better.
• Book your first train. If you're traveling between cities, book your first leg on Trip.com. It's the easiest entry point ¡ª full English, foreign cards, clear seat selection. For later trips, graduate to Alipay's 12306 mini-program to save the booking fees. Full train guide

Part 4: Things Tourists Always Worry About

These are the questions I get from every first-timer. Short answers up front.

Is China Safe?

Yes. Violent crime against foreigners is extremely rare. The most common safety issue is traffic ¡ª drivers don't always yield to pedestrians, even at crosswalks. Look both ways, always. Solo female travelers: China is safer than most Western cities at night, but standard precautions apply (don't follow strangers to "tea ceremonies" or "art exhibitions" ¡ª they're scams).

Will My Credit Card Work?

Yes ¡ª through Alipay and WeChat Pay. Your physical Visa/Mastercard usually won't work at most shops (China skipped the credit card era and went straight to QR codes), but once it's linked in Alipay, you can pay at the vast majority of places. See the Alipay guide for the full setup.

Can I Use Google Maps?

No. Even with a VPN, Google Maps' China data is years out of date. Streets can be offset and unreliable, businesses are missing, transit directions don't work. Use Amap (¸ßµÂµØͼ) or Apple Maps instead. Both have English interfaces and accurate, real-time data.

Do People Speak English?

In hotels and airports: some. In taxi, restaurant, or street: almost none. This is not a problem ¡ª translation apps handle 90% of situations. Show the driver your destination in Chinese characters (Amap gives you this). At restaurants, point at photos on the menu or use camera translation. The language barrier feels intimidating before you arrive and becomes a non-issue within 24 hours.

Part 5: Common Mistakes

Every one of these has happened to someone I know. Learn from them.

Part 6: Recommended Reading

This checklist is the overview. Each of these guides goes deep on one topic.

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