๐Documents & Entry0 / 7
Check your passport has 6+ months validity before your trip
Apply for China tourist visa (L visa) at your nearest Chinese consulate โ book early, takes 4โ7 business days
Check if your country qualifies for visa-free entry (72/144/240-hour transit visa-free or full 30-day visa-free agreements)
Save a digital AND printed copy of your visa and passport photo page
Bring your original passport โ many attractions and hotels require it for check-in
Get travel insurance that covers China (including medical evacuation)
Save your hotel's address in Chinese characters โ you'll need this at immigration
๐ฑEssential Apps to Download BEFORE Arrival0 / 8
โ ๏ธ Download these before you land โ the App Store in China may not have all of them.
WeChat โ essential for everything: messaging, paying, accessing mini-programs
Alipay โ China's primary payment app (set up with your foreign card before arriving)
DiDi โ China's Uber equivalent, has an English interface
Baidu Maps (็พๅบฆๅฐๅพ) or Amap (้ซๅพทๅฐๅพ) โ Google Maps doesn't work reliably in China
Trip.com โ book trains, flights, and hotels with English support
Google Translate โ download Chinese language pack for offline use
A VPN app โ install and test it before arrival (VPNs must be set up outside China)
Your bank's app โ notify your bank of travel dates
๐ณMoney & Payments0 / 7
Set up WeChat Pay with a foreign Visa/Mastercard (now supported for visitors)
Set up Alipay International โ link your foreign card
Bring some USD or EUR cash to exchange on arrival โ airports have exchange counters
China is nearly cashless โ card-only restaurants are rare, but mobile pay is everywhere
ATMs accept foreign cards but may have limits โ UnionPay network is most reliable
Notify your bank/credit card of China travel to avoid blocks
Budget roughly ยฅ500โยฅ800/day (โ$70โ$110) for a comfortable mid-range trip
๐ถInternet & VPN0 / 6
Install a VPN before you arrive โ ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Astrill work reliably in China
Test your VPN works before departure
Buy a local SIM card on arrival (China Mobile/Unicom at airport) or get an eSIM before leaving
Note: Google, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook are blocked in China without a VPN
WeChat works fine without a VPN and is how most people communicate locally
Download offline maps (Google Maps or Amap) before specific trips to remote areas
๐จAccommodation0 / 6
Book hotels that accept foreign passports โ not all local guesthouses can register foreigners
Check that your hotel is "foreigner-friendly" (ๅคๅฎพๆฅๅพ
่ต่ดจ)
Save your hotel's Chinese address on your phone โ use it to show taxi/DiDi drivers
Booking.com, Trip.com, and Agoda work well for China hotels
Airbnb availability is limited โ some listings may not be able to legally host foreigners
Most hotels offer luggage storage and can help arrange onward transport
๐Getting Around0 / 6
Book high-speed train tickets on Trip.com or 12306.cn (requires passport details)
Trains require your passport at ticket collection and security gates โ keep it accessible
Download your train tickets as a screenshot in case you lose connection
DiDi is the safest way to get taxis โ it shows the driver's plate, name, and rating
Subway systems in major cities are world-class, English-signed, and very affordable
Airport express trains exist in Beijing (ยฅ25), Shanghai (Maglev ยฅ50), and other major cities
๐ฃ๏ธLanguage & Communication0 / 6
Learn 5โ10 basic Mandarin phrases: ไฝ ๅฅฝ (hello), ่ฐข่ฐข (thank you), ๅคๅฐ้ฑ (how much?), ๅๆ (toilet), ๅธฎๅธฎๆ (help me)
Download Google Translate's Chinese language pack for offline camera translation
WeChat has a built-in translation feature โ long-press any message to translate
Most younger Chinese people understand some English in major cities
Show addresses and names in Chinese characters โ use this site's Travel Cards
Restaurant menus often have photos โ point-and-order works surprisingly well
๐ซBooking Tickets in Advance0 / 7
โ ๏ธ These sell out weeks or months ahead โ book before your trip.
Forbidden City (Palace Museum) โ book online at dpm.org.cn, opens 60 days ahead
Shanghai Museum โ free but requires online reservation
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park โ buy online, no walk-up sales in peak season
Great Wall (Mutianyu) โ buy on official site or via Trip.com
Terracotta Army โ buy online at sy-museum.com
Popular restaurants (e.g. Haidilao hot pot) โ WeChat or Dianping reservation recommended
High-speed train tickets โ book 30 days ahead, popular routes sell out fast
๐ฅHealth & Safety0 / 7
Check if any vaccinations are recommended for your trip (consult your doctor 4โ6 weeks ahead)
Bring prescription medications with an English doctor's note and the original packaging
Air quality varies โ bring a small N95 mask for heavily polluted days (check AQI app)
Tap water is not drinkable โ buy bottled water or use a filtered bottle
China's emergency number is 120 (ambulance) and 110 (police)
Major cities have international hospitals with English-speaking staff โ save the nearest one's number
Travel insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended
๐ค๏ธWhat to Pack0 / 8
A power bank โ China travel involves a lot of mobile scanning and navigation
Universal travel adapter (China uses Type A and Type I sockets)
Comfortable walking shoes โ cities involve a lot of walking
Light layers โ weather varies dramatically between north and south China
Small backpack for day trips โ many attractions prohibit large bags
Tissues/toilet paper โ some public toilets don't provide paper (though cities are improving)
Hand sanitiser
A physical notebook or wallet for cards โ your phone is your lifeline, keep it charged
๐ง Cultural Tips0 / 7
Tipping is not expected or customary in China โ you may even offend a server
Queuing norms differ โ be patient at train stations and tourist sites
Smoking is banned in most indoor areas in major cities, but rules vary
Photographing people without permission is considered rude โ always ask
Showing frustration or raising your voice is considered very poor form โ stay calm
The peace sign (โ๏ธ) in photos is common and friendly
WeChat QR codes are how Chinese people exchange contacts โ have yours ready
๐Emergency Contacts0 / 8
Save your country's embassy or consulate number in Beijing and your destination city
US Embassy Beijing: +86-10-8531-4000
UK Embassy Beijing: +86-10-5192-4000
Australian Embassy: +86-10-5140-4111
Canada Embassy: +86-10-5139-4000
China emergency: Police 110 ยท Ambulance 120 ยท Fire 119
Save your hotel's number and address in Chinese
Share your itinerary with someone at home