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First-Time China Checklist

Everything you need sorted before landing in China

  • Check off what you've prepared. We'll tell you what matters most for your trip.
  • No file uploads, no saved account, no sensitive identity data.

Before you book your flight, use the China Visa-Free Checker to estimate whether your passport, entry city, onward destination, and travel dates may fit China's 30-day visa-free entry or 240-hour transit rules.

China Visa-Free Checker

Entry Essentials

These determine whether you can enter China at all. Sort these first.

Passport validity Must be valid 3+ months beyond your planned departure from China
Visa or visa-free eligibility confirmed Check NIA official sources or your nearest Chinese embassy.
Onward / return ticket booked Required for 240-hour transit visa-free; strongly recommended for all entries

Day-One Survival

What you need the moment you land: pay for things, get online, find your hotel.

Alipay or WeChat Pay setup Alipay allows foreign card linking without a Chinese bank account. Test a small transaction before relying on it.
eSIM / roaming / physical SIM China blocks many foreign apps without a VPN. Plan connectivity before you land.
Hotel address in Chinese saved offline Show the Chinese address to taxi drivers or enter it in DiDi. Screenshot it in case you lose connection.
Airport to hotel route planned Know whether you'll take DiDi, airport metro, or taxi before you land. Airport Wi-Fi may require a phone number.

Smooth Travel

These make your trip comfortable rather than stressful. Nice-to-haves worth sorting.

Ride-hailing (DiDi / Amap) DiDi has an English interface. Link the same international card used for Alipay.
Translation app with offline pack Download Chinese–English offline before departure. iOS: Apple Translate (built-in). Android: Microsoft Translator.
Metro / public transport QR code Many cities let you scan a QR code via Alipay or WeChat for the metro — no ticket needed.
Emergency contacts saved China emergency: Police 110, Fire 119, Ambulance 120. Save your embassy's 24-hour consular line.
Medication & health prep Some medications legal abroad are controlled in China. Check with the Chinese embassy drug list.
Power adapter & voltage China uses Type A / Type I sockets, 220V. Most phone chargers are dual-voltage.
Documents backup (offline + printed) Keep offline copies of passport, visa, insurance, and bookings in case your phone dies.

App download guide

We'll show the right download paths for your device on your results page.

Last reviewedJune 18, 2026

Policy and preparation notes should still be checked against official pages before travel.

How it works

  1. Mark each preparation item by its current status before you leave home.
  2. The checklist groups gaps into entry essentials, day-one survival, and smoother travel items.
  3. Choices stay in your browser and the result page gives a prioritized next-step list.

Examples

Payment setupAlipay or WeChat Pay downloaded, registered, linked to a card, and tested.
Internet planRoaming, eSIM, or physical SIM chosen and ready before landing.
Arrival backupChinese hotel address, route notes, documents, and emergency contacts saved offline.

Official sources

National Immigration Administration: Official Arrival Card Filling PortalOfficial serviceNational Immigration Administration: Beware of Fraudulent Websites for Arrival Card Filling2025-12-05The State Council: Payment service guide for overseas visitors to China2024-04-11List of Countries Covered by Unilateral Visa Exemption30-day unilateral visa-free countries, purposes, and validityVisa-Free Transit Policies (240 Hours)240-hour transit countries, ports, route rules, and stay areas