Travel China with confidence —
step-by-step guides from visa to payment to getting around

Check passport expiry

Many countries require 6 months validity beyond your travel dates for a Chinese visa.

Confirm visa type or visa-free eligibility

Do you need a visa, qualify for 240-hour transit, or fall under a bilateral exemption? 30 seconds to check.

Buy travel insurance with medical cover

Chinese hospitals expect upfront payment. Insurance with minimum $100k medical cover and emergency evacuation is recommended.

Buy a VPN subscription and install it

You cannot download VPN apps from inside China — the websites are blocked. Subscribe, install on every device, and test it from home before you leave.

Buy your eSIM

Pick an eSIM with China coverage — ideally one routing through Hong Kong to bypass the firewall. Install it before you go.

Set up Alipay and link your cards

Link one credit card and one debit card as backup — small shops' personal QR codes don't accept credit cards, so the debit card will work when credit doesn't.

Set up WeChat Pay (optional backup)

Alipay covers 95% of payments, but some small restaurants use WeChat-only ordering. Set it up as a backup — the app is useful for messaging anyway.

Book a hotel that can check in foreign guests

Not every hotel in China can accept foreign passports. Book through platforms like Trip.com and filter for positive foreigner reviews.

Notify your bank you're traveling to China

Some banks auto-block China transactions as suspected fraud. Set a travel notice in the app or call them — a 5-minute call now saves a headache later.

Test your VPN on every device

Confirm it connects on your phone, laptop, and tablet. Do this from home — once you're in China, VPN provider sites are blocked too.

Install essential apps for China travel

Baidu Maps (replaces Google Maps), Didi (ride-hailing), Trip.com (trains & hotels). Download them now while the App Store isn't restricted.

Learn 10 basic Chinese phrases

Being able to say "thank you" and "how much" changes how people treat you. Start with the essentials.

Save digital copies of passport, visa, insurance

Keep photos or scans in your phone and a cloud drive. If your documents are lost or stolen, backups are your only fallback.

Check in online and confirm flight status

Select your seat early and check for any gate changes or delays. No need to leave this to the last minute.

Withdraw ¥500–1000 in cash

China is 95% cashless, but your payment app will fail at least once. Cash is your emergency backup for taxis, stalls, and broken QR codes.

Put power bank and travel adapter in carry-on

You'll need your phone for everything: maps, payments, translation. Keep it charged during the flight and upon arrival.

Activate eSIM and turn on mobile data

First thing after clearing immigration. Everything that follows — maps, Didi, translation, payment — depends on having internet.

Connect your VPN

Turn on your VPN before opening any app. Without it, WhatsApp messages pile up silently and Google Maps gives you nothing.

Get from the airport to your hotel

Metro is the cheapest and easiest for most airports. Didi (China's Uber) is a good backup — just make sure you know which terminal you're at.

Test Alipay on a small purchase

Buy a bottle of water at a convenience store. If the QR scan works, you're set. If it fails, you have time to fix it — not when you're at dinner.

Confirm hotel handles police registration

Hotels must register foreign guests with local police within 24 hours. Most do it automatically, but ask to be sure. Skipping this can cause problems later.

Try the metro or call a Didi

Take the metro one stop or order a Didi to a nearby cafe. Learn the transport system today so you're not figuring it out when you're late for something.

Save emergency numbers to your phone

110 (police), 120 (ambulance), 119 (fire). Also save your embassy's consular hotline. You won't remember them when you need them.