Your China Trip Survival Kit: Everything You Need Before You Go

📱 Your Phone: Do You Have the Right Apps?

Here's the thing about China: the apps you use every day at home probably won't work here. Google Maps shows wrong directions. WhatsApp doesn't send messages. Uber doesn't exist. And you can't pay with your foreign credit card at most places.

You'll need to download a new set of apps before you arrive — WeChat and Alipay for payments, Didi for rides, Amap for navigation, and a few others.

Not sure which ones you actually need? The full guide breaks it down by category and tells you what each app does.

📶 Your Connection: eSIM, SIM Card, or Roaming?

You'll need internet access the moment you land — for maps, translation, ride-hailing, and messaging. The question is which option suits your phone and your trip length.

Three ways to get online in China:

• 📱
  eSIM

  Buy online before you go, activate on landing, no physical card needed. Best if your phone supports it and you want zero hassle. This type of card usually only provides data traffic and allows the use of overseas applications such as WhatsApp and YouTube. However, it does not offer Chinese mobile phone numbers. If you plan to use Didi or order takeout and other services that require receiving calls, it is recommended that you purchase a physical SIM card.

• 🆔
  Tourist SIM

  Buy at the airport counter after you land. Requires your passport. Gives you a Chinese phone number. However, due to domestic network restrictions, many foreign apps won't work — you'll want to set up a VPN before departure.

• 🌍
  International roaming

  Most expensive, but zero setup. Check with your carrier first.

🔒 Your VPN: Accessing the Internet Freely in China

Here's a reality check: Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube — none of these work on China's domestic internet. If you rely on any of them for communication, work, or entertainment, you need a VPN set up before you arrive.

The keyword is before — VPN websites and apps are blocked inside China, so you can't download one after you land.

🗣️ Your Language Skills: How Much Chinese Do You Need?

You can absolutely travel China without speaking Chinese. But you'll have a much better time — better service, better prices, better interactions — if you learn even a dozen phrases.

The honest breakdown:

• 😅
  Zero Chinese: You'll survive. English is common in hotels and tourist spots, but expect frustration at restaurants and local shops.
• 👍
  10–15 phrases: You'll be fine. Being able to say "thank you," "how much," and "check please" changes how people treat you.
• 🚀
  50+ phrases: You're ahead of most travelers and will navigate independently.

🎒 Your Luggage: What's Different About Traveling in China?

Packing for China isn't drastically different from any other trip — but there are a few things that catch first-timers off guard:

• 🚻 Public toilets often don't have toilet paper (bring your own)
• 🗺️ Google Maps won't work in China (download local maps)
• 🌡️ The climate varies massively between north and south
• 👟 You'll walk a lot more than you expect

✅ The Ultimate Pre-Departure Checklist