China Trip Checklist
Print this, work through it, and your first days in China will go smoothly.
New to China? Follow the start-here planfirst — it puts entry rules, payments, trains and arrival in the right order. The checklist below is the printable version.
Before you book
Check if your passport qualifies for visa-free entry (50 countries, 30 days; UK and Canada included, US and India not)
Check the expiry date and scheme terms. If not eligible, look at 240-hour transit or apply for a visa well ahead.
Passport valid for at least 6 months after your entry date
Book your first 2–3 nights of accommodation
Hotels register you with the police automatically — you need a real booking.
Keep a copy of your hotel bookings and return/onward ticket
Airlines and border officers may ask for them.
Money and payments
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card before flying
Do the card verification at home, not at the airport.
Carry ¥300–500 in cash as backup
Tell your bank you are traveling so your card is not blocked
Make sure your phone has a working payment method for DiDi (rides)
Phone and apps
Decide on data: international roaming or an eSIM before you fly
You cannot buy a local SIM until you land.
Install Amap (Gaode) or Baidu Maps — Google Maps does not work reliably
Install a translation app and download the offline Chinese pack
Install DiDi for taxis and either 12306 (English) or Trip.com for trains
12306 accepts foreign passports and foreign cards; Trip.com is the easier fallback.
If you need apps that do not work in China, sort out access before you land
Packing
Comfortable walking shoes — you will walk far more than you expect
Universal power adapter (China uses 220V, Type A/C/I sockets)
Small pack of tissues — public toilets often have no paper
Power bank — navigation apps drain your battery
Layers and a light rain jacket, whatever the season
First days on the ground
Carry your passport with you — it is required for trains, flights and many sights
Book train tickets at the 15-day release for popular routes and holidays
Same-day tickets are often gone; holiday trains sell out in minutes.
Book major sights ahead: Forbidden City, Shaanxi History Museum, Potala Palace
Most require online reservation with your passport.
At the airport, avoid the taxis that approach you — use the official queue or DiDi
Test your payment app with a small purchase on day one
Details on each step: entry rules,arrival,payment setup,what to pack and thefirst-week guide.
Questions about your trip?
If you want help with routes or want to ask me something directly, you can find me here.