China trip checklist

Last verified 9 October 2026. Tick items as you go — progress is saved on this device.

Passport, phone and travel adapter next to a ticked checklist

4+ weeks before

Check whether you need a visa. 79 countries can visit visa-free, and 57 can use 240-hour visa-free transit to a third country. Check your passport and dates →
Check your passport's expiry date. 240-hour transit needs at least 3 months of validity; many airlines expect 6 months. Work, study and journalism always need a visa.
Book hotels and save each Chinese address. Since 2024 the authorities have told hotels to accept foreign guests, but some small or rural places still refuse — book through a platform that shows foreign guests are accepted. Hotels register you with the police automatically; if you stay in a private home, you must register at the local police station within 24 hours. Save the address as a taxi card →
Book high-speed trains on 12306 (English) or Trip.com. Verify your identity first, and type your name exactly as in your passport, with no spaces or hyphens.

1 week before

Install Alipay, link a Visa or Mastercard, and verify your passport in the app. Payments up to ¥200 have no fee; above that a 3% fee applies. Limits are about US$5,000 per payment and US$50,000 per year. Your bank may add its own foreign-transaction fee. Source
Install WeChat and set up WeChat Pay as a backup — some shops take only one of the two. Payments under ¥200 are fee-free; new card users in 2026 get 60 days with no fee on payments under ¥1,000. WeChat is also how most people in China will message you. Source
Install your map and ride apps. Amap (Gaode) has an English version. Apple Maps works in China; Google Maps does not. For taxis, open the Didi mini-program inside Alipay, which uses your linked card.
Plan your internet. Google (Search, Gmail, Maps, YouTube), WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, X and many other foreign services are blocked in mainland China. Data roaming on your home SIM, and many travel eSIMs bought abroad, usually still reach them; Chinese SIM cards and hotel Wi-Fi do not. Tell family how to reach you (WeChat works everywhere).
Carry some cash in RMB. Phone payments are everywhere, but cash is legal tender and shops may not refuse it. Bank of China, ICBC and China Construction Bank ATMs usually accept foreign cards.
Pack a plug adapter. China uses 220 V, 50 Hz, with type A, C and I sockets.
Save offline taxi cards for your hotel, the airport and stations — big Chinese text to show drivers. Open taxi cards →

48 hours before you fly

Fill in the arrival card online. Since 20 November 2025 you can do it in advance on the National Immigration Administration website, the “NIA 12367” app, or the WeChat or Alipay mini-programs. Paper cards and kiosks are still available at the border if you forget. Source
Using 240-hour transit? Keep your onward ticket handy — a confirmed flight, train or ship to a third country or region, departing within 240 hours. The airline checks it at check-in.
No health declaration is needed (it was dropped in November 2023). Only travellers with symptoms such as fever must report to customs.

When you arrive

Turn on the metro code. In Alipay, open Transport, choose your city and activate its ride QR code; fares are charged to your linked card.
Want a local SIM? China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom have counters in major airports. You need your original passport and a face scan for real-name registration.
Save the emergency numbers: police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119, traffic accidents 122, tourist complaints 12301.

During the trip and before you leave

Get to train stations at least 30 minutes early. Ticket gates close a few minutes before departure, and passports often don't work at the automatic gates — use the manual lane.
Claim your tax refund. Spend ¥200 or more in one participating store in one day and you can get VAT back when you leave. Many stores now pay the refund on the spot (with a card hold until you depart). Since July 2026 the process is paperless and refunds work across provinces. Keep the goods unused. Source

FAQ

Can I pay with a foreign credit card in China?

Yes, mostly through Alipay or WeChat Pay with your Visa or Mastercard linked. Big hotels, major attractions and large stores also take foreign cards directly, but many small shops and street vendors accept only phone payments or cash.

Do I need a VPN in China?

Foreign services like Google and WhatsApp are blocked on Chinese networks. Many visitors rely on data roaming from their home SIM or an eSIM bought abroad, which usually still reaches these services. Many visitors also install a VPN before they fly; tourists are rarely penalised for using one, but connections are often slow or unreliable and only approved services are technically allowed. More on internet in China →

Do I still have to fill in a paper arrival card?

No, you can fill it in online before you travel (since November 2025). Paper cards and kiosks remain available at the border.