Six things catch first-time China visitors off guard every time: no Google, no Instagram, no WhatsApp; cash is becoming optional but Alipay and WeChat Pay setup takes planning; your VPN must be installed before you land; a 5G eSIM is better than a roaming plan; your physical passport (not a photocopy) is required at check-in for every hotel; and if you are using the 240-hour transit visa-free policy, your exact entry and exit ports matter more than your itinerary.
This checklist is organised by timeline. Work through it in order. It is designed to be saved offline or printed — you will not have reliable access to foreign websites once you are in mainland China without a VPN.
3 Months Before — Visa and Documents
Check your visa status first. Arriving at the airport with the wrong visa assumption is not recoverable.
- Group A (bilateral visa-free): Some nationalities can enter China without a visa for stays up to 15–90 days, depending on the specific bilateral agreement. Check the official Chinese embassy website for your country — not a travel forum.
- Group B (240-hour transit visa-free): No visa required if your route enters through one of the 65 approved ports and exits to a third country or region. The onward ticket is mandatory; the route must be genuine transit, not a round trip. Check port eligibility carefully — not all cities participate.
- All others: Apply for a tourist visa (L visa) at least 4–6 weeks before departure through the Chinese embassy or a visa application centre in your country. Bring passport photos that meet Chinese specifications (white background, 33×48mm).
Document checklist:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned return date
- Confirmed onward ticket if using 240-hour TWOV (round trip does not qualify)
- Travel insurance policy number saved — minimum coverage USD 100,000 medical recommended; confirm medical evacuation is included
- Register your trip with your government's travel advisory service:
- US travelers: STEP program at step.state.gov
- UK travelers: FCDO travel registration
- Australian travelers: Smartraveller at smartraveller.gov.au
1 Month Before — Connectivity and Payment
This is the step most first-timers leave too late. Sorting connectivity and payment in the final days before departure adds unnecessary stress.
VPN — Install Before You Board
China's internet firewall blocks Google, Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), WhatsApp, Telegram, YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, and most foreign news websites. This is not a partial block — it is complete.
VPN apps are not available in the Chinese App Store or Google Play while you are in China. You cannot download one after landing. Install it before you leave home.
Providers that have maintained consistent China functionality as of 2026: ExpressVPN, Astrill. The landscape changes; check recent user reports on forums like Reddit's r/China before purchasing. A paid plan is worth it — free VPNs rarely work reliably in China.
- Purchase a VPN subscription and install the app
- Test that it connects successfully at home before your flight
- Download offline content from Netflix and Spotify now — both are blocked once you cross the border
SIM Card or eSIM
Standard international roaming plans from home carriers work in China but are expensive and often throttled. A dedicated China SIM or eSIM is better.
- Choose a plan: Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad offer China eSIM plans
- Select 4G LTE or 5G — 3G is not sufficient for WeChat, maps, or video calls
- Data volume: 5GB minimum for a one-week trip; 10GB or more for heavy map and streaming use
- Check that your phone supports the eSIM standard (most phones released from 2020 onward do)
Alipay and WeChat Pay
Cash is rarely necessary in Chinese cities. Supermarkets, restaurants, convenience stores, taxis, and market stalls all accept QR code payment. Foreigners can set up both Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card — this takes 15–30 minutes and should be done before your trip.
- Alipay Tour Pass: Download the Alipay app → Discover → Tour Pass → link a foreign Visa or Mastercard → top up up to CNY 2,000. The balance carries over between visits. Source: global.alipay.com
- WeChat Pay: Download WeChat → Wallet → Add Card → link a foreign Visa or Mastercard. The app verifies via SMS. Daily limit CNY 5,000.
- WeChat account: Create your account and verify your phone number before arriving. WeChat has tightened new account registration — you may need an existing WeChat user to confirm your account. Do this at home where you have unrestricted internet access.
- Notify your bank: Tell them you will be using the card in China to prevent fraud blocks.
- Bring physical backup cash: CNY 200–500 in cash is enough for taxis and rural markets that may not take QR codes. Exchange at airport bank counters (BoCom, ICBC, CCB) or in the city centre. Airport rates are slightly unfavourable — exchange the minimum on arrival.
If you want the exact screens and failure fixes, use the Alipay and WeChat Pay setup guide before starting identity verification.
1 Week Before — Apps and Offline Prep
- Download offline maps: Baidu Maps (the dominant navigation app in China) or Maps.me with your cities pre-downloaded. Google Maps does not display correct locations in mainland China — its coordinates are deliberately shifted.
- Save your hotel address in Chinese: Every hotel will give you a business card with the address in Chinese characters at check-in. Ask for one. If you need a taxi or need to tell emergency services where you are, showing this card is faster and more reliable than any translation app.
- Screenshot emergency numbers: 110 (police), 120 (ambulance), 119 (fire), 122 (traffic). Add your embassy's 24-hour emergency line to your phone contacts now. See the full list at LocalKey Emergency Contacts Guide.
- Install Google Translate with Chinese offline pack: Settings → Offline Translation → Chinese Simplified. The camera mode works without internet and is useful for restaurant menus, hospital forms, and street signs.
- Book key attraction tickets in advance:
- Forbidden City (Beijing): daily visitor cap. Book at least 3 days ahead at the official 故宫 ticketing app or website with your passport number.
- Giant Panda Base (Chengdu): daily cap, book 1–3 days ahead.
- Jiuzhaigou Valley: daily cap, book 2–4 weeks ahead in peak season (May, October).
- West Lake boat tours (Hangzhou): available on-site, no pre-booking needed.
- Check city-specific logistics: If your route includes Chongqing, read the Cyberpunk Chongqing 3-Day Photo Guide before you book hotels; the city rewards planning around metro lines, hills, and night-shoot timing.
- Email yourself: passport data page scan, insurance policy number and emergency assistance phone, hotel confirmation PDFs, and your flight itinerary. Gmail and iCloud email are accessible via VPN; save copies in a format you can open offline.
- Power adapter: China uses Type A (two flat prongs, same as US and Japan) and Type I (angled prongs, same as Australia). If you are travelling from Europe, bring a travel adapter. Voltage is 220V — check your devices can handle it (most laptops and phone chargers can; hair dryers often cannot).
Day of Departure
- Activate your VPN and verify it connects before boarding
- Load an initial balance onto Alipay or WeChat Pay — do this while you still have unrestricted internet
- Charge all devices; bring a power bank (10,000–20,000 mAh capacity)
- Bring your physical passport — hotels in China require the original at check-in. A photocopy or digital copy is not accepted for registration.
- China Customs Declaration: fill in the arrival card on the plane or at the e-gate kiosks. Declare items over CNY 5,000 or USD 800 in value.
First 24 Hours in China
- At the airport: insert your SIM or activate your eSIM. Connect to VPN before opening any foreign apps.
- Test Alipay or WeChat Pay with a small purchase in the airport — a bottle of water or a coffee. Confirm the payment goes through before you rely on it at a market.
- Get your hotel address card from reception. Most hotels give these out automatically; if yours does not, ask.
- Note your hotel's wifi password — some messaging apps need a connection before the VPN fully initialises on a new network.
- Exchange a small amount of cash at an airport bank counter if you want a physical backup (CNY 200–500 is enough for a week in a major city).
- Avoid currency exchange booths that are not bank-operated — stick to BoCom, ICBC, CCB, or BOC counters.
What to Download Before You Land
| App | Purpose | Works in China without VPN? |
|---|---|---|
| Messaging, payments, mini-programs | Yes | |
| Alipay | QR payments | Yes |
| Didi (滴滴) | Ride-hailing | Yes |
| Your VPN app | Internet access | Must install before landing |
| Google Translate (offline Chinese pack) | Translation | Yes (with VPN for sync) |
| Baidu Maps | Navigation | Yes |
| Your eSIM provider app | eSIM activation | Install before landing |
What Will Not Work in China Without a VPN
- Google: Search, Maps, Gmail, Drive, Meet, Translate, YouTube
- Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), Snapchat, TikTok (international version)
- WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal
- Netflix, Spotify
- Most foreign news websites
Quick Reference — Numbers to Save
| Number | Service |
|---|---|
| 110 | Police |
| 120 | Ambulance |
| 119 | Fire |
| 12301 | Tourist complaint hotline |
Add your embassy's emergency line separately. Full listing: Emergency Contacts for China Travelers.
Data sources: Alipay Tour Pass official documentation (global.alipay.com); WeChat Pay international documentation; China National Tourism Administration; cf_payment and cf_sim_esim database, verified May 2026. VPN provider status is subject to change — verify current functionality before purchasing.
Related: China 240-Hour Transit: Eligible Countries & Ports → · Emergency Contacts for China Travelers →