Some things you can figure out when you arrive. These 12 things you cannot.
Most of them involve apps or websites that are blocked in China. Do them at home, on your own WiFi, before you fly.
The Checklist
✅ 1. Install Your eSIM
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU LAND. eSIM provider websites are blocked in China. The QR code won’t load. Install and activate on home WiFi.
Compare China eSIMs → — Saily, Airalo, and Holafly all bypass the firewall.
✅ 2. Set Up Alipay & Link Your Card
Takes 10 minutes. Saves hours of confusion. Link your Visa/Mastercard. Complete passport verification.
Full step-by-step Alipay guide →
✅ 3. Download a Map App
Apple Maps works great on iPhone. Android users: download Amap (高德地图).
✅ 4. Install a VPN — Even If You Might Not Need It
If you end up on hotel WiFi, you’ll want one. Install and test before departure.
✅ 5. Download WeChat
Even if you use Alipay for payments, WeChat is China’s universal communication app. Hotels, tour guides, new friends — everyone uses WeChat. Register with your foreign number.
✅ 6. Book Your First Night’s Hotel
Immigration may ask for your hotel address. Have the booking confirmation ready — printed or on your phone.
✅ 7. Download Google Translate Offline Pack (Chinese)
Download the Chinese language pack for offline use. You won’t always have signal. Screenshot translation in the Google Translate app is surprisingly good with Chinese text.
✅ 8. Save Key Addresses in Chinese Characters
Your hotel name + address in Chinese. The train station you’re arriving at. The tourist sites you’re visiting. Save them in a note on your phone.
“Please take me to [paste Chinese address]” — show this to taxi drivers.
✅ 9. Inform Your Bank
Call your bank and tell them you’re traveling to China. Otherwise they may block your card when Alipay tries to charge it. “I’ll be traveling to China. Please don’t block my card. I’ll be using Alipay.”
✅ 10. Bring a Power Bank
Your phone is your wallet, map, translator, and camera. If it dies, you’re stranded. A 20,000mAh power bank is essential. Buy it before you fly — electronics are more expensive at the airport.
✅ 11. Bring Some Cash (Just in Case)
¥500-1000 in RMB. 99% of places take Alipay, but that 1% — a random street food stall, a taxi in a small town — will ruin your day if you have zero cash.
✅ 12. Print These Documents
- Passport photo page (2 copies)
- Visa (if applicable)
- Hotel booking confirmation
- Return flight ticket
- Travel insurance policy
Border officers rarely ask for all of them. But if they do, having paper copies ready gets you through in 30 seconds instead of 30 minutes.
Things You DON’T Need to Worry About
Getting a Chinese SIM card. With an international eSIM, you don’t need one. Read the guide →
Learning Chinese. You’ll be fine with Google Translate + pointing at things. Learn “xièxiè” (thank you) and “nǐ hǎo” (hello) — that’s enough.
Safety. China is one of the safest countries for tourists. Violent crime against foreigners is virtually zero. The biggest risk is getting lost — and that’s what the map app is for.
Start here: Best eSIMs for China →