Everything you need to land in China
Visa, payments, connectivity, registration, transport, health — a practical playbook for arriving and living in China. Policy-sensitive content shows real verification dates and official sources. Re-check before travel because policies change.
Your guide, by stage of the journey
Six deep guides — tap any to open. Each is current, specific, and sourced.
1
Before you fly
- Set up and test connectivity services before departure
- Check online & overseas payments are enabled, then bind your card
- Foreign Arrival Card via the official channel
Read the checklist →
2
Visa & entry
- Which of the 3 tracks you're on (see above)
- Customs limits, arrival card, fingerprinting
- HK / Macau are separate · Tibet needs a permit
Read guide →
3
Landing & setup
- SIM or eSIM — what each one changes, and what it doesn't
- Payments: why card binding fails, and what to do
- 24h non-hotel registration — check online filing locally
Read guide →
4
Daily life
- Trains (12306, passport), DiDi, metro QR, bikes
- Save a local map and your destination's Chinese address
- Food: vegetarian / halal / allergy survival, tap water
Read guide →
5
Health, safety & emergencies
- 110 / 120 / 119 — and what to say if you don't speak Chinese
- Bringing medicine: check ingredients, quantity, documents
- Tourist-area risks and how to handle them
Read guide →
6
Culture & etiquette
- Don't tip · "face" and how "no" is said indirectly
- QR codes for everything · shared-space norms vary
- What surprises foreigners most
Read guide →
Specific questions, one-page answers
Foreign cards, arrival card, VPN, train tickets, 240-hour transit — get the answer first, then come back to go deeper.
How to fill in China's digital arrival card
Where to fill China's digital arrival card (official NIA portal only), what you'll need, and how the 240-hour transit form differs.
How to pay in China with a foreign card
Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay with your foreign card before you fly. Which app to lead with, what fees to expect, and how to fix card-binding failures.
Do you need a VPN in China? eSIM, SIM & apps explained
What works on an international eSIM vs a mainland Chinese SIM, which apps are blocked, and the practical setup most travelers pick in 2026.
How to book China train tickets as a foreigner
The official 12306 English app: registration, foreign-card payment, boarding with your passport, and when Trip.com is worth the small fee.
China's 240-hour visa-free transit: how it works
Who qualifies for China's 240-hour visa-free transit, the onward-ticket rule, where you can go, and the mistakes that get travelers turned away.
When is the best time to visit China?
April–May and September–October for most places; winter for Harbin ice, Nov–Mar for Sanya sun. Never the Golden Weeks.
Can foreigners use DiDi in China?
Yes — international app with your foreign number, or the mini-program in Alipay/WeChat. Cheap, fixed fares, English UI.
Can I still use cash in China?
Cash works everywhere in theory, mobile pay works everywhere in practice. Bring both, lean on your phone.
Should I take the high-speed train or fly within China?
Under ~1,000 km the train wins on total time and comfort; over that, fly. Book trains on 12306, flights on Trip.com.
Do I need a visa to visit China?
Which of China's three entry tracks you're on depends entirely on your passport — check before you book anything.
eSIM vs local SIM in China: which is better?
eSIM for convenience and open internet; local SIM for price and a Chinese number. Most travelers only need the eSIM.
What apps do I need for traveling in China?
Seven apps cover payments, maps, rides, trains and translation. Install and log into all of them before departure.
Is China safe for solo travelers?
One of the world's safest countries for solo travel. Crime is rare; traffic and scams are the real things to watch.
Do I need travel insurance for China?
Not required for entry, but the one thing standing between you and a five-figure hospital bill. $30–80 for two weeks.
How do I get from Shanghai Pudong Airport to the city?
Maglev for speed and fun, metro Line 2 for budget, taxi after 9:30pm. Have your hotel in Chinese characters.
What should I pack for a trip to China?
VPN, adapter, offline packs, checked medicines, tissues, backup cash. Everything else you can buy there.
Which cities should I visit on my first trip to China?
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Shanghai → Guangzhou by high-speed rail, plus one nature stop. 2–3 weeks, done right.
Do these before you board — order matters
- Install a VPN (two of them) and test — VPN sites are blocked once you're in China; use obfuscated protocols.
- Set up Alipay + WeChat, bind a foreign card — Call your bank first to whitelist “China mobile payments”; get a friend to verify your new WeChat.
- Download offline maps + translate — Amap, Google Translate Chinese offline pack, 12306 (verify your passport early — it can take days).
- File the China Digital Arrival Card — Within 72 hours of landing; screenshot the QR.
- Book timed-entry tickets — Forbidden City, Panda Base sell out ~2 weeks ahead.
China Survival Pack
Print / save PDFVisa, payments, connectivity, must-install apps, accommodation registration — the whole checklist on one page. Print it or save as PDF and take it on the plane.