Coming to China
Landing & setup
Getting online: SIM vs eSIM
The single most important thing to understand: a local Chinese SIM does not get you past the Great Firewall. It routes through Chinese networks — Google, Gmail, and WhatsApp stay blocked. An international eSIM routes via Hong Kong or Singapore and bypasses the firewall without a VPN. Pick based on what you need.
| China SIM (Unicom / Mobile) | International eSIM (Airalo, Nomad…) | |
|---|---|---|
| Beats the firewall? | No — still need a VPN | Yes — Google/WhatsApp work |
| Chinese phone number? | Yes — receive app SMS codes | No |
| Setup | Passport + face scan at a flagship store (~30 min) | Scan a QR before you fly — 2 min |
| Must buy before arriving? | No | Yes — provider sites are blocked in China |
| Best for | Long stays; registering Chinese apps | Short trips; accounts already set up |
Long-stayers: a physical China SIM (for SMS codes) plus an international eSIM in the second slot. Short trip with WeChat/Alipay already set up: just the eSIM.
Payments: why card-binding fails (and fixes)
Binding a foreign Visa/Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay works now — no Chinese bank account needed. But it fails in five predictable ways. Set Alipay up first; it's the easier path. Amex is not supported by either.
- 1Your bank silently blocks the first charge. It sees a China IP and flags fraud. Fix: call your bank before you fly and whitelist 'China mobile payments.'
- 2Passport scan rejected from glare. Scan on a dark matte surface with side natural light, whole page, no crop.
- 3VPN on during setup. GPS in China + IP abroad = fraud block. Turn the VPN off to bind and to pay.
- 4Name mismatch. Must match your passport exactly — middle names, hyphens, spacing.
- 53D-Secure code goes to your home number. Keep both numbers reachable during setup.
Transactions ≤¥200 are free; above ¥200 there is a 3% cross-border fee. Single transaction cap ¥5,000 (¥35,000 fully verified), ¥50,000/year. Refunds return to your card in 3-7 days, not your wallet — do not panic. Carry ¥200-1,000 cash as a buffer; some street vendors are QR-only despite the February 2026 cash-acceptance law.
Register your stay within 24 hours
Every foreigner must register their address with local police within 24 hours of arriving at each place they stay — every time you change address, not just on entry. In a hotel? They do it automatically at check-in — you do nothing. Airbnb, a rental, or a friend's place? You (or your host) must go to the local police station (派出所) within 24h with your passport, visa/entry-stamp copies, and proof of address. Some cities allow online registration (Shanghai: gaj.sh.gov.cn/crj/24hr; Shenzhen: via WeChat).
Most Airbnb hosts do not register you, but the legal duty is still yours. Fine up to ¥2,000, and it can block a later visa extension or hospital registration. For stays over a week, sort it on day one.
When a hotel says 'we can't take foreigners'
It's not random. Budget hotels and small-town guesthouses often turn foreigners away — not for a license reason (the 'foreigner license' requirement was scrapped in May 2024), but because staff don't know how to file a foreign passport in their system and fear being fined for errors. International chains never refuse.
Book through Trip.com — it surfaces properties that accept foreign passports. Avoid Booking.com and Airbnb for smaller cities.
Policy Policies change often — re-check the official source before you travel.