Coming to China
Landing & setup
Getting online: SIM vs eSIM
A local Chinese SIM uses mainland networks and does not by itself change access to restricted international services. Some roaming or travel eSIM plans use offshore routing, but this depends on the provider and plan. A local number is useful for verification texts. Check coverage, tethering, routing and whether a Chinese number is included before purchase.
| China SIM (Unicom / Mobile) | International eSIM (Airalo, Nomad…) | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to restricted services | No — mainland network rules still apply | Often yes — depends on plan and routing |
| Chinese phone number | Yes — receives app verification codes | Usually none |
| How to get it | Passport and real-name registration, at a store or airport desk | Buy online, before or after arrival |
| Buy before landing | Not required | Not required — but handy to have ready |
| Best for | Needing a Chinese number for codes, longer stays | Offshore mobile data, shorter stays |
Consider a local SIM if you need a Chinese number for verification texts, and compare roaming or travel eSIMs if offshore mobile data matters more. Whether to use both depends on your device, length of stay, data needs and budget. Check eSIM device support and real-name requirements in advance.
Payments: why card-binding fails (and fixes)
Eligible international cards can be linked to Alipay, Weixin Pay or UnionPay without a Chinese bank account. Supported card networks, limits, fees and verification requirements vary by platform, issuer and account; follow the prompts in the app. Keep at least one backup payment method.
- 1Issuer-side checks. Make sure online and overseas payments are enabled and your bank's registered phone or other authentication is reachable; if binding fails, contact the payment platform or issuer.
- 2Passport photo rejected for glare. Scan on a dark matte surface with side natural light, whole page, no crop.
- 3Name does not match the passport. It must match exactly — including middle names, hyphens and spaces.
- 4Verification codes unreachable. Make sure your verification channel works during binding.
- 5Platform risk controls. Follow the app's prompts or contact support.
Fees and limits for international-card payments vary by platform, card, verification status and transaction type. Check the amount and fee shown in the app before confirming. Refund timing follows the payment product's page and your issuer. Carry a modest amount of RMB cash in case a card, app or connection is temporarily unavailable.
Register your stay within 24 hours
Hotels normally submit accommodation registration at check-in. For a private home, rental or other non-hotel stay, you or the host must register within 24 hours of arrival and register again after changing address. From 20 March 2026, the NIA began piloting online registration in Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Hubei, Guangxi, Chongqing and Sichuan, with gradual expansion planned; online and offline registration carry equal validity and offline channels remain available. Elsewhere, or if online registration is unavailable, use the local public-security registration channel.
Do not assume a private host has completed your registration — confirm the property can handle it when booking and keep the confirmation. Failing to register as required may bring a warning and a possible fine; registering within 24 hours of each stay and again after moving avoids the issue.
When a hotel says 'we can't take foreigners'
Accommodation providers should not refuse a guest solely because the guest is foreign, and should not post rules refusing overseas guests. If a desk hesitates, it is often unfamiliarity with filing a foreign passport — showing your documents and staying patient usually resolves it.
Before booking, confirm that the property can check you in with a foreign passport and keep the confirmation. If a confirmed property refuses check-in, contact the booking platform, 12367 (24/7 policy help and complaints in Chinese and English) or the relevant local authority.
Policy Policies change often — re-check the official source before you travel.