What's inside

A readiness score plus a simple timeline from one week out to your first night.

Use the checklist to catch the big gaps. Use the Full Kit when you want exact screenshots, airport cards, official links, and failure playbooks.

1. Step 1

   7 days before China

   • Check passport validity and your visa, visa-free, or transit situation through official sources and your airline
   • Save hotel booking, onward ticket if relevant, travel insurance, and emergency contacts
   • Install Alipay, WeChat, DiDi China or in-app ride-hailing access, a China-ready map app, translation app, and 12306 or a trusted train-booking platform if using trains
   • Choose your landing-day data plan: roaming, travel eSIM, or China SIM plan
   • Save your hotel name, phone number, and full address in Chinese
   • Confirm foreign-passport check-in with your hotel, especially if it is small or you arrive late
2. Step 2

   48 hours before China

   • Log in to Alipay and WeChat on the phone you will carry in China
   • Find the payment-code screen and scan merchant QR function
   • Link an eligible international card where possible, and prepare a second card plus small RMB cash backup
   • If using DiDi, register before flying, add payment if possible, and switch to English if available
   • Save your Chinese hotel address, airport-to-hotel Plan A and Plan B, route screenshots, terminal/pickup info, and destination pin
   • Save this checklist offline and screenshot the First-Day Backup Card
3. Step 3

   Before boarding

   • Phone fully charged
   • Power bank in carry-on and compliant with current airline / China domestic flight rules
   • Passport accessible, not in checked luggage
   • Hotel address in Chinese saved offline
   • Main payment and backup payment ready
   • Airport-to-hotel Plan A and Plan B saved
   • Complete online arrival card only through official channels if applicable
   • Save secure offline copies of key travel documents; do not share passport, visa, card, or QR screenshots publicly
4. Step 4

   Landing first hour

   • Connect your phone: roaming, eSIM, SIM, or airport Wi-Fi fallback
   • Clear immigration and keep passport accessible
   • Collect luggage before choosing transport
   • Avoid unofficial ride offers from strangers
   • Use saved Chinese hotel address for taxi, DiDi, or hotel pickup
   • Use official taxi queue, DiDi, metro, airport rail, hotel pickup, or pre-booked transfer only when the route and payment are clear
   • If apps fail, switch to backup: official taxi queue, cash, hotel help, or saved screenshots
5. Step 5

   First evening

   • Check in at the hotel; passport check or scan may be part of normal registration
   • Confirm payment or deposit method with the hotel
   • Test your main payment app on a low-risk small purchase after check-in
   • Save embassy, hotel, and emergency numbers offline
   • Plan tomorrow’s first metro, DiDi, taxi, or walking route and save screenshots
   • Charge your phone before going out again