01
A week before departure: prepare offline records
Save your passport details, applicable visa or waiver information, international transport, first accommodation and insurance contacts in separate accessible records. Keep Chinese addresses offline and share the itinerary with a trusted contact. Paper copies help with reference but do not replace required originals.
Check names and document numbers across bookings. After renewing a passport or changing an entry port or international route, contact providers to update records and recheck entry conditions.
02
Payments: prepare an app, a card and cash
Check overseas-user and international-card support in payment apps such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, following the official verification and card-linking steps. Acceptance, limits and fees depend on the account, card network and merchant. Ask your bank about overseas transactions and verification messages; try a small everyday payment after arrival.
Keep another card and some RMB cash as alternatives. Check merchant and ATM card-network logos rather than assuming international cards work everywhere. Use established exchange services and review rates and fees.
03
Connectivity: test contact and verification access
Compare roaming with local mobile plans, checking handset compatibility, unlocking, calls, data and SMS. Ask an authorised telecom outlet about a local SIM and bring the required passport or other identification. Avoid depending entirely on an account you will first access abroad.
Install mapping, translation and travel apps and save station and hotel names in Chinese. After arrival, test contact access, verification messages and navigation. Pack charging equipment and ask your carrier about transport requirements for power banks.
04
Trains: distinguish stations within one city
China Railway 12306 provides an official English enquiry and booking interface. Foreign passengers may use valid passports for real-name tickets under the applicable rules. Match passenger names and document numbers, save the train, date and exact stations, and carry the document used to book.
Stations such as Beijing South and Beijing West are different places. Allow time for entry, security and document checks, and seek staffed assistance if a machine cannot read your document. For third-party bookings, review service fees, change conditions and actual ticket confirmation.
05
Accommodation and reservations: ask concrete questions
Ask accommodation providers about foreign-passport check-in, late arrivals and contact details; for private rentals, clarify non-hotel registration. Obtain written confirmation of room types, stairs or lifts, breakfast, extra beds and luggage storage before booking.
Attraction booking channels differ. Check passport acceptance, staffed alternatives, opening dates and reservation windows. Save confirmations and Chinese names. Opening hours may differ from last admission; avoid placing all reservation-dependent visits on one day.
06
Personal needs and emergency help
Prepare brief bilingual allergy and dietary notes and confirm ingredients when ordering rather than relying on dish names. Keep personal medicines in original packaging with prescription records; check carriage or controlled-item questions with customs and relevant authorities. Seek personal medical advice about activity suitability.
In mainland China, call 110 for police, 119 for fire and 120 for an ambulance. Save your insurer’s assistance number and your country’s mission contact. Give a Chinese address, landmark and callback number when seeking help. For remote routes, check transport, weather and service coverage.
Official sources checked: 2026-10-02. This guide supports planning. Refer to official sources and confirmed providers for time-sensitive arrangements.
Visa & entry guide
