What to know before you go.

1. Check entry rules before you book around them

China entry and visa rules can change by nationality, passport type, route, and travel date. Before buying non-refundable transport around a visa assumption, check the latest information from the Chinese embassy or consulate that serves your location, your airline, and other relevant official authorities.

• Make sure the name on flights and train bookings matches your passport.
• Keep a digital and offline copy of your passport information page and key bookings.
• Save your first hotel name, phone number, and address in both English and Chinese.

2. Get your phone working before you need it

Mobile data affects almost everything else: maps, ride-hailing, translation, payment verification, train bookings, and hotel communication. Sort it before you land if possible.

Read the China eSIM & Internet Guide.

3. Set up payments before arrival

QR payments are extremely common in mainland China. Many foreign visitors prepare Alipay or WeChat Pay using a supported international card, but verification, card support, transaction limits, and merchant acceptance can vary.

• Try account verification and card linking before your flight. If WeChat asks a friend to scan a QR code, see WeChat verification without a friend.
• Keep a physical bank card as a backup.
• Carry a modest amount of cash for edge cases rather than depending on one payment method.
• If a QR payment fails, try a smaller amount or a different supported method instead of assuming your whole account is unusable.

Read the Alipay guide or open the full China payment guide.

4. Download a small set of useful apps

You do not need twenty apps. Start with the few that solve the biggest first-trip problems.

Start with the 10-day China itinerary for first-time visitors, prepare the essential travel apps, then use the China train travel guide to book with your passport.

5. Keep trains and city transport simple

High-speed rail is one of the easiest ways to connect major Chinese cities, but first-time visitors should leave extra time for large stations and identity checks.

• Use the exact passport details required by your booking platform.
• Check the station name carefully; large cities often have multiple major railway stations.
• Arrive earlier than you would for a small commuter station, especially on your first trip.
• Save the Chinese name of your destination so you can show staff or a driver.

Landing for the first time? Read what happens when you land, from immigration to your onward transport. If you plan to book a car, read DiDi in English, step by step before you leave the terminal. For city trains, check how to pay for the metro.

6. Save your hotel details in Chinese

A hotel address in Chinese is one of the highest-value screenshots on your phone. It helps with taxis, ride-hailing pickups, late-night returns, and asking a local person for directions.

• Keep the hotel name, Chinese address, and phone number together.
• Carry your passport when the hotel requires it for check-in or registration.
• If you are arriving very late, message the property in advance rather than assuming the front desk procedure is the same everywhere.

For check-in details and choosing a suitable property, see the China hotels guide for foreign visitors.

Staying with friends or in a rented apartment? See how to register a non-hotel stay online.

7. A few phrases matter more than perfect Chinese

You do not need to speak Mandarin to enjoy a first trip, but short, specific phrases can remove friction at restaurants, hotels, taxis, and pharmacies. Save a short list of Chinese phrases for travelers before you go.

• Save phrases for allergies or foods you cannot eat.
• Keep your destination written in Chinese instead of relying only on pronunciation.
• Use translation tools, but confirm serious allergy, medical, legal, and safety information directly with a qualified person.

8. Do not overbuild your first itinerary

China is large. A first trip feels much better when you spend enough time in each place to understand it instead of collecting train stations.

First-trip checklist

1. Confirm current entry requirements from official sources.
2. Arrange mobile data and save offline backups.
3. Set up at least one mobile payment method and keep a backup.
4. Download your essential apps before arrival.
5. Save every hotel address in Chinese.
6. Check railway station names carefully.
7. Keep your route simple enough to enjoy the trip.

Open the full China travel checklist.