China First Trip Checklist (2026): What to Sort Before You Fly

TL;DR: Work out your entry route first (visa, 30-day visa-free, or 240-hour transit), then fill in the free online arrival card. Link a foreign card to Alipay and WeChat Pay at home and still carry some cash. Install an eSIM and your key apps before you board. Book trains on 12306, and pack a plug adapter for 220V sockets. Save 110, 119 and 120 in your phone.

Most first-trip problems in China happen in the first hour after landing: a payment app that still needs verifying, no mobile data, or a train ticket nobody booked. Nearly all of it can be sorted from home.

1. Entry: pick your route and check your passport

China has three common ways in for a short trip, and the rules differ.

• 30-day unilateral visa-free entry. Ordinary passport holders from the countries on China’s list can enter without a visa for business, tourism, visiting family or friends, exchanges or transit, and stay up to 30 days. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) list includes most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and several Gulf states. The US is not on it. The waiver runs until 31 December 2026 for 48 of the countries, until 31 December 2027 for Russia, and has no end date for Brunei. Your passport must be valid for at least as long as you plan to stay.
• 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit. This covers nationals of 57 countries, including the US, the UK and Canada. You must be travelling through China to a third country or region, with an onward ticket that has a confirmed seat and date. You enter at one of 65 designated ports and stay within the permitted areas of 24 provinces. Your passport needs at least three months’ validity. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan count as separate regions, so a US–China–Hong Kong route works. US–China–US does not. Full details are in our 240-hour visa-free transit guide.
• A regular visa. You need one if neither of the above fits your nationality or route, or if you’re going to work, study or report.

For both visa-free options, the stay is counted from 00:00 on the day after you arrive.

Your checklist:

• Confirm your nationality is on the right list for your route.
• Check your passport’s expiry date against your route’s rule.
• For transit, book the onward flight to a third country or region before you go.
• Carry printed or saved copies of your hotel bookings and return or onward tickets. The Chinese embassy FAQ recommends bringing proof that matches your purpose of travel.

2. Fill in the online arrival card (free)

Since 20 November 2025, foreigners can submit their arrival card online before travelling. The official page is https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. You can also do it through the “NIA 12367” app or the official WeChat and Alipay mini-programs.

• It is free. The NIA has warned about fake sites that charge a fee for this. Only use the official channels.
• If you can’t do it in advance, smart devices at the arrival port let you fill it in there, and paper cards are still available.

3. Money: set up mobile payment before you leave

Mobile payment is everywhere in China. The UK government’s travel advice describes cashless payment through WeChat or Alipay as “almost universal”. Do the identity checks while you still have home Wi-Fi and your bank’s app to hand.

• Link an eligible foreign bank card to Alipay and to WeChat Pay (Weixin Pay). You don’t need a Chinese bank account. WeChat says you don’t need a +86 number either, as long as your number can receive SMS codes. Our Alipay and WeChat Pay setup guide walks through it.
• Know the limits and fees. According to the Shanghai government, foreign cards linked to Alipay or Weixin Pay can be used for up to US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year. Payments of ¥200 or less are generally free. Above ¥200, a fee of 3% of the full amount may apply. WeChat’s own help page lists ¥6,500 per transaction, ¥50,000 per month and ¥65,000 per year for international cards. It also says international cards can’t send red packets or make transfers.
• Tell your bank you’re travelling so your first payments in China aren’t blocked as suspected fraud.
• Carry some cash anyway. The UK advice notes that outside major cities, credit cards are not always accepted and ATMs are limited. In Shanghai, ATM withdrawals with overseas cards are generally capped at ¥3,000 per transaction, and your bank may set its own limits.
• Check banknotes when you get them. The UK advice warns that counterfeit ¥100 notes are common, including from ATMs.

4. Connectivity: install an eSIM before departure

Install and set up your eSIM at home, then switch it on when you land. Data on arrival is what makes everything else work: payment, maps, ride-hailing and translation.

• Install the eSIM profile before you fly. Our eSIM guide compares the options.
• Some familiar services are blocked in mainland China. The UK government lists Google, Facebook, YouTube and X as permanently blocked, and says other sites may sometimes be blocked too. It also notes that Chinese law requires online services such as VPNs to be licensed. Plan for this before you go. For example, download offline copies of anything you’ll need and share a contact method with family that works in China.

5. Apps to install and sign into at home

Install these and log in before you go. Many need an SMS code, so it’s easiest while your home SIM is working normally.

• Alipay for payments, plus mini-programs such as the arrival card.
• WeChat for messaging and WeChat Pay. Many hotels, guides and restaurants share contacts through it.
• A translation app. Download its offline Chinese language pack.
• Amap (Gaode Maps). The Shanghai government’s guide says there’s an English version, AMap Global, on iOS and Android, with route planning for driving, public transport, walking and cycling, plus a taxi-booking feature.
• Railway 12306 (or a booking platform such as Trip.com) for train tickets.
• DiDi for ride-hailing. Its official store listing says it has an English interface, supports login with a non-Chinese mobile number, translates chat with drivers between English and Chinese, accepts international bank cards, and has 24/7 in-app English customer service.

6. Trains: book on 12306

• Register on 12306 with your passport. The English site only accepts valid foreign passports as ID.
• Book when sales open. 12306 says online presale runs for 15 days, including the day of purchase. Sales and changes are open 05:00–01:00 (05:00–23:30 on Tuesdays). Refunds can be made 24 hours a day.
• Foreign cards work. MTR’s ticketing page lists international credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard as accepted payment on 12306.
• Know the refund fees. Refunds are free 8 or more days before departure. After that, the fee is 5% more than 48 hours out, 10% between 24 and 48 hours, and 20% under 24 hours, with a minimum of ¥2. You can change a ticket once. Our 12306 booking guide covers registration step by step.
• Bring the passport you booked with. It’s your ticket for getting into the station and onto the train.

7. Hotels: registration is the hotel’s job, so bring your passport

Under Article 39 of China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law, when a foreigner stays in a hotel, the hotel registers the stay and submits it to the local police.

• Check in with your passport. You’ll be registered at the front desk.
• When you book, check that the property can check in foreign passport holders, especially smaller or budget places. Messaging the hotel before you pay is the easiest way to be sure.
• Staying somewhere other than a hotel (a friend’s home or a rented flat)? You or your host must register with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. Since September 2026, the NIA has offered this online nationwide through its website, the “NIA 12367” app, and WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. Failing to register can mean a warning and a fine.
• Carry your passport every day. The UK advice notes that police do random ID checks and do not accept printed copies.

8. Plugs and voltage

• China runs on 220V, 50Hz.
• Electrical Safety First lists three plug types for China: Type A (two flat parallel pins), Type C (two round pins) and Type I (two flat pins in a V-shape, often with a flat earth pin).
• Check the label on each charger. If it doesn’t say it handles 220V (for example “100–240V”), you’ll need a voltage converter, not just an adapter.

9. Insurance and health

• Buy travel insurance that covers medical treatment and, ideally, medical evacuation. Shanghai’s official emergency guide notes that when you arrive at hospital, you’ll likely be asked to pay.
• Keep your policy number and the insurer’s 24-hour phone number offline on your phone.
• Bring enough of any prescription medicine for the whole trip, in its original packaging.

10. Emergency numbers

Save these to your contacts now. The Beijing government says these nationwide emergency calls are free.

• 110: police
• 119: fire
• 120: ambulance and first aid
• 122: traffic accidents

Shanghai says its 110 line handles English and seven other foreign languages, and that 119 and 120 are also available in English there. Elsewhere, have your translation app ready. Know your exact address in Chinese characters, too: a screenshot of your hotel’s address card works well.

11. A few useful phrases

Save these in your notes, with the characters, so you can show them if your pronunciation doesn’t land.

• Hello: 你好 (nǐ hǎo)
• Thank you: 谢谢 (xièxie)
• How much is it?: 多少钱？(duōshao qián?)
• I don’t understand: 我听不懂 (wǒ tīng bù dǒng)
• Do you speak English?: 你会说英语吗？(nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?)
• Where is the toilet?: 洗手间在哪里？(xǐshǒujiān zài nǎlǐ?)
• I want to go here: 我要去这里 (wǒ yào qù zhèlǐ). Show this with your map.
• Can I pay by card?: 可以刷卡吗？(kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?)
• Help!: 救命！(jiùmìng!)

FAQ

Do I need a visa for my first trip to China? It depends on your passport and route. Ordinary passport holders from the countries on China’s unilateral list can stay up to 30 days visa-free (most until 31 December 2026). Nationals of 57 countries can use the 240-hour transit option if they’re flying on to a third country or region. Otherwise, you need a visa.

Does the online arrival card cost anything? No. The NIA says the online arrival card is free and has warned about fake sites charging fees. Use https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ or the official NIA, WeChat or Alipay channels.

Can I rely only on Alipay and WeChat Pay? In cities, mostly yes. Still carry some cash and a physical card as backup. Outside major cities, cards aren’t always accepted and ATMs are limited. Payments over ¥200 via a linked foreign card may also carry a 3% fee.

Will my hotel register me with the police? Yes. If you stay in a hotel, the hotel handles your registration when you check in with your passport. If you stay in a private home, you or your host must register within 24 hours, which can now be done online through official NIA channels.

How early can I book high-speed train tickets? Online presale on 12306 is 15 days, including the day you book. Refunds are free up to 8 days before departure, and fees rise from there.

What plug adapter do I need for China? Sockets in China take Type A, C and I plugs, at 220V and 50Hz. A universal adapter covering those types works. Check that your chargers are rated for 220V.