China Travel Preparation Checklist 2026: Everything to Prepare Before You Fly

What to prepare before a China trip: the complete checklist

Preparing for China is different from preparing for most other destinations. You cannot assume Google Maps will work. You cannot assume your credit card will be accepted. You cannot assume you can download apps after you land. The right preparation — done at home on WiFi — is the difference between a smooth arrival and a stressful first 24 hours.

This checklist covers everything you should do before your flight: documents, apps, money, packing, and the things most guides forget to mention. Do these things in order, and you will land in China ready to explore, not scramble.

Documents to prepare: more than just your passport

Passport: must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date from China. Check this now — airlines can deny boarding if your passport expires within 6 months.

Visa or visa-free eligibility: China has expanded its visa-free transit and visa-free entry programs significantly. Check whether your nationality qualifies for 144-hour transit (6 days), 24/72/144-hour visa-free transit, or the newer 15-day visa-free entry for select countries. The rules change frequently, so verify on your local Chinese embassy website, not a third-party blog. If you need a visa, apply at least 4 weeks before departure.

Hotel bookings: print or screenshot every hotel confirmation with the address in Chinese characters. Chinese hotels are required to register foreign guests with the police, and they will need your passport and visa/entry information at check-in. Having the Chinese address ready also helps with taxi drivers and Amap navigation.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never affects what we recommend or what you pay. We are not paid to publish positive reviews.

Travel insurance: medical care in China requires upfront payment at public hospitals unless you have insurance that covers direct billing. International travel insurance with medical coverage is strongly recommended — a hospital visit for something minor (food poisoning, sprained ankle) can cost RMB 2,000-5,000 without insurance.

Digital copies of everything: save photos of your passport ID page, visa, hotel bookings, flight confirmations, and insurance policy to your phone. Email them to yourself as backup. Cloud access may be slow or blocked in China, so save them to your phone’s local storage, not just online.

Apps to install before your flight: the 6 essentials

This is the most important section of this checklist. Some of these apps are blocked in China, which means you cannot download them after you land. Install all of the following at home on WiFi:

1. eSIM app — for mobile data the moment you land. Airport WiFi requires a Chinese phone number, so an eSIM is your lifeline. See our best eSIM for China travel guide to choose the right provider. Install the eSIM profile at home but do not activate data roaming until you land.

2. VPN app — for guaranteed access to Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Gmail. An eSIM usually works for these, but the Great Firewall changes frequently and routing is not guaranteed. See our best VPN for China travel guide. Critical: VPN provider websites are blocked in China — you must download the VPN at home.

3. Amap (Gaode Maps) — the only reliable navigation app in China. Google Maps does not work. Download the app and the offline map of your first city before departure. Our Amap guide for foreigners shows you exactly how to use it without speaking Chinese.

4. Alipay or WeChat Pay — China runs on mobile payment. Link your foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay before departure, complete identity verification (passport photo), and you can pay everywhere by scanning QR codes. See our WeChat Pay guide for foreigners for step-by-step setup.

5. Translation app — Google Translate (with Chinese offline pack downloaded) or Microsoft Translator. Point your camera at menus and signs for instant translation.

6. Official taxis or pre-booked transfers – use the airport taxi queue, hotel-arranged transfer, or a reputable booking platform when metro is inconvenient. Save the Chinese address before departure.

For a detailed walkthrough of all six apps, see our China Digital Survival Kit.

Money: how to pay in China as a foreigner

Mobile payment is the default. From street food to temple tickets, QR code payment dominates. Cash is increasingly not accepted outside rural areas. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card before departure — this is the single most impactful preparation step after installing your eSIM.

Bring some cash as backup. Exchange RMB 1,000-2,000 (about $140-280) at your home bank or airport before departure. Use cash for: small street vendors who only accept WeChat (sometimes you cannot get their QR to scan), rural areas, and emergencies. Chinese ATMs accept foreign cards at major banks (Bank of China, ICBC), but the interface may be Chinese-only.

Notify your bank that you will be in China. Otherwise your card may be blocked for fraud prevention the first time you use it.

Packing: what to bring and what to skip

Do bring:

• Power adapter — China uses Type A and Type I plugs (same as US two-prong plus angled three-prong). Voltage is 220V.
• Portable battery pack — you will use your phone heavily for navigation, payment, and translation. A dead phone in China is more disruptive than in most countries.
• Tissues and hand sanitizer — public restrooms in China often do not provide toilet paper or soap. Carry pocket tissues everywhere.
• Medications — bring any prescription medication in original packaging with a doctor’s note. Some common Western over-the-counter medicines are harder to find in China or have different brand names.
• Comfortable walking shoes — you will walk significantly more than you expect. Chinese cities are built for walking and public transit, not driving.
• A small crossbody bag — pickpocketing is rare in China compared to European tourist cities, but a zipped crossbody bag is still safer than a backpack in crowded subway cars and markets.

Do NOT bother bringing:

• Too many clothes — clothing in China is inexpensive, and you will probably buy things. Pack for 5-7 days and plan to do laundry or buy.
• An umbrella — cheap umbrellas are sold everywhere for RMB 10-20.
• Snacks from home — Chinese convenience stores and supermarkets have an enormous variety and international snacks are available in major cities.
• Physical guidebook — your phone with the apps above replaces a heavy book. Save the weight for souvenirs.

Health preparations: what most checklists skip

Air quality: check the AQI (Air Quality Index) for your destination cities before departure. If you have asthma or respiratory sensitivity, bring N95 masks — they are sold in China but quality varies. Air quality is worst in winter (coal heating season) and best in summer and after rain.

Water: tap water is not drinkable anywhere in China. Hotels provide bottled water or electric kettles (boiled water is safe). Buy bottled water from convenience stores — it costs RMB 2-5 per bottle.

Food safety: street food is generally safe if it is cooked hot in front of you. Avoid raw vegetables and unpeeled fruit from street stalls unless you can wash them with bottled water. Restaurants with long queues of locals are your best quality signal — Chinese diners are particular about food quality.

Vaccinations: no vaccinations are required for entry into China. Routine travel vaccines (Hepatitis A, Typhoid) are recommended but not mandatory. Check with your doctor or travel clinic 4-6 weeks before departure.

The night before your flight

Open every app on this list and confirm it launches correctly. Test your VPN connection. Confirm your eSIM is installed (but not activated). Verify that your Alipay or WeChat Pay shows your linked card. Take screenshots of your first hotel address in Chinese. Download offline maps. Charge everything to 100% — your phone, battery pack, and any other devices. The first 3 hours after landing are when preparation pays off.

---

Recommended Tools for Your China Trip

Add your data plan to the checklist before you fly. The picks below work on arrival-day activation, so you have maps and translation from the first minute in China.

Checklist searches this page covers

This checklist supports searches around China travel preparation, China travel tips, apps to download before China, eSIM, VPN, Alipay, WeChat Pay, hotel bookings, train tickets, and arrival card. The most important rule is to prepare digital tools before the flight, not after landing.