First-time China travel has a higher preparation overhead than most destinations. Not because it’s difficult, but because the specific setup — mobile payments, apps, VPN, train tickets — needs to be done before you arrive, not after. Many of these things literally cannot be done from inside China without prior setup.
This checklist works backwards from your departure date. Go through it in order.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
6-8 Weeks Before Departure
Visa Application
Apply for your Chinese tourist visa (L visa) unless your nationality qualifies for visa-free entry or a transit exemption. The process typically takes 4-7 business days once submitted, but allow 2-3 weeks to gather documents and handle any unexpected complications.
Documents to prepare:
- Passport with at least 6 months validity and 2 blank pages
- Passport photo (white background, recent)
- Completed visa application form (from the Chinese Embassy website for your country)
- Round-trip or outbound flight booking
- Hotel confirmation for at least the first night
- Bank statement or proof of funds (required by some nationalities)
Check the Chinese Embassy website for your specific nationality — requirements vary.
Flights and Major Transport
Book your international flights if you haven’t already. Check whether you’ll need domestic flights within China (e.g., to reach Xinjiang, Hainan, or northeast China efficiently) and book those too.
First and Last Night Accommodation
Book at least your first night in China before you arrive. Showing up with no confirmed accommodation is technically a visa compliance issue (you’re required to have a destination) and practically stressful after a long international flight.
Forbidden City and Mogao Caves Booking
If Beijing is on your itinerary, book Forbidden City tickets now — they require advance online reservation at guim.com.cn and can sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn.
If Dunhuang/Mogao Caves is on your itinerary, check availability at mgk.com.cn. The special cave access tickets have very limited availability.
3-4 Weeks Before Departure
Book Train Tickets
Chinese train tickets open 15 days before departure on 12306.cn and Trip.com. Set a reminder. For popular routes (Beijing-Xi’an, Xi’an-Chengdu, Shanghai-Hangzhou-Suzhou) on weekends or near holidays, tickets sell within hours of going on sale.
Use Trip.com (formerly Ctrip) for the most foreigner-friendly experience — English interface, accepts international Visa/Mastercard, sends e-tickets by email.
Book your trains in order of the journey: first leg first. Don’t leave the most important inter-city connection to the last minute.
Set Up Alipay
Download Alipay on your smartphone. Open the app and go through the international user setup — add an international Visa or Mastercard. This takes a day or two to verify.
Why this must be done now: Alipay’s verification process can take 24-72 hours. You need a working Alipay before you arrive because cash is increasingly not accepted at local restaurants, taxis, tourist sites, and convenience stores.
Backup option: WeChat Pay also accepts international cards for foreign visitors. Set up both if possible.
Buy Travel Insurance
China travel insurance is straightforward to arrange from any major travel insurance provider. Ensure your policy covers:
- Medical treatment in China (hospitals in major cities accept foreign patients; costs are manageable but not free)
- Medical evacuation (critical for altitude destinations like Tibet)
- Trip cancellation and delay
- Baggage loss
Pre-existing conditions: read the policy carefully. Some standard policies exclude conditions that your doctor would consider routine. For older travellers or those with medical histories, consider a specialist policy.
Book Any Remaining Accommodation
Don’t leave accommodation to chance for busy periods. Use Booking.com or Trip.com. Confirm that the accommodation accepts foreign guests (most hotels and hostels on these platforms do).
1-2 Weeks Before Departure
Install and Test Your VPN
This must be done before you arrive in China. App stores and VPN download sites are blocked within China.
Install a paid VPN service (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, or Astrill are reliable for China). Test that it connects and allows access to Google and other blocked services. Download the app and save login credentials on your device.
You’ll use the VPN for: Google Maps, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, any Western news sites, and accessing your home country’s streaming services.
Download Essential China Apps
Install and open these before you leave:
- Baidu Maps (百度地图): Better than Google Maps for China. Download offline maps for your destinations.
- Didi (滴滴): China’s Uber equivalent. Set it up with your phone number and payment method.
- Trip.com/Ctrip: For any remaining bookings.
- WeChat (微信): Even if you don’t know Chinese people, some businesses and guesthouses communicate exclusively on WeChat.
- Alipay (支付宝): Already set up from step above.
- Translation app: Google Translate (needs VPN), or Microsoft Translate (works without VPN), both with offline Chinese language packs downloaded.
Get Some RMB Cash
Bring the equivalent of US$100-200 in RMB (Chinese yuan) for the first couple of days. You’ll use cash for taxis if drivers don’t accept Alipay, small guesthouses, tips (uncommon in China but useful to have), and any situation where mobile payment fails.
Where to get RMB:
- Your home country bank (generally poor exchange rates, but convenient)
- Airport ATMs in China (better rates — withdraw on arrival)
- Currency exchange at your home country airport (moderate rates)
Avoid: Currency exchange desks at Chinese airports (worst rates).
Check Your Destination Apps and Offline Maps
In Baidu Maps, find your hotel and hotel address in Chinese. Screenshot it. Taxi drivers in smaller cities don’t speak English, but showing them your hotel address in Chinese on your phone is universally effective.
2-3 Days Before Departure
Print These Documents
- Visa (if paper visa — e-Visas are electronic)
- All train tickets (print or screenshot the e-tickets with QR codes)
- Hotel confirmation for at least the first accommodation
- Travel insurance policy number and emergency contact
Physical paper is a backup against phone battery failure or connectivity issues at a critical moment.
Check Your Passport
- Validity: at least 6 months beyond your return date
- Blank pages: at least 2 (some embassies require 2-3 clear pages)
- The biographical page photo should match your current appearance (particularly for those who’ve changed appearance significantly since passport issue)
Pack Appropriately for Altitude or Season
Check the altitude and seasonal temperatures for every destination in your itinerary. The common mistake is packing for coastal China and arriving in Lijiang (2,400m) or the Tibetan Plateau (3,600m+) with no warm layers.
Essential additions for altitude destinations:
- Down jacket or insulated layer
- Warm hat and gloves if going above 3,000m
- Sunscreen (UV is more intense at altitude)
- Altitude sickness medication (Diamox — discuss with your doctor if going above 3,000m)
Share Your Itinerary
Send a copy of your itinerary, hotel addresses, and emergency contact details to someone at home. Include your Chinese tourist visa number, passport number, and travel insurance policy details.
At the Airport (Day of Departure)
Last-Minute Checks
- VPN working on your phone? (Connect and test — disconnect once on the plane)
- Alipay loaded and functioning?
- Offline maps downloaded for first destination?
- RMB cash in your wallet or accessible in your bag?
- Power adapter/converter for China’s Type A and I sockets? (US-style plugs work without adapter in many places; UK and EU plugs need adapters)
- Portable power bank for your phone? (A must for full-day days out in China)
Things People Realise They Need at the Airport
- Downloaded Chinese input keyboard for your phone (useful for searching in Baidu Maps)
- A note in Chinese saying “I am allergic to X” if you have food allergies
- Photos of your hotel address in Chinese for the taxi from the airport
- Cash for the airport taxi if you haven’t set up Didi yet
The preparation overhead for China is real but front-loaded — once you’re there and set up, the country is remarkably easy to navigate. The first 24 hours after landing, when you need to get from the airport to your hotel and start functioning, are the time when the preparation pays off.