China Travel Checklist: What Should I Prepare Before Flying to China?

1–2 weeks before departure: finish the things that can fail

The best time to discover that a bank card will not link to your payment wallet is at home, not at midnight in an airport arrivals hall.

Use the final week before your trip to test the systems that depend on identity verification, SMS messages or app-store access.

Documents

Confirm:

• your passport is valid for the trip;
• you understand the entry rule that applies to your nationality and itinerary;
• your visa, visa-free entry or transit plan is valid for the way you are actually traveling;
• your name is entered consistently on flights, trains and hotel bookings;
• you have onward travel evidence if your entry arrangement requires it.

Save a secure digital copy of your passport information page, but keep the original passport accessible during the trip.

Flights and first hotel

Save:

• flight number;
• arrival terminal;
• first hotel name in English;
• first hotel name in Chinese if available;
• full street address in Chinese;
• hotel phone number;
• check-in date;
• late-arrival instructions.

If you land after midnight, confirm the hotel knows you are arriving late. This matters more than having another sightseeing booking.

Set up at least two ways to pay

A China trip should not depend on one foreign credit card.

Before departure:

• install Alipay and/or WeChat;
• add your eligible international bank card;
• complete any requested identity verification;
• tell your bank you will be traveling if it uses travel notifications;
• check whether the bank can send verification through its app instead of only SMS;
• bring a second physical card from a different issuer if possible;
• plan to keep some RMB cash.

Then do one more thing: remember the PIN for your physical card. It sounds obvious, but many travelers have not used a card PIN in years.

Decide how your phone will connect

Choose your primary connection before flying.

Common options are:

• international roaming from your home carrier;
• a travel eSIM;
• a physical Chinese SIM bought after arrival.

There is no universal best choice. Compare:

• data allowance;
• validity period;
• hotspot/tethering;
• whether your phone is unlocked;
• whether your exact phone model supports the SIM or eSIM;
• whether you need a Chinese phone number;
• whether you can still receive messages on your home number.

If you plan to buy a local Chinese SIM, foreign visitors can use a passport at official operator service halls. Bring the physical passport.

Install the apps you are likely to use

At minimum, prepare:

• Alipay for payment and many local services;
• WeChat for communication and payment backup;
• Amap for China-focused maps and navigation;
• 12306 or another trusted booking platform for trains;
• Trip.com if you prefer an English-friendly booking interface;
• an offline-capable translation app.

Open every app once before departure. Create accounts where needed. Do not assume you can do everything after landing.

Read What Apps Should Foreign Tourists Download Before Visiting China? for the full setup.

Make an offline travel folder

Create one folder on your phone called something obvious such as CHINA TRIP.

Put these inside:

• passport copy;
• travel insurance details;
• flight confirmations;
• train booking references;
• hotel confirmations;
• Chinese hotel addresses;
• attraction tickets;
• emergency contacts;
• bank support numbers;
• a copy of your itinerary.

If you are traveling with someone else, each adult should have access to the essentials. Do not keep the only copy on one person’s phone.

Check your train details carefully

For railway travel, verify the exact station.

Large cities commonly have several major stations. A booking that says “Shanghai Hongqiao” means that station, not simply “any Shanghai station.”

Also confirm:

• departure date;
• departure time;
• station name;
• train number;
• passenger passport number;
• name spelling.

Foreign passengers can use passports for real-name railway booking. Carry the same original document used for the ticket.

Plan the airport-to-hotel transfer before takeoff

Do not leave your first ride as a vague “we will figure it out.”

Know:

• whether you will use metro, airport rail, taxi or ride-hailing;
• approximate travel time;
• where the hotel is relative to the airport;
• whether public transport is still operating when you land;
• whether you have the hotel address in Chinese.

If you arrive late with children, heavy luggage or after a long-haul flight, paying more for a simple transfer may be worth it.

Review medication and health essentials

Pack prescription medication in a sensible quantity for the trip and keep it in original packaging when possible.

Bring a copy of your prescription or a doctor’s letter for medication that may attract customs attention. Rules can differ for controlled or restricted substances, so check official customs and embassy guidance for the exact medication rather than relying on a generic packing blog.

Keep essential medication in your carry-on, not only in checked luggage.

Check what is in your food bag

China has quarantine restrictions on various animal and plant products.

Fresh fruit, meat products, seeds, soil and some other biological items can create customs problems. If you are unsure whether a food or plant item is allowed, check before packing it.

This is especially relevant for travelers who habitually carry fruit, homemade meat snacks or specialty foods through airports.

Pack the right charging gear

China uses 220V electricity. Many modern phone and laptop chargers are rated for 100–240V, but check the label on your actual device.

A compact universal plug adapter is useful.

For domestic flights inside China, pay special attention to power-bank rules. Since June 28, 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China has prohibited passengers from carrying power banks without a clear CCC mark, with unclear CCC markings or from recalled models/batches on domestic flights.

A foreign power bank that was fine on your international flight may therefore become a problem on a domestic sector.

The night before departure

Do a final 10-minute check:

• passport in hand luggage;
• wallet and backup card;
• phone charger;
• mobile data plan ready;
• payment apps logged in;
• first hotel address saved in Chinese;
• flight terminal checked;
• essential medication packed;
• travel documents available offline;
• bank verification method working;
• emergency contacts saved.

Then stop adding new apps and new bookings. A clean, tested setup is more useful than a phone full of travel tools you have never opened.