What Should I Set Up on My Phone Before Arriving in China?

Check that your phone is actually unlocked

Before buying any travel eSIM or planning to insert a Chinese SIM, confirm that your phone is carrier-unlocked.

Do not rely on “I finished paying for it, so it should be unlocked.”

Check the device settings or ask the carrier directly.

Also verify the exact model, not just “iPhone 15” or “Samsung Galaxy.” eSIM and network support can vary by model and country of purchase.

Decide which number must stay reachable

Many travelers think only about data. The harder problem can be verification.

Your home number may be connected to:

• your bank;
• credit-card security;
• email recovery;
• Apple or Google account recovery;
• payment apps;
• airline accounts;
• messaging apps.

If your phone supports dual SIM, one practical setup is:

• keep your home line active for SMS and account recovery;
• use a travel eSIM or local SIM for data.

Turn off data roaming on the expensive line if needed.

Before departure, move important accounts away from SMS-only verification where your bank or service supports a more reliable authenticator or in-app approval method.

Choose a primary data plan and one fallback

Your primary connection can be:

• home-carrier roaming;
• a travel eSIM;
• a local Chinese SIM.

For a short trip, roaming may cost more but is simple.

A travel eSIM can be convenient, but read what it actually provides. Some are data-only and do not include a Chinese phone number.

A local SIM can be useful for longer stays and local calls. Foreign nationals can apply with a passport at official service halls of China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.

If the phone is essential for payment and navigation, consider a fallback such as a limited roaming package on your home line.

Install essential apps before crossing the border

Do not make your arrival day an app-installation day.

Install and test:

• Alipay;
• WeChat;
• Amap;
• 12306 or your chosen rail-booking platform;
• Trip.com if you use it;
• your airline app if needed;
• your preferred translation app.

Some apps ask for identity verification, phone verification or card authorization. Complete as much as possible at home.

Prepare mobile payment properly

Linking a card is not the same as being ready to pay.

Check:

• your name matches the card and identity details;
• your bank allows international transactions;
• your bank will approve the card link;
• you know where the scan and pay functions are;
• you can still receive any required verification messages.

Keep a physical card and RMB cash backup.

If your phone is lost, damaged or out of battery, a perfectly configured wallet is useless.

Set up your map before the trip

Install Amap or another map that works well with Chinese places.

Then search for:

• arrival airport;
• first hotel;
• first railway station;
• major attractions;
• any rural or less obvious addresses.

Save the results.

Amap now supports multiple languages, including English, which makes it significantly easier for international visitors than it was a few years ago.

If you use an iPhone, Apple Maps can also be practical in mainland China, but it is still useful to have a China-focused map as a second option.

Save addresses in Chinese

Create a note called CHINA ADDRESSES.

For each hotel include:

• English hotel name;
• Chinese hotel name;
• Chinese street address;
• phone number;
• nearest metro station if useful.

This simple note can rescue you if your map app fails, your driver cannot understand the English hotel name or you reach the wrong branch of a hotel chain.

Download translation data

Use any translation app you trust, but download offline Chinese language data if supported.

Test it in airplane mode.

Also learn how to use camera translation for:

• menus;
• signs;
• vending machines;
• ticket instructions.

Do not assume your preferred cloud-based translation service will always be available exactly as it is at home.

Build an offline document folder

Store local copies of:

• passport information page;
• travel insurance;
• flight confirmations;
• train bookings;
• hotel bookings;
• attraction tickets;
• itinerary;
• emergency contacts.

Screenshots are acceptable for reference, but they are not a replacement for an original passport when a formal identity check requires the document.

Review app permissions

Before travel, check that essential apps have the permissions they need:

• location for maps and ride-hailing;
• camera for QR code scanning and translation;
• notifications for ride and booking updates;
• mobile data access.

At the same time, do not give every app every permission by default. Use the minimum that keeps the function working.

Set your battery strategy

A long sightseeing day can combine:

• GPS;
• mobile data;
• QR payments;
• photos;
• translation;
• train tickets.

That is a heavy battery workload.

Carry:

• a charging cable;
• a compact wall charger;
• a compliant power bank if your itinerary allows it.

If you will take domestic flights in China, review the current CAAC power-bank rule before packing. A power bank that lacks the required CCC marking can be refused on a domestic flight.

Save emergency numbers

China’s main emergency numbers include:

• 110 — police;
• 119 — fire;
• 120 — medical emergency.

Also save:

• your travel insurer;
• your embassy or consulate;
• your bank’s international support number;
• your first hotel.

Final phone test before takeoff

Put the phone in airplane mode, turn Wi-Fi off and pretend you have just landed with no network.

Can you still find:

• your hotel address;
• your booking;
• your passport copy;
• your emergency contacts;
• your first transport plan?

If yes, your phone is ready for the part of travel that apps cannot guarantee.