China Pre-trip Checklist 2026: Are You Ready?

Tick off the 14 things to sort before you fly to China — visa, Alipay, eSIM, maps, hotel addresses — each step links to the guide that shows you how.

Fourteen things, in the order they usually trip people up. Tick them as you go — your browser remembers your progress, so you can close this page and come back to it. Every step links to the page that walks you through it.

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Only got one evening? Do these three

Check your visa — or confirm you are visa-free. Nothing else matters if you cannot board.
Set up Alipay and link a card. China runs on QR codes.
Buy an eSIM and install it at home, where the wifi is yours.

Where people get caught out

Assuming Google Maps will work. It loads, but the roads sit hundreds of metres off from where you actually are. Install Amap before you fly.
Saving "Hilton" instead of the branch. Big cities run several properties under one brand, sometimes half an hour apart. Copy the full Chinese address.
Leaving payment to arrival. Card verification and bank SMS codes are far easier to sort out in your own country than in an airport queue.
Booking trains during a holiday week. Spring Festival and the first week of October sell out weeks ahead.

Frequently asked questions

How early should I start working through this checklist?

Start about a month out. Passport renewal and a tourist visa can each take weeks, while the app and eSIM items take an evening. Anything on the list that involves an embassy — do that first.

Do I really need both Alipay and WeChat Pay?

Alipay is the easier one to set up with a foreign card, so do it first. WeChat Pay is worth adding as a backup, because some small shops and many mini-programs only take WeChat. One working app gets you through a trip; two means you are never stuck at a till.

What if I run out of time before my flight?

Do three things: confirm your visa or visa-free status, set up Alipay with a card linked, and sort your eSIM or roaming. Everything else — maps, DiDi, hotel addresses — can be finished on hotel wifi after you land, as long as you have data and a way to pay.

Last updated: September 2026