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Pre-Departure Checklist

34 things experienced China travellers re-confirm before they fly — distilled from the pre-trip routines of the internet's most-followed China travel creators, updated for 2026.

Reviewed 2026-08-25

Scan the QR code — keep this checklist with you on the road

0 / 34 confirmed

Documents & Entry

Passport valid 6+ months, 2 blank pagesmust China requires at least 6 months validity beyond your entry date. Photocopies are not accepted — carry the real passport.
Checked your visa situationmust 50 countries now get 30-day visa-free entry; 57 countries qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit. See our visa guide before applying for a visa you may not need.
Visa applied 6–8 weeks ahead (if needed) Tourist (L) visas take 5–10 business days, and consulate appointments can add 2–3 weeks.
Printed visa approval + first-night hotel booking Airline check-in staff can deny boarding without proof; arrival forms also ask for your first night's address in writing.
Passport copies: 2 printed + scan emailed to yourself Hotels ask for your passport number constantly — a copy turns a lost-passport nightmare into something manageable.
Travel insurance with medical + evacuation covermust Chinese hospitals charge international patients upfront deposits of ¥5,000–20,000. Evacuation cover is the part that matters.

Money & Payments

Alipay installed, foreign card linked, identity verifiedmust Ten minutes on home Wi-Fi. China is 99% cashless — this is the single highest-value prep item.
WeChat Pay set up with your international cardmust WeChat is the other half of Chinese payments — and your lifeline for group bookings and local contacts.
Test payment made Buy something small online or send ¥1 to a friend. Don't discover a failed card link at a noodle stall.
Bank notified + international payments enabled Tell your bank you'll transact from China so your card isn't frozen on day one.
Cash backup: ¥500–1,000 Covers the rare cash-only vendor and the 'my Alipay broke' emergency. Get clean, crisp bills — banks reject torn notes.

Phone & Internet

China eSIM bought and installed — before boardingmust Airalo, Nomad or Trip.com eSIMs. The plan activates only when it first hits a Chinese tower, so install at home.
VPN installed AND tested — before arrivalmust VPN websites are blocked inside China; you cannot download one after landing. Install and connect-test before you fly. Note: LetsVPN exited China in 2026.
Offline maps downloaded (Amap) Google Maps is unreliable in China. Install Amap and save your hotel area and destinations for offline use.
Offline Chinese translation pack downloaded Download the Chinese pack in your translate app — menus and signs won't wait for your connection.
Key apps installed: DiDi, Trip.com, Amap DiDi is China's Uber (in English, much cheaper than taxis); Trip.com is the foreigner-friendly way to book trains.

Bookings & Reservations

Hotels booked — 'accepts foreign guests' confirmedmust Not all Chinese hotels are licensed to host foreigners. Filter for it, or your booking may be refused at check-in.
High-speed train tickets booked Popular routes sell out 3–7 days ahead. Book with your passport number; bring the passport to scan at station gates.
Headline attractions pre-bookedmust Forbidden City, Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors sell out weeks ahead — especially around holidays.
Travel dates avoid Golden Week / Chinese New Year Oct 1–7, May 1–5 and CNY weeks put 300+ million Chinese on the move: tripled hotel prices, sold-out trains.
Hotel names & addresses saved in Chinese Screenshot each hotel's Chinese address — show it to taxi drivers. This single step prevents the classic 'lost tourist' scenario.

Packing & Health

Power bank 20,000mAh (under 100Wh for flights)must Your phone IS your wallet, map and translator. A dead phone in China means you can't pay, navigate or communicate.
Universal power adapter (Type A / C / I) China uses Type A (two flat pins) and Type I (angled three-pin). Bring a GaN multi-port charger.
Two charging cables One in the daypack, one in the main bag. You'll use them constantly.
Prescription meds: original bottles + doctor's note Customs can ask for proof. Some prescription drugs common abroad are controlled in China — check before packing.
Basic meds: ibuprofen, antidiarrheal, antihistamine Pharmacies are everywhere and cheap, but the first 24 hours of a new diet can be rough. Pack for that.
Tissue packs + hand sanitizer Many public toilets don't provide paper. Always carry some — this is the most-mentioned packing tip from experienced travellers.
Clothing matched to season and region China's climate swings hard: -15°C Beijing winters, 40°C humid summers, strong UV at altitude in Yunnan and Tibet.

Final 24 Hours

Phone + power bank fully charged You'll need your phone the moment you land — for eSIM, payments, maps and DiDi.
eSIM activated as data line (keep home SIM for SMS) Keep your home number active — banks and apps send verification codes by SMS.
VPN set to auto-connect Set it before you fly so it's ready the moment you land, even half-asleep at 5am.
All confirmations screenshotted Flights, hotels, trains, attraction bookings — screenshot everything in case you lose connection.
Online check-in done, boarding pass on phone One less airport queue — and a fallback if the airline app won't load on airport Wi-Fi.
Customs / health declaration filled if required Check whether your port of entry requires an arrival declaration — fill it before you queue.

Quick answers

How do I save this checklist to my phone?

Tap 'Save to my phone' at the top of this page and scan the QR code with your phone camera. It opens this page on your phone — bookmark it or add it to your Home Screen. Your ticks are saved on each device automatically.

Why do so many items say 'before you fly'?

The Great Firewall blocks VPN downloads inside China, and app verification is hardest on a foreign network. Everything digital must be set up before departure — that's the single biggest lesson from travellers who got it wrong.

Compiled from the packing lists and pre-trip routines shared by leading international China-travel creators and blogs, cross-checked against official sources. Current as of August 2026.

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Pre-Departure Checklist

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🛂Documents & Entry

💳Money & Payments

📱Phone & Internet

🎫Bookings & Reservations

🎒Packing & Health

⏰Final 24 Hours