China Travel Checklist for First-Time Visitors
A practical first-time China travel checklist covering payment apps, eSIMs, hotel location, Chinese addresses, transport, and daily itinerary planning.
A practical first-time China travel checklist covering payment apps, eSIMs, hotel location, Chinese addresses, transport, and daily itinerary planning.
Set up payment, internet access, Chinese hotel addresses, transport apps, and a realistic daily route before you land.
China is easy to travel in once the basics are working. The difficult part for many first-time visitors is not sightseeing. It is paying, getting online, showing the right address, choosing a practical hotel, and moving around large cities without wasting half the day.
Use this checklist before you fly.
1. Set up payment before arrival
Mobile payment is used almost everywhere in China. Do not wait until you are tired at the airport to test it.
Before departure:
- Install Alipay or WeChat.
- Add your international card if supported.
- Complete any identity checks requested by the app.
- Test the app with your card added.
- Keep a backup card and some cash for emergencies.
If you travel with another person, both people should set up payment. Do not rely on one phone for the whole trip.
If payment setup is still unclear, start with the China payment apps guide before relying on Alipay, WeChat Pay, or one backup card during your trip.
2. Decide how you will get internet access
You need internet for maps, translation, ride-hailing, payment apps, train tickets, and hotel communication.
Common options:
- eSIM: convenient for short trips if your phone supports it.
- International roaming: simple, but often more expensive.
- Local SIM: useful for longer stays or when you need a Chinese phone number.
Before you choose, check whether your phone is unlocked and whether your eSIM plan includes the cities you will visit.
3. Choose hotel location by transport, not only price
A cheap hotel can become expensive if it adds long taxi rides every day. In large cities, metro access matters.
When choosing a hotel, check:
- Is it near a metro station?
- Is the route from the airport or railway station simple?
- Is it near the places you will visit most?
- Are there restaurants, convenience stores, or malls nearby?
- Does the hotel name appear clearly in map apps?
For first-time visitors, a slightly better location is often worth more than a larger room far from transit.
4. Save every important address in Chinese
English addresses are not always useful for drivers or local staff. Save the Chinese version before you need it.
Save these items:
- Hotel Chinese name
- Hotel Chinese address
- Nearby landmark
- Phone number of the hotel
- Chinese names of major attractions, markets, or meeting locations
Take screenshots too. If your internet is slow or your battery is low, screenshots are faster than searching again.
5. Plan transport before each travel day
Do not wait until you are standing on the sidewalk to decide the route.
For each day, prepare:
- First metro or ride-hailing route
- Estimated travel time
- Nearest metro station to the destination
- Return route to the hotel
- Backup option if it rains or you are tired
For intercity trips, arrive early at train stations. High-speed rail stations can be large, and some cities have more than one major station.
6. Keep your daily itinerary realistic
Chinese cities are big. Two places that look close on a map may take longer than expected because of traffic, station transfers, or walking inside large buildings.
A good first-time itinerary usually has:
- One main area per half day
- Two or three main stops, not six
- Meal time planned near the route
- A backup indoor option
- Enough time to return before you are exhausted
Group places by district. In Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou, this one habit saves a lot of time.
Quick first-trip checklist
- Payment app installed and tested
- Backup payment ready
- eSIM, roaming, or SIM plan chosen
- Hotel name and address saved in Chinese
- Map and translation apps installed
- Main transport routes checked
- Daily itinerary grouped by area
- Passport copy and hotel booking saved offline
Related tool
Use the China Trip Checklist to copy these items into your own travel notes.
Use the travel checklist
Confirm payment, internet, hotel address, transport, and daily route before departure.
Open checklistFrequently Asked Questions
What should I set up before my first China trip?
Set up mobile payment, internet access, Chinese hotel addresses, transport apps, and a simple daily route plan before you arrive.
Do I need Chinese addresses when traveling in China?
Yes. Save hotel names, addresses, and landmarks in Chinese so drivers, hotel staff, and map apps can identify the place correctly.
Should I plan every day in detail?
Plan the main area for each day, the first transport route, and one backup option. Leave buffer time because Chinese cities are large.