Pre-Arrival Master Checklist
Everything you need to prepare before your China trip. Check off items as you complete them.
Visa-Free Entry Policies
Citizens of 50 countries (including UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and most EU nations — not the United States) can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchange visits, or transit. No third-country ticket required. Always confirm using the official NIA / MFA source before departure.
Citizens of 55 countries may use the 240-hour transit visa-free policy only when transiting through China to a third country or region, entering through eligible ports, and staying within the permitted areas.
Two separate policies exist. Use the checker above to see which one applies to your country. 30-day visa-free = regular entry, no third-country ticket needed. 240-hour transit visa-free = transit only, requires a confirmed onward flight to a different third country.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| 240h eligible countries | 55 transit-eligible countries including the US, UK, many EU countries, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, and others. Check the official NIA list before departure. |
| Time calculation | Starts from 00:00 the day AFTER arrival (not landing time) |
| Third country ticket | Must have confirmed flight to a DIFFERENT country than departure (e.g. US→China→Japan works, US→China→US does NOT) |
| Travel zones | Stay within the permitted areas for your entry port. Some regions allow cross-provincial travel, but it is not nationwide. |
Passport Preparation
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your entry date (strongly recommended). Save digital copies:
- Photo of passport info page saved to phone
- Email a copy to yourself as backup
- Save to cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud)
- Always carry the physical passport — needed at hotels, train stations, attractions
Alipay Setup Guide
Alipay is the #1 must-have app. Used for payments everywhere: restaurants, taxis, convenience stores, street vendors.
Available on iOS App Store and Google Play.
Use your passport number for identity verification.
Go to "Me" → "Bank Cards" → Add Visa or Mastercard. Takes 1-3 days to verify.
Try a tiny purchase at a convenience store to confirm your card works before relying on it.
WeChat Setup Guide
China's super-app: messaging, payments, mini-programs. Essential for communicating with locals.
Available on iOS and Android.
Use your phone number. You'll need an existing user to scan and verify.
Go to "Me" → "Services" → "Wallet" → Add international card as backup payment.
Train & Travel Booking Apps
12306 is China's official train booking app. Trip.com (Ctrip) is the best English-language platform for trains, flights, and hotels.
Trip.com accepts international cards and has 24/7 English customer support. Book high-speed rail and domestic flights here. Both 12306 and Trip.com are also available via their websites if you prefer booking on a computer.
Translation Apps
Two translation apps to install:
- Google Translate — Download the Chinese offline language pack BEFORE you leave
- Apple Translate (iPhone) — Works offline, supports camera translation for menus and signs
eSIM Setup
An eSIM gives you instant data the moment you land. Many travel eSIMs route data internationally and may keep Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and other international apps working in China, but access can vary by provider and plan. Confirm China coverage and app access with your eSIM provider before purchase, and keep offline backups.
Navigation Apps
| App | English? | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Maps (iPhone, uses Amap data in China) | Full English | Best for iPhone |
| Amap (高德地图) | English available | Best for Android |
| Baidu Maps | Chinese only | Skip |
| Google Maps | Full English | Not available in China |
Pro tip: Download offline maps for your destination cities. Apple Maps → long-press city → Download Map.
Holiday Calendar
Avoid these peak periods:
| Holiday | Dates | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) | Late Jan – Mid Feb | Biggest holiday. Everything packed, many businesses closed. |
| National Day (Golden Week) | Oct 1–7 | Massive domestic travel. Attractions extremely crowded. |
| Labor Day | May 1–5 | Popular travel period. Book well in advance. |
Best months: April–May and September–October (pleasant weather, fewer crowds outside Golden Week).
Hotel Passport Registration
Chinese authorities have emphasized that hotels should not refuse foreign guests by claiming they lack “foreign-related qualifications.” In practice, some small, budget, or local-only properties may still have passport-registration or staff-training issues, so confirm the hotel can register foreign passports before arrival.
- Book through platforms that show foreign-passport support — look for “Guests accepted from all countries/regions” or message the property before arrival
- You'll need your passport to check in
- The hotel will register you with local police (standard procedure)
- Pro tip: Take the hotel's business card at check-in — show it to taxi drivers to get back
Attraction Booking
Many major attractions require advance booking and have daily visitor caps:
- Forbidden City / Palace Museum — must book 1-7 days ahead, closed Mondays
- Terracotta Warriors — book via official WeChat mini-program
- The Bund — free; expect crowd control & one-way pedestrian flow during peak holidays
- Most attractions use WeChat mini-programs for ticketing — you'll typically need to book through the venue's official WeChat mini-program in advance
Packing Essentials
Power bank (充电宝): Must have CCC certification mark (China Compulsory Certification). Power banks without this mark will be confiscated at airport security.
Power adapter: China uses 220V/50Hz. Type A (US-style) and Type I (Australian-style) outlets. Bring a universal adapter.
Cash Preparation
Carry a small amount of RMB as backup.
- Use major-bank ATMs and check fees before withdrawing.
- If asked, choose CNY / local currency and decline dynamic currency conversion.
- Most daily payments are mobile-first, but cash is still useful when apps or cards fail.
Compare Plans
One product, three support levels. Light is free; Pro adds the Guide; Premium adds real human Concierge support.
- Planner — day-by-day trip planning
- Planner for 20+ cities
- Drag-and-drop edit
- Save unlimited drafts
- Sample inspiration trips
- Everything in Light
- Guide — pre-arrival master checklist
- Getting Around guide (DiDi, HSR, Metro)
- Food & Dining deep guide
- Money & Payment tips
- Daily Life & Customs guide
- Everything in Pro
- Concierge — real human support via WhatsApp/WeChat
- Restaurant reservation attempts
- Urgent translation help for travel situations
- Train ticket & attraction booking assistance
- Some bookings may require advance payment
Contact us at info@trisaino.com if you have any questions regarding product features and pricing.
| Feature | Light | Pro | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master checklist | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Interactive tools | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Transport & food guides | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cultural & daily life guides | No | Yes | Yes |
| Real human support | No | No | Yes |
| Restaurant booking | No | No | Yes |
| Service-hour support | No | No | Yes |
Need a Custom Itinerary?
Use our AI Trip Planner to create a personalized day-by-day itinerary based on your interests, travel dates, and budget.
Try AI Trip Planner →Concierge
Human help for selected restaurant, translation, and booking requests via WhatsApp or WeChat.
We call restaurants in Chinese and book your table.
Send us a photo of a menu or sign - we translate instantly.
We buy tickets on Chinese platforms that don't accept foreign cards.
Tell us your vibe and we suggest spots locals actually go to.
川家本帮
上海市黄浦区中山东一路外滩附近
Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near The Bund, Huangpu District
Show this to your DiDi driver. Enjoy dinner!
慕田峪长城
北京市怀柔区渲海镇慕田峪村
Mutianyu Village, Bohai Town, Huairou District
I recommend booking a DiDi for ~150 RMB one way (~1.5 hrs). Want me to arrange a round-trip driver instead? About 500 RMB for the day with waiting time.
Account
Sign in to manage your subscription and trip dates.
Sign in to your trisAino account
Sign in to save your checklist progress, unlock premium content, and manage your subscription.
