免费清单 · reviewed 21 October 2026
China travel checklist
29 items that decide whether the first 48 hours are easy. Tick them off — your progress stays in this browser.
0 of 29 done
Ticks are saved in this browser only — nothing is sent to us.
The five that matter most
If you do nothing else, do these. Each one removes a failure mode that can consume a whole day.
- Check your entry route. Visa-free eligibility depends on your passport, and the list changes. Check it here.
- Install and verify Alipay. Verification can need an SMS to your home number. Setup guide.
- Install and test an eSIM. Without data you cannot pay, ride or translate. Compare the options.
- Save your hotel address in Chinese. It is the most useful thing to show a driver, and the fastest safety tool you have.
- Book timed attractions. The Forbidden City and other headline sites no longer sell walk-in tickets. Ticket guide.
If you fly tomorrow
Do these in order, and accept that you may need to buy an eSIM at the airport or rely on roaming for the first day. Everything else can be solved on the ground.
- Install Alipay now and link one card. If verification fails, bring a physical card and cash.
- Buy and install an eSIM, even a small one. Test it before you leave for the airport.
- Screenshot your hotel name and address in Chinese, plus your flight and any train booking.
- Withdraw ¥500–1,000 at home or at the arrival airport. Do not rely on a single card.
- Check whether your first attraction needs a timed slot; if it does, book the earliest available.
Checklist questions
- When should I start this China checklist?
- Two weeks before departure is the right window. Alipay verification and the 12306 account can take a few days, and timed attraction slots for headline sites sell out in peak season.
- Do I need all 29 items?
- No. The documents, payments and connectivity groups are essential for every traveller. The train and timed-ticket items only apply if you are booking those, and the summer kit only matters if you are travelling south in the hot months.
- Is the checklist saved if I close the page?
- Yes, in this browser only. It uses localStorage, so it survives a refresh but does not sync between devices and is not sent to us.
- What is the single most important item?
- Working data on arrival. Alipay, DiDi, maps, translation and train tickets all depend on the phone, so an installed and tested eSIM is the item that makes the rest of the list usable.
- Do I need a Chinese phone number for the checklist items?
- No. Alipay, DiDi and 12306 all accept international numbers and foreign passports. A Chinese number only becomes useful for a long stay or specific domestic registrations.