Sort out payment, phone setup, airport transport and hotel check-in before you fly. Start with the question you need answered, then build your first-day plan.
Updated 2026-09-17
Everything you need to sort out before your first day in China: payment, phone, getting to your hotel, checking in, eating, and what to do when things don't go to plan.
Updated 2026-09-17
Yes: eligible visitors can link supported international cards to Alipay. Follow the setup checks, distinguish merchant payments from transfers, and plan a first purchase.
Updated 2026-09-17
Set up a wallet before departure, test a real payment after landing, and handle card declines or QR-code failures without losing your airport-to-hotel plan.
Updated 2026-09-17
Hotel check-in in China with a foreign passport: what name to book under, what to show at the desk, and how to avoid the midnight front-desk panic.
Updated 2026-09-17
Compare setup, phone compatibility, calls and data for China. Check your actual device and plan, activation timing, and an offline fallback before buying.
Updated 2026-09-17
A practical guide to using Didi (China's Uber) as a foreign tourist: how to sign up, pay, find the pickup point, and what to do when the driver calls you in Chinese.
Updated 2026-09-17
How to set up WeChat Pay as a foreign visitor to China: linking your card, verification, what works, what doesn't, and whether you even need it if you have Alipay.
Updated 2026-09-17
PayPal confirmed a US-user launch in August 2026. Check PayPal Balance funding, supported merchant QR codes and what to prepare before relying on it.
Updated 2026-09-17
A practical guide to buying high-speed rail tickets in China with a foreign passport: which apps work, real-name rules, passport issues, and what to do at the station.
Updated 2026-09-17
Prepare Google Translate or Apple Translate for your first day in China: download both languages, test offline features and save hotel and food phrases.
Updated 2026-09-17
Your options for getting from a Chinese airport to your hotel: taxi, metro, airport express, ride-hailing, and hotel shuttle. How to pick the right one for your situation.
Updated 2026-09-17
What to do when a hotel in China says they can't accept foreign guests: why it happens, how to handle it on the spot, and how to avoid it next time.
Updated 2026-09-17
How taxis work in China for foreigners: hailing, paying, showing your address, avoiding scams, and what to do when the driver doesn't speak English.