First Time in China Checklist

Short answer

Don't try to plan your whole trip at once. Just get the first 24 hours sorted: documents, phone, payment, getting to your hotel, checking in, and what to do if one of those breaks. The rest can wait until you've slept.

Who this is for

You're flying to China for the first time, probably within the next few weeks, and you're not totally sure if your payment will work, how you'll get online, or what happens at the hotel front desk. Sound familiar? This is for you.

Before departure

• Check your visa/entry situation with official sources. Don't rely on Reddit threads from 2023.
• Install the apps you'll need: Alipay or WeChat Pay, a map app, a translation app, and whatever you'll use for ride-hailing.
• Set up at least two ways to pay. Mobile wallet if it works for your card, a physical Visa/Mastercard, and ¥500–1000 in cash.
• Save your hotel's Chinese name, address, phone number, and your booking confirmation. Screenshot everything.
• Pick how you'll get from the airport to your hotel. Then pick a backup in case that doesn't work out.
• Download offline maps and save key screenshots. Don't assume you'll have data the moment you land.

At the airport

• Before you leave the arrivals hall: open your hotel address, check your payment app, load your map. Do this while you still have airport Wi-Fi.
• Make sure your phone actually has data — or at least know where the hotel's phone number is saved.
• If you're exhausted or it's late, just take a taxi from the official queue. Don't try to optimize.
• Don't bet everything on one app you haven't tested yet.

Getting to the hotel

• Have the hotel address in Chinese characters ready to show. English addresses don't help most drivers.
• Think about whether your transport choice works with your luggage and energy level. Two suitcases on the metro at midnight is miserable.
• Keep your phone charged. You need it for maps, translation, payment, and calling the hotel.
• When in doubt, pick the easier option, not the cheapest one. You can optimize tomorrow.

First evening

You made it. Check in, buy a bottle of water, eat something simple nearby (a convenience store counts), charge your phone, and figure out tomorrow's plan. That's it. The Great Wall isn't going anywhere.

When things go wrong

• Payment not working? Don't keep scanning. Walk into a bigger store or hotel lobby where staff can help you try a different method.
• No internet? Pull up your saved screenshots. The hotel address and phone number you saved earlier will get you through.
• Lost or confused about transport? Show someone your hotel's Chinese address. People are generally helpful.
• Hotel won't check you in? Show your booking confirmation, stay calm, and call the booking platform if needed.

Next step

Ready to get specific? Build your checklist — tell us your city, arrival time, and situation, and we'll give you a personalized to-do list.