First Time in China Checklist
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.
Quick 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.
- Prepare a mobile wallet with a supported card, a physical card and a way to obtain RMB cash. Size your cash backup around your actual transport and hotel requirements.
- 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 leaving arrivals, open your saved hotel address and check your connection and payment setup. Airport Wi-Fi access varies, so keep an offline copy.
- Make sure your phone actually has data — or at least know where the hotel's phone number is saved.
- If it is late or you are exhausted, compare the official taxi queue with a pickup already confirmed by your hotel. Check the fare basis and payment method before setting off.
- Don't bet everything on one app you haven't tested yet.
Getting to the hotel
- Save the hotel’s exact Chinese name and address, including its branch and district, so a driver can check the destination.
- 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.