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China Arrival Guide

Your first hour after landing: grab your bags, get online, sort transport, and get to your hotel without drama.

When to read

From landing to leaving the airport or station.

What it covers

Rules and services change. For anything important — entry, transport, payment, hotels, telecom — double-check with official sources before you travel.

Before leaving the airport

The airport is the last place with free Wi-Fi, English signs, and staff who deal with confused foreigners all day. Use it. Sort your stuff here, not on the street.
  1. Check your phone actually has data. Open a webpage — if it loads, you're good. If not, find the airport Wi-Fi or buy a SIM.
  2. Pull up your hotel address, map route, payment app, and translation app. Make sure they all open.
  3. Use the bathroom, buy a bottle of water, and decide how you're getting to the hotel. Do this while you're still inside.
  4. If something critical isn't working (no data, payment broken), fix it here. There are counters and staff. Outside, you're on your own.
SourcesState CouncilNational Immigration AdministrationRead details

Address and route checks

A Chinese address that locals can actually read will save you so much trouble. "Hilton Shanghai" means nothing to a taxi driver — he needs the Chinese street address.
  1. Save the hotel address in Chinese characters. Copy it from the booking app or the hotel's own website.
  2. Screenshot the map pin too — sometimes the address is right but the pin is more useful for drivers.
  3. Double-check there isn't another hotel with a similar name in the same city. "Holiday Inn" has like 5 locations in Shanghai.
  4. Put the address in your phone's notes app (works offline) — not just in the booking app that needs internet.
SourcesNational Immigration AdministrationRead details

Payment backup

Don't discover your payment doesn't work while a taxi driver is staring at you. Check it before you leave the arrivals hall.
  1. Open your payment app before you get in line for a taxi or walk to the ride-hailing pickup. Make sure it actually works.
  2. Have cash or a card in your pocket as backup — not buried in your suitcase.
  3. If you're not sure your payment works, go to a bigger service point (airport counter, convenience store) and buy something small to test.
  4. Don't commit to a route that only works if one untested app cooperates.
SourcesState CouncilBank of ChinaRead details

Low-stress first meal

You just survived a long flight and immigration. This is not the night for that authentic hole-in-the-wall place across town. Eat something simple, close to your hotel.
  1. Look for food within walking distance of your hotel. Mall food courts, convenience stores (FamilyMart, 7-Eleven), or the hotel restaurant all work.
  2. If you are tired, a simple meal nearby is enough. Check the price and how you can pay before ordering.
  3. Use your saved phrases to order: "I want this one" (我要这个) while pointing at the menu or display.
  4. Save the adventurous dining for tomorrow when you've slept and your phone is charged.
SourcesState CouncilRead details