Clear the chaos, level by level.

Find the simplest legal way in — most travelers need far less paperwork than they fear.

• Confirm your visa path30-day visa-free, 240-hour transit, or a tourist (L) visa — check in 10 seconds.Run the visa check →
• Passport valid 6+ months, with a blank page
• Onward or return ticket booked
• Travel insurance active for your trip dates, with medical cover that works in ChinaNot needed to enter, but China's private hospitals expect upfront payment — make sure your policy is in effect for the whole trip.Get covered — SafetyWing →
• Fill the arrival card (online before you fly, or on arrival)

Grab these before you fly — the App Store is hard to reach behind the Firewall.

AlipayPay + mini-appsWeChatChat + payDiDiTaxis & ridesAmAmapMaps in EnglishTrip.comTrains & hotels→MeituanFood deliveryXiaohongshuTips & reviewsTranslateMenus & signsTaobaoShopping

💡Can't find one in your home App Store? Some (like Meituan) aren't listed in every country. No need to switch your store region — just open Alipay or WeChat, tap the search bar at the top and type the app's name to use it as a built-in mini-program (nothing extra to install).

• Payments — Alipay + WeChat
• Maps — the English Amap app, or Apple Maps on iPhone (skip Google & Baidu)
• Get around — DiDi for rides, Trip.com for rail & hotelsDiDi guide →
• Translate, plus Meituan & Xiaohongshu to eat and explore

Now link a foreign card inside the Alipay or WeChat you just installed — both finally accept them.

• Link a foreign card (Visa / Mastercard / JCB) to Alipay or WeChatRegistration, real-name verification and card-binding — the fiddly part, step by step.Full setup guide →
• Know the limits — ~¥35,000 / payment, ~¥50,000 / year
• Keep your home SIM — you'll need it for bank SMS codes
• Carry a little cash for tiny vendors and rural stopsATM & cash guide →

Be online the moment you land. A travel eSIM keeps your home number for bank codes.

• Buy & install a travel eSIM before you flyeSIM guide →
• Decide your approach to restricted services
• Download offline maps & translations
• Save your hotel address in Chinese

What to physically bring — starting with the medicine rules worth checking before you fly.

• Pack your meds — basics + your prescriptions in original packaging, with a doctor's noteWestern brands are scarce in Chinese pharmacies. Bring enough for the trip, keep the labels on, and carry a doctor's note (ideally translated).Medications guide →
• Check before you pack — some everyday drugs are restricted in ChinaADHD stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin), codeine, pseudoephedrine cold meds (Sudafed) and CBD can be banned or need a permit. If any apply to you, sort it out well before you fly.See what's allowed →
• Type-A / I plugs — pack a universal adapter

The small arrival and etiquette things that trip people up — sorted in advance.

• Hotels need passport check-in (real-name rule)Why & how →
• Tipping isn't expected — don't overthink it
• Screenshot your hotel address + a few key phrases