First trip hub
First Trip to China? Start Here
Do the difficult, identity-dependent jobs before you depend on them. This path keeps each rule in one detailed guide and tells you what to do next when a payment, booking or arrival step fails.
Planning flow last reviewed: 20 August 2026
- 1
Before choosing a route
Confirm that the route is legally and practically possible
Entry basis, holiday dates and scarce attraction reservations can invalidate a route before transport is booked.
Must doChoose the correct entry path
Keep ordinary visa-free entry, 240-hour transit, visa entry, Hong Kong and Macau rules separate.
Must doCheck the official holiday calendar
National travel peaks change rail inventory, museum slots and realistic city pacing.
RecommendedChoose cities by usable days
Use the How Many Days and Book These First sections on each city guide before adding another stop.
If this fails: Change the dates, remove the weakest city, or choose a lower-dependency attraction before buying nonrefundable transport.
- 2
Before flights, hotels and trains
Book an arrival that still works after a long flight
The airport or station, first-night area, passport name and transfer buffer matter more than a generic city-centre label.
Must doBook a usable first night
Match the passport name, reception hours, property type and accommodation-registration path.
Must doSet up rail identity early
Account activation, passenger verification, ticket purchase and the station gate are separate jobs.
RecommendedProtect the arrival buffer
Allow for immigration, baggage, customs, terminal changes and the exact onward station.
If this fails: Use a later train or flight, sleep near the arrival point, or keep a refundable backup stay rather than betting the first night on a tight connection.
- 3
Two to four weeks before departure
Build and test the digital stack
Network access is a dependency for wallets, maps, ride hailing, bookings and recovery. Set up independent fallbacks at home.
Must doChoose primary and backup connectivity
Compare roaming, travel eSIM and a mainland SIM by device support, trip length and local-number needs.
Must doSet up two payment paths
Test a merchant payment and keep a second wallet, issuer, physical card and RMB fallback.
RecommendedInstall apps by task
Keep the smallest useful set for maps, translation, booking, ride hailing and communication.
RecommendedLearn the map workflow
Save Chinese place names and exact POIs instead of relying on approximate English pins.
If this fails: Keep Chinese address cards, an official taxi queue, cash, a physical card and a second network path available without the primary phone setup.
- 4
Final 72 hours
Make the first day work offline
Recheck high-volatility rules and put the documents needed at the airline, border, station and hotel in one offline folder.
Must doRecheck entry and complete the free Arrival Card
Use the official NIA channel and retain the port device or paper-card fallback.
Must doSave an offline document pack
Include passport copies, onward travel, first stay, Chinese addresses, insurance and critical reservations.
RecommendedCheck power banks and medicines
Domestic-flight CCC screening and controlled-medicine rules are different from a normal packing checklist.
If this fails: Use the official port Arrival Card channel, carry paper copies and remove or replace a device that does not meet the current domestic-flight rule.
- 5
Landing to the first two hours
Restore the dependencies in the right order
Complete immigration and customs first, restore connectivity, test one small payment, then navigate to the exact accommodation.
Must doFollow the arrival sequence
Keep onward and accommodation details immediately available at immigration, then collect baggage and choose the correct customs channel.
Must doNavigate to the exact destination
Confirm the airport terminal, rail station, exit and Chinese hotel address before moving.
Must doComplete accommodation registration
A hotel normally submits it; a private address may require the guest or host to act within 24 hours.
If this fails: Use airport Wi-Fi or a service desk, the official taxi queue, cash or a physical card, and contact the property before leaving a controlled arrival area.
- 6
Your first day
Test the systems before a high-stakes day
A small failure on day one is easier to recover from than a wallet, map or ticket failure during a timed departure.
RecommendedRun a small payment and navigation test
Use a normal merchant payment, one AMap route and one ride-hailing or transit flow.
RecommendedConfirm the next train and scarce ticket
Match station, time, name and passport before the cancellation or change window closes.
If this fails: Remove an unrealistic route segment, switch to a same-area alternative and solve account or ticket errors before the next timed departure.
- 7
When something fails
Recover without creating a second problem
Secure sleep, transport, identity and liquidity first. Preserve the exact error and use the owner guide instead of repeatedly changing account data.
Must doUse the safety and recovery guide
Prepare for a lost phone or passport, urgent care, insurer contact and local emergency services.
RecommendedUse 12367 for immigration-service questions
Document the consultation and reconcile it with the current written rule; a hotline answer does not replace the final port decision.
If this fails: Stop random retries, keep screenshots and receipts, use a staffed counter or official support channel, and protect the next fixed booking first.
Turn the plan into a pre-departure checklist
Save your progress across entry documents, connectivity, payments, transport, accommodation, health and departure tasks.
Open the China travel checklist