Before your trip
First Trip to China Checklist
A practical pre-trip checklist for payments, apps, hotels, transport, and daily essentials.
China Travel Checklist
Organize the essential tasks for planning, final preparation, and your first hour after landing.
Last verified: August 2026
Report outdated informationQuick answer
Quick answer
Start with passport and entry eligibility. Then prepare transport, accommodation, payments, connectivity, apps, and time-sensitive reservations. Before departure, save key addresses and booking details offline.
Ready to depart
Loading checklist
Checking your essential tasks…
As soon as you begin planning
Start now
Confirm that the trip is possible before setting up payments, apps, or day-by-day details.
Complete the practical setup
2–4 weeks before
Prepare train tickets, payments, connectivity, and the apps you will rely on.
Confirm details and prepare offline backups
3–7 days before departure
Reserve attractions, recheck other bookings, and save essential information offline.
Before leaving the airport or starting sightseeingLoading…
After landing
Complete these four steps before leaving the airport for your hotel.
Free printable checklists
Free China Travel Checklists for First-Time Visitors
Save these practical checklists before your first trip to China. Use them to prepare payments, apps, hotel check-in, arrival steps, and your first day on the ground.
After landing
China Arrival Checklist
What to check after landing, from immigration and airport transport to hotel check-in.
Payments
Payment Setup Checklist
Prepare Alipay, WeChat Pay, backup cards, and small cash before your first day in China.
In China
On-the-Ground Quick Reference
Useful Chinese phrases and a final check for mobile data, payment, hotel details, transport, and emergencies.
Next steps
Keep planning
Choose the next useful step.