China Travel Checklist 2026: 30 Must-Dos Before You Fly
Traveling to China is an incredible experience — but preparation is everything. Unlike visiting most Western countries, China requires specific apps, payment setups, and paperwork that you cannot sort out after landing. This checklist covers all 30 essentials, organized by category.
1. Documents & Visa
✅ Passport valid for 6+ months beyond your return date — airlines will deny boarding otherwise.
✅ Check visa requirements — over 50 nationalities now qualify for visa-free entry (15–30 days). Verify at visaforchina.cn or your country's travel advisory.
✅ Travel insurance with medical evacuation — Chinese hospitals require upfront payment. Evacuation cover can cost $50,000+ without insurance.
✅ Emergency contacts written on paper — phone battery dies, apps crash. Have your hotel address, embassy phone, and insurance hotline on paper.
✅ Digital + printed passport copies — keep copies separate from your actual passport. Hotels need your passport details at check-in.
2. Apps to Download Before You Land
✅ Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to your international Visa/Mastercard — China is 95% cashless. Set this up at home, it requires SMS verification.
✅ DiDi — China's ride-hailing app, safer and cheaper than street taxis. Accepts international payment methods.
✅ WeChat — China's all-in-one messaging app. Locals use it for everything, including restaurant reservations and official contacts.
✅ Offline maps — MAPS.ME or Amap (高德地图) work without internet. Google Maps is blocked and has incomplete China data.
✅ VPN (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, etc.) — install and TEST before entering China. VPN app downloads are restricted once inside the country.
3. Connectivity
✅ China SIM card or eSIM — China Unicom international plans or Airalo eSIMs give you fast local data. Buy before departure for best prices.
✅ Test your VPN on a Chinese server before departure to confirm it works reliably.
✅ Pleco dictionary app — the gold standard offline Chinese dictionary. Works without internet, essential for reading menus and signs.
✅ Hotel address in Chinese characters — screenshot it or save to notes. Taxi drivers and metro users will need to read it.
✅ Emergency numbers saved: 110 (police), 120 (ambulance), 119 (fire), and your country's embassy number.
4. Money & Payments
✅ Top up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your home currency card before departure. Test a small transaction.
✅ Carry 300–500 RMB cash as backup for rural markets, small vendors, and anywhere apps fail.
✅ Notify your bank of your travel dates to prevent automatic card blocks on foreign transactions.
✅ Bank of China and ICBC ATMs reliably accept foreign cards at reasonable fees — know where they are near your hotel.
✅ Check the exchange rate — at time of writing, roughly 7.2 RMB to 1 USD. Avoid airport exchange counters (poor rates).
5. Health & Safety
✅ Vaccinations — check your country's China travel health advisories. Hepatitis A/B, typhoid, and tetanus are standard recommendations.
✅ Prescription medications — pack enough for your trip plus extra, carry a doctor's letter, and check if any medications are controlled substances in China.
✅ Travel insurance covers pre-existing conditions — read the fine print. Standard policies often exclude them.
✅ FlowChinese downloaded offline — practice key phrases before your trip. In an emergency, speaking even basic Chinese can be critical.
✅ Basic medication kit: ibuprofen, anti-diarrhea medication, rehydration salts, antihistamine, and blister plasters.
6. What NOT to Bring / Rely On
❌ Google Maps as your sole navigation — it is blocked and has poor China data. Use Amap or MAPS.ME instead.
❌ Booking.com as your only hotel option — it is blocked. Cross-check on Trip.com (Ctrip) which has better local inventory.
❌ Facebook and Instagram — both blocked. Use WeChat for messaging. Set up a VPN beforehand.
❌ Over-reliance on English — outside major hotels and tourist spots, English is rare. Learn 20 key phrases (FlowChinese covers these in one week).
❌ Politically sensitive materials — certain books, publications, and media may attract scrutiny at customs. Leave them at home.
6 Emergency Phrases to Know Before You Go
The phrases table below shows emergency Chinese phrases — review them before your trip.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我需要帮助 | Wǒ xūyào bāngzhù | I need help | Emergency situations |
| 我迷路了 | Wǒ mí lù le | I am lost | Navigation |
| 请帮我叫救护车 | Qǐng bāng wǒ jiào jiùhùchē | Please call an ambulance | Medical emergency |
| 我的护照丢了 | Wǒ de hùzhào diū le | I lost my passport | Emergencies |
| 最近的医院在哪里 | Zuìjìn de yīyuàn zài nǎlǐ | Where is the nearest hospital | Medical |
| 我需要找警察 | Wǒ xūyào zhǎo jǐngchá | I need to find the police | Safety |
Pack Your Phrases Too — Free on App Store
FlowChinese teaches all the essential travel phrases with native audio and AI pronunciation feedback. Download offline before your flight.
🍎 Download Free on App Store