What to Prepare Before Arrival
The smart pre-trip checklist that saves hours after landing: money setup, connectivity, and documents.
Quick answer
Set up a working payment option, download essential apps, and store offline copies of your bookings and addresses.
Set up payments and apps
Do the heavy lifting at home: add a foreign card to Alipay or WeChat Pay if possible, and test it. Payment setup is easier with your home bank reachable.
Install essential apps and sign in before you travel. Some verification steps are faster on a familiar network.
For navigation, install Amap (Alibaba’s Amap is China’s most popular maps app, Google Map doesn't work in China) on your phone so you can get around without relying on blocked services.
- WeChat and Alipay
- Amap for navigation
- Trip.com for hotels and trains
- A translation app with offline mode
Make offline access easy
Save a simple travel folder to your phone with screenshots of your passport photo page, visa, hotel bookings, and return flight.
Write down your hotel address in English and Chinese. Taxi drivers and hotel desks often prefer a printed or saved address card.
Plan for arrival day
The first 24 hours are about logistics. Plan a direct route from the airport to your first hotel and keep payment ready for transport.
If you are arriving late, confirm check-in time with your hotel and keep their phone number accessible.