China Pre-Travel Checklist 2026: Visa, Apps, Money & Hotel
One checklist before you fly: confirm entry product on NIA, book a foreigner-ok hotel, set up Alipay, pick eSIM/roaming, and save Chinese addresses.
Key takeaway
- Treat China prep as four tracks: entry (visa / visa-free / transit), money (Alipay + a little cash), connectivity (eSIM or roaming), and lodging (passport-friendly hotel). Do the irreversible checks before non-refundable tickets.
Full guide
Before you lock flights
Confirm which entry product you qualify for on official NIA pages—not a blog list. Passport validity and blank pages follow your embassy rules (often 6+ months). Book a hotel that accepts international guests; some mainland inventory is domestic-ID only.
- Pick entry product
30-day unilateral visa-free, 240-hour transit, Hainan policy, or L visa. US passports are usually not on unilateral 30-day visa-free—verify before you buy.
- Hotel that registers passports
Use foreigner-facing OTA filters or message the property. Keep the Chinese address for immigration and taxis.
T-14 to T-1 setup
Install Alipay (and optionally WeChat) on home Wi‑Fi; bind a supported card. Buy and stage an eSIM QR offline. Download Amap or Apple Maps offline areas and a translator pack. Complete the Digital Arrival Card when your path requires it.
Landing-day pocket list
Passport + booking confirmations, hotel Chinese address screenshot, small RMB cash, phone on airplane mode until eSIM activates, official taxi / Didi from the rank—not lobby touts.
FAQ
What is the single most important prep step?
Confirm your entry product on NIA for your passport, then book lodging that can register foreigners.
Do I need cash if I have Alipay?
Yes—carry a small RMB backup for edge cases. Daily spend should still run through Alipay when it works.