抵达中国第一天：落地后该做什么
抵达中国第一天不要过度安排。重点放在联网、安全到达酒店、确认支付可用、简单吃饭和休息。按步骤从落地到入睡，减少可避免的旅行问题。
核心观点
On your first day in China, do not over-plan. Focus on getting connected, reaching your hotel safely, confirming payment works, eating simply, and resting. A calm first day prevents most avoidable travel problems.
正文
经过数月计划、成千上万个 Google 搜索和长途飞行后，你终于落地中国。接下来做什么？
最重要的是：不要过度安排第一天。 时差、语言障碍和不熟悉的系统会让你的大脑只以 60% 的状态运转。一份现实、按顺序执行的抵达计划，能避免 90% 的旅客常见问题。
这份指南会带你逐步完成从下飞机那一刻起要做的事：联网、通过入境检查、前往酒店、测试支付设置、找吃的，以及为第二天做准备。请按顺序执行，不要跳过任何步骤。
分步指南：第一天按顺序做什么
第 1 步：连接移动数据或机场 Wi-Fi
先做这件事。 互联网是中国一切的基础——地图、支付、翻译、打车和消息都需要数据。
如果你出发前已设置 eSIM（推荐）：飞机落地后立刻启用。Holafly、Nomad 和 Airalo 是常见选择，有中国专用套餐。大多数启用后 1-2 分钟内即可激活。
如果你没有设置 eSIM： 连接机场 Wi-Fi。主要机场（北京首都 PEK、上海浦东 PVG、广州白云 CAN、深圳宝安 SZX、成都天府/双流 CTU）有免费 Wi-Fi，但有一个问题——很多需要中国手机号短信验证或微信登录才能连接。如果卡住，找服务台——工作人员通常能帮你连接。
如果 Wi-Fi 不可用： 去机场内的中国移动、中国联通或中国电信柜台。实体 SIM 卡价格约 ¥50-200，需要护照。办理需 10-15 分钟，但能在整个旅途中提供稳定数据。
⚠️ 提示： 出发前在手机上下载目的城市的离线地图。Apple Maps 在中国可用（使用高德数据），Google Maps 不可用。如果必须使用 Google Maps，请在出发前下载离线区域。
第 2 步：通过入境检查和海关
中国机场的入境流程高效，但如果你不了解会发生什么，可能会感到紧张。
你需要提前准备好：
- 有效护照（如你的国籍需要签证，则需有签证）
- 填好的入境卡（飞机上发放，或在入境大厅领取）
- 酒店预订确认（打印或手机保存）
- 回程/续程航班信息（可能会被问）
流程：
- 排“Foreigners”（外国人）队伍（与“Chinese Citizens”中国公民通道分开）
- 递交护照和入境卡
- 采集指纹（十指，通常先两个拇指）
- 在柜台拍照
- 工作人员可能会问：“来华目的？”（回答“旅游”）、“住在哪里？”（出示酒店名称）、“停留多久？”（说明天数）
处理时间：15-45 分钟，取决于排队长度。PEK 和 PVG 通常比小机场更快。
填写入境卡： 酒店名称要完全按预订确认上的样子写。不要缩写。如果你用英文预订，不要写中文名——写英文名。入境处会对照系统核验。
过完入境检查后，提取行李并通过海关。除非你需要申报物品（大量现金、商业货物、受限物品），否则走绿色“无申报”通道。
第 3 步：获取本地货币（现金备用）
中国基本无现金——但现金是你的安全网。 取 ¥200-500 人民币（约 $28-70 美元）作为应急备用。
机场取现金的地方：
- ATM： 在到达大厅寻找中国银行、工商银行或招商银行 ATM。它们接受国际 Visa/Mastercard，汇率相对合理。
- 货币兑换柜台： 所有主要机场都有，但汇率比 ATM 差 5-10%。只有 ATM 拒绝你的卡时才使用。
提示： 许多中国 ATM 出 ¥100 面额。尝试取 ¥400 而不是 ¥500，以增加拿到 ¥50 或 ¥20 面额的机会——小额消费更方便。
现金可用于：
- 不接受外卡的街边小摊
- 没有二维码支付的较旧出租车
- 两个支付应用都失效时的紧急情况
- 农村和较小城镇（如果你只待在大城市，相关性较低）
第 4 步：前往酒店
你有三个可靠选择。根据行李、预算和舒适度选择。
| 方式 | 典型费用 | 适合 | 时间 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 地铁 | ¥3-10 | 轻装、白天抵达、预算旅客 | 40-90 分钟 |
| 滴滴（网约车） | ¥100-250 | 方便、行李多、深夜抵达 | 30-60 分钟 |
| 正规出租车 | ¥120-300 | 不需要设置应用、可立即出发 | 30-60 分钟 |
地铁： 多数大城市机场有直达地铁。标识为中英双语。从机器购买单程票（接受现金；部分新机器支持 Alipay/WeChat 绑定外卡）。导航应用会显示地铁路线——在中国用 Apple Maps 效果最好。
滴滴： 中国的 Uber。可通过独立的 DiDi 应用或 Alipay 小程序（在 Alipay 内搜索“DiDi”）使用英文。主要机场的上车点标识清晰。支付通过应用完成——不需要现金。
正规出租车： 去到达厅外的指定出租车候车区。找穿制服的排队管理人员——不要接受在航站楼内主动搭讪的人提供的车。把酒店地址打印成中文字符并给司机看。坚持使用计价器（计价器 / jìjiàqì）。大城市机场出租车通常正规、受监管。
⚠️ 永远不要接受航站楼内主动搭讪、提供“taxi”或“便宜车”的人。这些通常是无证车辆，可能乱收费或把你带到错误地点。
第 5 步：办理入住并测试关键工具
中国酒店依法必须向当地警方登记外国旅客。这是例行且自动化的——前台会在你入住时处理。准备好护照。
入住后，立即测试三个生存工具：
1. 支付——测试一笔小额消费 去最近的便利店（FamilyMart、7-Eleven、Lawson——到处都有）买一瓶水，使用 Alipay 或 WeChat Pay。这能确认：
- 你绑定的卡能完成真实交易
- 二维码扫描流程正常（你扫商店码，或商店扫你的码）
- 手机网络稳定
如果失败： 换另一个应用（Alipay ↔ WeChat）、换一张绑定卡，或使用现金。有时外卡第一次交易会被拒，第二次成功——这是已知情况。
2. 地图——确认你的位置 打开 Apple Maps，确认当前位置显示正确。测试到附近地标的步行路线。如果 Apple Maps 有问题，试试 Amap（高德地图——仅中文但数据很好）或切换百度地图。
3. 翻译——打开你的应用 打开 Google Translate（已下载中文离线包）或百度翻译。输入简单短语测试。离线模式可在无网络时使用——数据失效时很关键。
第 6 步：在附近吃一顿简单的饭
不要安排复杂的第一顿晚餐。你的目标是补充能量，不是精致用餐。
便利店餐（¥10-30）： 中国便利店（FamilyMart、7-Eleven、Lawson）出售相当不错的热食——盒饭、面条、饺子、包子。它们接受 Alipay/WeChat，是测试支付设置的低风险方式。食物安全，分量通常充足。
休闲餐厅（¥30-80）： 如果想坐下来吃，用大众点评（Dianping，通过微信小程序）找步行范围内评价好的餐厅。找有照片的店——在菜单或手机上指给你想要的。
第一天要避免：
- 无证摊贩的街头小吃（你的肠胃还没准备好）
- 步行超过 10 分钟的餐厅（时差 + 不熟悉的街道 = 容易迷路）
- 没有图片菜单或英文的复杂点餐场景
第 7 步：睡觉前为明天做准备
在你倒头就睡之前，花5 分钟为第二天做准备：
- 保存明天的路线： 在地图应用中查看从酒店到第一个目的地的路线。保存或截图。
- 下载离线地图： 针对你所在的城市。如果明天数据失效，这是备用方案。
- 确认酒店早餐： 你的预订是否包含早餐？在哪里、什么时间供应？（不清楚就问前台。）
- 给所有设备充电： 手机、充电宝、相机。手机是你的支付设备、地图和翻译器——必须保持电量充足。
- 计划第一段交通： 如果明天坐地铁，记下线路、车站和方向。地铁标识是中英双语，所以这比你想象的简单。
- 设置现实的起床时间： 不要安排早上 6 点出发。时差 + 第一天疲惫 = 你需要 7-8 小时睡眠。
第一天随身包需要带什么
把这些物品放在随身个人包（不要托运）：
- 护照和签证文件
- 打印好的酒店预订确认（含中文地址）
- 充电宝（充满电）
- 万能转换插头（中国使用 Type A/C/I 插座，220V）
- 少量本国货币（用于紧急兑换）
- 笔（填写入境卡用）
- 已启用 eSIM 或开通国际漫游的手机
- 备用信用卡/借记卡（与主卡分开存放）
- 关键中文短语打印版（手机没电时备用）
适合谁
This guide is for international visitors planning a first or low-frequency trip to mainland China, especially travelers who want practical, step-by-step arrival-day preparation rather than generic destination inspiration.
怎么做
Connect to mobile data or airport Wi-Fi — As soon as you land, get online. If you set up an eSIM (like Holafly or Nomad) before departure, enable it now. Most major Chinese airports (PEK, PVG, CAN, SZX, CTU) have free Wi-Fi, but it requires a phone number or WeChat login — a working eSIM is faster. Having internet access immediately allows you to use maps, messaging, and ride-hailing. Pitfall to avoid: Don't rely solely on airport Wi-Fi. Some airports require SMS verification or a Chinese phone number to connect. Multiple recent travelers report connectivity issues at smaller airports.
Clear immigration and customs — Have your passport, arrival card (distributed on the plane or at the immigration hall), and visa (if required) ready. You'll go through fingerprint scanning and a photo. Answer questions about your stay briefly and clearly — hotel name, duration, purpose (tourism). The process typically takes 15-45 minutes depending on queue length. Pitfall to avoid: Don't fill out the arrival card with incomplete hotel information. Write the hotel name in English exactly as it appears on your booking. Immigration officers may ask for proof of onward travel or hotel reservation.
Get local currency (cash backup) — While China is largely cashless, having ¥200-500 RMB in cash is a smart backup. Airport ATMs (look for Bank of China, ICBC, or China Merchants Bank machines) accept international cards. You can also use currency exchange counters at the airport, though rates are worse. Some small vendors, older taxis, or rural areas may still prefer cash. Pitfall to avoid: Don't exchange all your cash at the airport — rates are 5-10% worse than city ATMs. Also, many Chinese ATMs dispense ¥100 notes; try smaller transactions for ¥50 or ¥20 notes.
Get to your hotel — Choose your transport based on luggage, time of day, and comfort level. Metro is cheapest (¥3-10) and well-signed in English at major airports. DiDi (Chinese Uber) is mid-range (¥100-200 from PVG to central Shanghai) and available in English via the DiDi app or Alipay mini-program. Official airport taxis are reliable at designated stands — have your hotel address printed in Chinese. Avoid unlicensed touts offering rides inside the terminal. Pitfall to avoid: Don't get into an unmarked car — only use official taxi stands or DiDi through the app. Some drivers may not use the meter if you don't insist. Have exact address in Chinese characters, not just Pinyin.
Check in and test your essentials — After checking in (have passport ready — hotels must register you with local police), immediately test your three survival tools: (1) open Alipay/WeChat Pay and verify your linked card works — try a small purchase at a nearby convenience store; (2) check that maps (Apple Maps or Amap) can find your location and give walking directions; (3) confirm your translation app (Google Translate with offline Chinese pack, or Baidu Translate) opens and works. If any of these fail, ask the hotel front desk for help. Pitfall to avoid: Don't assume your setup works just because the app opens. Test a real transaction, not just the app interface. Some foreign cards decline on the first attempted transaction and need a second try.
Eat a simple meal nearby — Don't plan a complicated dinner. Walk to a nearby convenience store (FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, Lawson) or a casual restaurant within 5 minutes of your hotel. Convenience stores in China sell surprisingly good hot meals and accept Alipay/WeChat. This also serves as a low-stakes test of your payment setup. If you're feeling adventurous, use Dianping (via WeChat mini-program) to find well-rated local restaurants. Pitfall to avoid: Don't wander far from your hotel for your first meal. Jet lag + unfamiliar surroundings + language barrier = easy to get lost. Stay within a 5-10 minute walking radius.
Prepare for tomorrow before sleeping — Before you sleep, plan tomorrow's first move. Save the route from your hotel to your first destination in your maps app. Download offline maps for the city. Check if your hotel offers breakfast. Charge all devices. If you need to travel by metro tomorrow, look up which line and station — metro signage in Chinese cities is bilingual (Chinese + English). Pitfall to avoid: Don't wait until morning to figure out tomorrow's plan. Morning brain fog + jet lag + unfamiliar city = poor decisions. A 5-minute evening prep saves 30 minutes of stress the next day.
常见坑
Waiting until arrival to set up essential apps — many apps need account creation and verification that can take hours or days.
Assuming international Visa/Mastercard will work everywhere — many smaller merchants, vending machines, and street vendors don't accept foreign cards even through Alipay.
Depending on one app, one card, or one network connection — if your only eSIM stops working or your only card gets declined, you're stranded.
Not saving hotel names and addresses in Chinese characters — taxi drivers and locals often cannot read Pinyin or English hotel names.
Over-planning the first day — attempting sightseeing, multiple meals, or complex logistics on arrival day leads to exhaustion and mistakes.
Relying on Google Maps alone — Google Maps has incomplete and sometimes outdated data for China. Apple Maps uses Amap data in China and is more reliable.
Not bringing a power bank — your phone is your lifeline for payment, maps, and translation. A dead phone on day one is a serious problem.
可能变化的部分
Details may vary by city, app version, bank, merchant, hotel policy, travel season, and current rules. eSIM coverage quality varies by provider and city — Holafly and Nomad are commonly recommended but user experiences differ. Payment acceptance for foreign cards via Alipay/WeChat has improved significantly in 2024-2025 but still varies by merchant category. Immigration processing times vary by airport (PVG typically 20-40 min, PEK 15-30 min, smaller airports may be faster). Metro operating hours vary by city — most run 05:30-23:00. Verify high-sensitivity details before departure.
备选方案
If your primary payment app fails: try the other app (Alipay ↔ WeChat), try a second linked card, or use cash. If your eSIM doesn't work: connect to airport Wi-Fi by asking at an information desk for login help, then purchase a physical SIM from a China Mobile/China Unicom counter at the airport (passport required). If you can't find your DiDi pickup point: use an official airport taxi from the designated stand outside arrivals. If you can't communicate: use a translation app with offline mode, show your phone screen with translated text, or return to your hotel and ask the front desk for help.
常见问题
Can I use my phone immediately after landing in China?
If you set up an international roaming plan or an eSIM before departure, yes. Otherwise, connect to airport Wi-Fi or buy a physical SIM at the airport. Note that airport Wi-Fi often requires SMS verification or WeChat login.
What should I do if I can't communicate at immigration?
Immigration officers at major Chinese airports speak basic English. Have your hotel booking and return flight details printed or saved on your phone. Use a translation app if needed. Stay calm — they process thousands of foreign visitors daily.
Is it safe to take a taxi from the airport?
Yes, but only use official taxi stands (look for uniformed staff and marked queues) or DiDi through the app. Never accept rides from people approaching you inside the terminal — these are unlicensed and may overcharge or be unsafe.
What time do Chinese metros close?
Most metro systems in major Chinese cities operate from approximately 05:30 to 23:00. Last trains typically depart around 22:30-23:00. If you land late at night, plan for a taxi or DiDi instead of the metro.
Will my credit card work for payments on day one?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay work at most chain stores, restaurants, and hotels in major cities. However, they may fail at small street vendors, some metro ticket machines, or older POS terminals. Test with a small purchase first and keep ¥200-500 in cash as backup.