In this article
The easiest arrival is prepared in layers. Set up the convenient digital path, keep a second payment method, and save the information you would need if the airport Wi-Fi or an app does not cooperate.
One week before departure
1. Check entry rules against the exact journey
Visa-free entry and transit rules depend on nationality, route and port. China’s National Immigration Administration says the 240-hour transit-without-visa policy is available to eligible travellers who have valid documents and a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. Its current policy page lists the participating countries, ports and permitted areas. Check the official NIA 240-hour policy rather than assuming that any ten-day visit qualifies.
From 20 November 2025, foreign travellers can submit arrival-card information online before reaching an immigration checkpoint. The NIA also says paper or on-site options remain available for travellers who cannot submit online. Use the official NIA arrival-card notice for the current route.
2. Prepare two ways to pay
Set up a major mobile-payment app with the same name shown on your passport, and link an eligible international card. Tencent says visitors can register Weixin Pay with a foreign mobile number, use a passport for identity verification and link supported international cards. Read the official Weixin Pay visitor guidance.
Also carry:
- A physical international card.
- A modest amount of cash in renminbi.
- Your bank’s travel or fraud-contact method.
China’s official payment guide for visitors describes mobile payment, bank-card and cash options. It is worth keeping the State Council visitor payment guide offline.
3. Match rail bookings to the travel document
If you book through 12306, enter the passport details carefully and travel with the same physical document. China Railway’s official guidance confirms that accepted foreign identity documents can be used to purchase tickets and complete station identity checks. Review the official 12306 passenger FAQ before the first rail day.
Save an offline arrival folder
Keep screenshots or PDFs of:
- The first hotel’s English and Chinese name, address and phone number.
- The airport or station transfer plan.
- Train numbers, station names and departure times.
- Travel insurance and emergency contacts.
- Passport identity page and visa, stored securely.
- The payment provider’s support route.
Do not rely on one cloud account for all of these. Save a local copy on the phone and share an encrypted backup with a trusted person.
At the airport or station
Connect to a trusted network before changing any account settings. If a payment app asks for additional verification, complete it deliberately instead of retrying rapidly. Repeated failed attempts can trigger bank or platform security checks.
For a taxi or ride-hailing pickup, show the Chinese address and confirm the building or terminal number. Large railway stations can have several exits on different sides of the complex.
Keep the first evening simple
Avoid booking a non-refundable attraction immediately after an international arrival. Immigration, baggage, payment verification and ground transport can each take longer than expected. A simple meal near the hotel and an early night provide more value than squeezing in one more landmark.
This checklist reduces common friction, but it does not replace official immigration, carrier, bank or payment-platform advice. Recheck those sources shortly before departure.
