2026 China Travel Pre-Trip Checklist | A Must-Read for First-Time Visitors to China! Avoid 90% of Common Travel Pitfalls!

For all foreign friends planning to visit China, get these 5 things sorted before you depart, and you can start exploring freely right after arrival～

1. Confirm Visas and Travel Documents in Advance

1. Visa-free policy: As of December 31, 2026, ordinary passport holders from 50 countries including France, Germany, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Canada, and Brazil can enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days (Russia's visa-free policy is valid until December 31, 2027)
2. If you do not qualify for the visa-free policy, apply for a tourist visa (L visa) at Chinese embassies or consulates abroad in advance
3. Must-bring items: Original passport, visa page, round-trip flight itinerary, hotel reservation (random checks may be conducted upon entry)
4. Recommendation: Make copies of the front page of your passport and visa page, or save digital versions on your phone, and store them separately from the originals

2. Arrange Internet Access in Advance

1. Purchase a China eSIM or activate international roaming on your phone before departure, so you can get online immediately upon arrival
2. Most hotels and large shopping malls offer free WiFi, but you will still need to bring your own mobile data for outdoor activities
3. Note: Google Maps, Gmail, and overseas social media apps cannot be used directly in mainland China, so make corresponding preparations in advance

3. Bind Payment Methods in Advance

1. China is a leader in mobile payments, so it is extremely important to set up payment tools in advance:
2. Download WeChat Pay or Alipay, register with your overseas phone number, and bind international bank cards such as Visa, Mastercard, and JCB
3. Alipay does not charge service fees for transactions under 200 RMB, while WeChat Pay charges a 3% service fee for amounts exceeding 200 RMB
4. Backup option: Exchange a small amount of RMB cash (1000–2000 yuan) at the airport to cover special scenarios such as purchases from street vendors
5. Large shopping malls, star-rated hotels, and 5A-level tourist attractions all support payment via foreign bank cards and cash

4. Download Essential Apps in Advance

1. Navigation: AMAP (AutoNavi Maps, English version available) / Baidu Maps, which have more accurate data than Google Maps
2. Ride-hailing: Use DiDi, or access the DiDi mini-program directly within WeChat


3. Translation: Youdao Translate / Baidu Translate, supports offline translation and photo translation
4. High-speed rail ticket booking: Official 12306 Railway APP

5. Don't forget daily essentials

1. Power adapter: China uses national standard three-pin plugs (Type A/I), 220V voltage
2. Common medications: Cold medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, allergy medicine and other personal essential medicines (keep the original packaging to avoid prohibited ingredients)