China Readiness Checklist

What this China travel checklist covers

Preparing for a trip to China takes more setup than most destinations, and the order matters. This China travel checklist walks you through every pre-departure step: confirming whether you qualify for visa-free entry — 50 countries currently qualify for 30-day unilateral visa-free entry to mainland China, see our visa types guide for the current NIA list — checking that your passport is valid for at least six months, and arranging a Tibet Travel Permit if Lhasa is on your itinerary.

Payments come next: download Alipay or WeChat Pay and link a Visa or Mastercard before you fly, and carry a little cash for vendors that don't take mobile payments — our mobile payment guide shows which method works where. For connectivity, a foreign eSIM bypasses the Great Firewall without a VPN, while a local SIM needs a VPN installed before arrival — and since Google Maps doesn't work in China, install Amap for navigation. Round things out with essential apps (DiDi for ride-hailing, 12306 for train tickets), accommodation checks — not every hotel can host foreign guests — and health basics like travel insurance and emergency numbers. Use the form above to generate a personalized version based on your nationality, dates, and destinations.