China Packing & Travel Checklist: Documents, Phone, Payments

Your China travel checklist

Work through the essentials before you fly and during your trip. Your ticks are saved in this browser, and you can print the list.

Your ticks are saved only on this device.

Before you fly

Passport & entry

Check passport validity, condition and blank pages against official requirements.Verify the entry arrangement for your nationality, passport type, purpose and exact route.Keep the visa or evidence for the visa-free arrangement available offline.Save onward tickets and accommodation details where your entry arrangement requires them.Match the travel-document name and number across tickets and reservations.Keep a secure backup of essential documents separately from the originals.Check mainland, Hong Kong and Macao entry arrangements separately.Recheck the official rules after any change to flights, length of stay or side trips.Entry rules & official checks ↗

Before you fly

Money & payments

Install and prepare your chosen mobile wallet before departure.Bring a usable international bank card and check fees with its issuer.Plan a reasonable cash backup; do not depend on a single payment method.Make sure the phone number needed for verification will remain reachable.Save the issuer’s support information and know how to freeze a lost card.Understand that mainland payments use renminbi; check separate arrangements for other regions.Payment setup & backup options ↗

Before you fly

Phone & staying connected

Check that your phone supports and can use your chosen SIM or eSIM.Compare roaming, a local SIM and a travel eSIM by actual coverage and terms.Install maps, translation, transport and payment tools before departure.Save your accommodation name and address in Chinese, including the entrance.Download important tickets, booking references and arrival instructions.Pack a charger, suitable cables and a plug adapter for your devices.Check the airline and aviation authority’s current power-bank marking and carriage rules.Data, maps & offline preparation ↗

Before you fly

Flights, trains & first transfer

Verify the actual airport code, terminal and arrival date on every flight.Distinguish stations with similar city names and save the exact Chinese station name.Choose the first transfer based on arrival time, luggage and the final hotel entrance.Use the appropriate travel document consistently for train bookings and station checks.Review baggage rules for every carrier and travel mode.Keep connections flexible enough for immigration, luggage collection and unfamiliar stations.Rail & airport transfer planning ↗

Before you fly

A comfortable place to stay

Confirm your accommodation reservation and arrival arrangements directly.Check the neighborhood against the places you will actually visit.Check how a late check-in works if your flight arrives at night.Understand who handles accommodation registration and what to do for a non-hotel stay.Check registration obligations again if you move, extend a stay or stay with friends.Accommodation & registration ↗

Before you fly

Pack for your trip

Pack layers for your destinations and travel dates, not just a national weather average.Choose appropriate rain and sun protection for the route.Bring comfortable walking shoes suited to steps, uneven surfaces and long station corridors.Use a manageable day bag with room for water and the documents needed that day.Check official rules for any medicine you carry; retain prescriptions or packaging where required.Bring personal items that may be hard to replace in the exact size or formulation you need.Leave room for moving your own luggage through stairs and narrow historic lanes.A practical packing guide ↗

Before you fly

Comfort & emergency preparation

Check what your travel insurance covers and how assistance is requested.Prepare a clear written explanation of allergies or important dietary needs.Know how you would seek professional medical help; do not rely on a travel guide for diagnosis.Keep emergency and consular information available offline.Research the elevation and conditions of mountain destinations before planning exertion.Check specific access arrangements if stairs, distance, crowds or mobility are a concern.Getting help & handling disruption ↗

When you arrive

Your first day in China

Follow official arrival instructions and keep original travel documents ready.Get a working data connection and confirm you can receive necessary verification messages.Make a modest everyday payment with your chosen method, while retaining a backup.Use the saved Chinese address and confirm the correct hotel entrance.Complete or confirm the required accommodation registration process.Keep the first day light enough to recover and learn how your neighborhood works.Your first 24 hours ↗

On the road

Before each sightseeing day

Check local weather and attraction operating notices, especially in mountain areas.Bring the original document used for any real-name reservation.Verify the entrance, date, time slot and attractions actually included in your ticket.Choose a practical return connection before leaving the city or joining a river trip.Carry enough phone charge and an offline copy of the most important addresses.Follow site rules, ask before close-up photographs and respect residential spaces.Keep the day geographically sensible instead of repeatedly crossing the city.Passports, reservations & attraction entry ↗

Check current entry rules ↗Open the preparation library ↗