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China travel essentials

Leaving China: your final-day checklist

Keep the last day simple. Check the flight or train, collect every bag and leave enough time for the journey to the correct departure point. A nearby breakfast or short walk can fit around the departure; a distant excursion usually cannot.

Start here

  1. Read the airport or station name and terminal on your booking.
  2. Keep your passport, travel documents and next destination’s requirements ready.
  3. Allow time to collect stored luggage and reach the departure point.

Read the booking one more time

Check the date, departure time, operating carrier and airport or station name. Cities can have several airports and railway stations. For an overnight or early-morning departure, read the calendar date carefully and plan the hotel night around it.

Open the airline or railway booking for any schedule change. Save the booking reference and support contact offline, along with the address or map pin for the departure terminal.

Keep the onward journey’s documents together

Carry the passport or travel document used for the booking, and prepare any documents required by the next destination and transit points. Review onward-entry requirements before the last day so there is time to resolve a problem.

If you replaced a lost passport, keep the replacement document and the departure instructions received from the immigration authorities together. Ask 12367 about immigration formalities rather than assuming the replacement document alone completes every step.

Close the hotel and luggage loop

Check out with time to review the bill and return keys. Collect laundry, stored bags and items left in the safe or charging sockets. Ask about any hotel deposit and keep the receipt if the return is processed after checkout.

Count bags before boarding the transfer. Keep documents, medicine, phone and payment methods accessible instead of packing them into the luggage you will check in.

Pack for the next transport segment

Read the airline’s baggage and security rules for the next flight, including liquids, batteries and power banks. A bag accepted on a train may not be suitable as airline cabin baggage. Keep any item needed for inspection accessible.

If you plan to request a shopping tax refund, keep the purchases and required forms available for the airport process. Allow time for that process in addition to ordinary check-in and security.

Make the final outing easy to leave

Choose breakfast, a short neighborhood walk or a café near the hotel if the departure leaves time. Set a firm return time for luggage collection and the transfer.

Share flight or train details, the pickup address, party size and luggage when arranging a private departure transfer. Mention a different terminal, extra stop or station connection before the day begins.

Common questions

Can I add sightseeing before my flight?

Choose something close to the luggage collection or departure route, and keep it optional. The airport transfer and check-in take priority.

How do I arrange a departure pickup?

Send the hotel address, flight or train details, group size and luggage. We can discuss the pickup and journey from there.