Get your system set up before you land.

Before booking non-refundable travel, check whether you qualify for visa-free entry, transit visa-free entry, or need to apply for a tourist visa. China's visa policy has continued to loosen in recent years, but rules still depend on passport, route and purpose.

• China currently offers unilateral visa-free entry, mutual visa-exemption arrangements and 240-hour visa-free transit. If none applies to your trip, obtain the appropriate visa before departure.
• Transit eligibility depends on nationality, a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, designated ports and the permitted travel area.
• Passport-validity and stay rules differ by entry pathway. Check the current official requirements instead of relying on one universal rule.
• Keep your passport, accommodation and transport details consistent across bookings.

Mobile data is the foundation of maps, payments, translation, ride-hailing and communication in China. Install a travel eSIM before departure, and if you rely on Google, WhatsApp, Gmail or Instagram, also prepare a VPN as backup.

• For short trips, consider a travel eSIM. Many route data outside mainland China and may provide access to services such as Google, WhatsApp and Instagram, but confirm this with the provider.
• VPN performance can change without notice. Hotel Wi-Fi still uses a mainland connection, so if overseas services are essential, test a primary option and keep a separate backup connection ready.
• Only get a local SIM card if you need a Chinese phone number to receive SMS verification codes; otherwise an eSIM is enough for short trips.

Mobile payments are the most convenient option in China, but RMB cash remains a useful backup and international cards are accepted at many hotels, malls and larger businesses. Acceptance varies, so set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before departure and carry some small cash plus a physical card.

• Download Alipay, link an eligible international Visa or Mastercard, and follow the app's current verification prompts.
• Complete any required passport identity verification before departure so you can resolve verification issues while you still have reliable access to your usual phone number and bank.
• Also activate WeChat Pay as a backup and link the same international card, so you are not stuck if a single path fails.
• Check that overseas transactions, SMS verification and app-based authorization are available for your card.
• Carry 100–300 RMB in cash for small vendors, remote areas or payment-failure scenarios.

Local map support, Chinese place names and station-exit information can make navigation much easier in mainland China.

• Amap (高德地图) is the top choice for local navigation, covering walking, metro, bus, ride-hailing and live traffic, with the most accurate Chinese place-name data.
• Google Maps data and routing can be outdated or misaligned in mainland China. Use Amap or Apple Maps as your main navigation option.
• iPhone users can use Apple Maps as a simple backup — its data is relatively accurate but less full-featured than Amap.
• Save your hotel name, Chinese address and a location screenshot offline so you can show them to drivers and passersby when there's no signal.
• Metro exit numbers matter; large stations can have 10+ exits, and getting the right number saves you a lot of unnecessary walking.

Hotel arrival, intercity trains and popular attractions can become big headaches if left late or booked with wrong information. Book the stressful parts in advance and leave flexibility for the spontaneous parts.

• Hotels should not refuse foreign guests simply because they lack a special qualification, but check-in problems can still occur at smaller properties. Choose a listing that explicitly confirms passport registration and foreign-guest acceptance, and reconfirm before arrival.
• Train tickets can be booked via the 12306 official channel (supports passport registration) or Trip.com and other English platforms — the latter are friendlier but may charge a small service fee.
• Popular attractions like the Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors and National Museum use identity-based reservations. Check each attraction's official booking window and reserve popular sites when reservations open.
• Keep the passport name spelling identical across all bookings, otherwise boarding or check-in may be refused.

Buy travel insurance before departure and confirm that it covers your trip in mainland China. Read the policy's reimbursement, direct-billing and pre-authorization rules before you travel.

• Most travel medical policies reimburse eligible expenses after you submit a claim; direct billing is available only under some policies and at selected hospitals.
• Choose medical and evacuation coverage that fits your health, trip length, planned activities, exclusions and deductible.
• Check whether planned activities like Great Wall hiking or cycling fall outside the exclusions, otherwise a claim won't be paid.
• Save your policy number, insurer contact details and claim instructions offline.
• Keep itemized bills, official receipts, diagnoses, prescriptions, test reports and discharge documents for your claim.

Save the handful of details you might need when your phone, network or payment app fails at exactly the wrong moment. Low-tech backups are a solo traveler's real safety net.

• China uses real-name registration for hotels, trains and many attractions. Keep your original passport secure and carry it when check-in or identity verification is required.
• For flights within China, carry power banks in your cabin baggage and make sure they have a clear CCC/3C mark, are not recalled and meet the airline's capacity rules.
• Save 110 police, 120 ambulance and 119 fire, plus the current contact details for your country's embassy or nearest consulate in China.
• Keep offline or paper copies of your hotel address in Chinese, passport identity page and insurance details, stored separately from the originals.
• Install two translation apps and download offline language packs before departure.