Popular first-trip questions
What are you trying to fix?
Can I pay without a Chinese bank account?
Pick a question, or use the Quick Start paths below.
China Travel Setup Guides
Get China-Ready Before You Land
Find the guide you need for payment, apps, trains, hotels, tickets, or emergency backup.
18 practical setup guides for first-time visitors.
Choose one path, then jump into the guides that match your trip risk.
Pick your biggest concern
QUICK START
💳
Payment & Apps
Alipay, WeChat Pay, Visa/Mastercard, eSIM, and essential apps.
Read this if you are not sure whether you can pay after landing.
START WITH
How to Pay in China Without a Chinese Bank Account
More payment guides →
Apps & Internet guides →
🚆
Transport
High-speed rail, 12306, Trip.com, stations, and first-day movement.
Read this if you plan to use trains or arrive late on your first day.
START WITH
How to Book China High-Speed Train Tickets as a Foreigner
More transport guides →
🎟️
Bookings & Tickets
Attractions, Forbidden City, hotel passport check-in, and advance reservations.
Read this if you booked hotels or attractions online.
START WITH
Do All Hotels in China Accept Foreigners?
More booking guides →
🚑
Emergency Backup
Start with medical help, then save passport backup and Chinese emergency phrases offline.
Read this if you want offline backup before something goes wrong.
START WITH
What If You Get Sick in China?
More emergency guides →
The China Arrival Survival Kit turns these guides into checklists, screenshots, and offline cards you can save before your flight.
Want the step-by-step setup version?
Not sure where your real risk is?
Tip: save key setup steps offline before your flight.
ALL GUIDES
China Travel Setup Guides
Short, practical guides for the setup details that can make or break your first day in China.
FIRST-TIME VISITOR PATH
1
Payment
2
Internet & Apps
3
Transport
4
Bookings
5
Emergency Backup
Need the step-by-step version? The Kit includes setup screenshots, checklists, and offline cards.
Filter by topic:
All
Payment
Apps & Internet
Transport
Bookings
Emergency
Apps & Internet
The Essential Apps to Download Before Traveling to China
Read guide →
Apps & Internet
How to Get Online in China
Read guide →
Payment
How to Pay in China Without a Chinese Bank Account
Alipay, WeChat Pay, foreign cards, cash, and backup payment options.
Best for: tourists unsure how they will pay after landing
Read guide →
Payment
Alipay vs WeChat Pay for Tourists
Compare setup, card linking, QR payments, and backup use.
Best for: choosing your main payment app
Read guide →
NOT SURE WHAT TO READ FIRST?
Take the 2-Minute China Readiness Check
Get your top setup gaps before you spend time reading every guide.
WANT THE SETUP VERSION?
The guides show what to check. The Kit shows exactly how to set it up.
Turn the guides into a practical pre-flight setup system: payment setup, app checks, transport backup, booking reminders, offline cards, and first-day emergency plans.
China Arrival Survival Kit
Best used before you fly. Save it offline before your trip.
01 Payment Setup
Alipay, WeChat Pay, card backup, and SMS checks.
02 First-Day Transport
Airport route, Chinese address, ride-hailing backup.
03 Booking Checks
Hotel passport check-in, train, attraction reminders.
04 Emergency Cards
Medical, passport, translation, and offline help cards.
How will you pay after landing?
Choose the option closest to your current setup.
FAQ
Quick questions
1
What is Framer?
Framer is a design tool that allows you to design websites on a freeform canvas, and then publish them as websites with a single click.
1
What is Framer?
Framer is a design tool that allows you to design websites on a freeform canvas, and then publish them as websites with a single click.
1
What is Framer?
Framer is a design tool that allows you to design websites on a freeform canvas, and then publish them as websites with a single click.