ENTRY & PREP · 入境准备
Work through five checks in order. Save each one as you finish; your progress stays on this device.
Official sources checked 10 Sep 2026Visa-free entry and visa-free transit are different. Transit eligibility normally depends on travelling onward to a third country or region and remaining inside permitted areas. Rules change: verify against the National Immigration Administration and the Chinese embassy or consulate responsible for your location.
Use the same spelling, document number and passport for trains, flights, hotels and timed attractions. Keep an offline copy of the photo page, visa or entry permission, insurance and your first-night address; carry the original passport when a venue or railway requires it.
Install current versions of Alipay and Weixin Pay, register with your phone number, and follow each app’s identity and overseas-card prompts. Card networks, limits and fees can vary. Bring a physical international card and some RMB cash rather than relying on one payment rail.
Compare international roaming, a travel eSIM and a mainland SIM for your phone and itinerary. Confirm device compatibility and activation timing with the provider. Download offline maps, hotel addresses and translation packs; no single connectivity option should be your only copy of essential information.
Use China Railway’s English 12306 site or app for official train inventory; foreign passengers can buy real-name tickets with an accepted passport. Add a China-ready map, ride-hailing access through DiDi or Alipay, a translation app and the official booking channel for each must-see attraction.
THE FINAL 72 HOURS
Confirm your current visa or transit basis, onward ticket, first accommodation and passport validity against official sources.
Save booking confirmations, addresses in Chinese, key phone numbers, maps and the phrases you may need without data.
Open your payment apps, confirm your data activation instructions and place your passport plus physical card where you can reach them.
Why we avoid fixed promises: entry eligibility, payment limits, app support and transport rules can change. This page gives you the correct preparation sequence; the linked immigration, payment and railway sources provide the final answer for your date.