Go2ChinaChina Pre-Flight Checklist — What to Do at Each Stage
Most guides tell you what to install. This one tells you when. Some steps are impossible inside China. Others become significantly harder after landing. The order matters.
Phase 1 — 7 Days Before Departure
Register with your phone number, then ask a friend who has used WeChat for 6+ months to scan your QR code. Without this step your account cannot send payment QR codes or access full messaging. This cannot be done without a contact in China or abroad.
Download Alipay, register, and complete passport verification (takes 5–10 minutes). Then add your Visa, Mastercard, or Amex card. Do this at home — the passport photo step often fails on slow hotel Wi-Fi.
VPN provider websites are blocked inside China, so you cannot sign up after arrival. Download and subscribe to ExpressVPN, NordVPN, or Astrill before you leave. Test that it connects on your home network — don't assume it will work in China without verifying it first.
Open Amap (高德地图), switch the language to English in Settings, and download offline map packages for every city you plan to visit. Maps are 50–200 MB per city — do this on Wi-Fi, not mobile data. With offline maps you can navigate without a data connection.
Register with your international number, set the app language to English, and add your Visa or Mastercard. China's Uber equivalent — works in 400+ cities with full English interface.
Install the app, then go to Settings → Offline Translation and download the Chinese ↔ English pack. Camera translation mode (point at a menu or sign) works offline with this pack — faster than Google Translate and works without a VPN.
If using an international eSIM (Airalo, Nomad, Holafly), activate and test it before departure — you can't download eSIM profiles once you're on China's network without a VPN. If buying a local SIM at the airport, no prep needed, but register your WeChat and Alipay using your home number first.
Phase 2 — Day of Flight / At the Airport
Before boarding, connect your VPN on your phone's mobile data (not Wi-Fi) and confirm you can load Google. This test rules out carrier-level blocking — some carriers block VPN protocols regardless of the VPN service.
Save a screenshot of your hotel's address written in Chinese (找 "Chinese address" on the hotel booking page). DiDi drivers and taxi drivers may not recognise English addresses. Show them the screenshot if there's confusion.
Payment, navigation, translation, and ride-hailing all run on your phone. A dead battery leaves you without cash, maps, or rides. Carry a 10,000–20,000 mAh power bank — it weighs less than the stress of being stranded.
International ATMs reliably accept Visa and Mastercard before you enter China. ATMs inside China work too, but rates and availability vary. ¥500–1000 cash covers the first day's incidentals if digital payments fail unexpectedly.
Phase 3 — First Hour in China
Major Chinese airports (PVG, PEK, CAN, SZX) have China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom counters before customs exit. Show your passport — no Chinese address needed. Tourist SIM packages start at ¥50–100 for 7 days of data. Activate your eSIM profile if you bought one in advance.
Find a convenience store (全家 Family Mart and 7-Eleven are in most airports) and make a small purchase via Alipay QR code. Confirming your payment works before you need it urgently saves panic later.
DiDi works at all major Chinese airports — open the app, set your destination (paste the Chinese address or drop the pin), and the driver will text you via in-app chat. For taxis, use the official taxi queue only — avoid touts offering rides.
Turn on your VPN before trying to access blocked services. Don't waste time troubleshooting WhatsApp without it — it simply won't connect. For navigation, payments, and local transport, the Chinese apps work natively without VPN.
Common Mistakes at Each Stage
- Skipping WeChat friend verification (7 days before). The #1 mistake. An unverified WeChat cannot send payment QR codes — which means no WeChat Pay at merchants that only show a WeChat QR code. Fix it at home while you have contacts to ask.
- Not testing the VPN before boarding. Some VPN configurations work on Wi-Fi but not on your carrier's mobile data. Test on 4G/5G at home, not just on your home Wi-Fi. If it fails, try a different VPN protocol in the settings.
- Waiting to download offline maps. Amap offline city maps are 50–200 MB each. Downloading them in China on mobile data is slow and expensive. Do it at home on Wi-Fi.
- Relying on Google Maps for transit inside China. Google Maps transit data for Chinese metros and buses is incomplete and sometimes wrong. Amap's metro routing is accurate to the minute — use it instead.
- Not having a backup payment method. Alipay and WeChat Pay each go down for maintenance occasionally. Having both active means you're never caught without a way to pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What apps should I install before going to China?
The essential five: WeChat (messaging and payments), Alipay (payments), DiDi (rides), Amap (maps), and Baidu Translate (offline camera translation). If you plan to keep using Google or WhatsApp, also install your VPN or travel eSIM before departure.
Should I get an eSIM or a VPN for China?
They solve different problems. An eSIM gives you mobile data — an international roaming eSIM may also keep blocked sites accessible. A VPN restores blocked sites on any local network but needs a connection to work on. Many travelers carry both: eSIM for data, VPN as backup.
Can I set up Alipay and WeChat Pay after landing in China?
Yes, but it is harder — identity verification runs smoother on fast home internet, and some verification steps need SMS codes that arrive faster abroad. Set up both at home and land ready to pay.
What should I screenshot before flying to China?
Your hotel name and address in Chinese characters, your return flight details, your travel insurance policy number, and emergency contacts. These stay accessible even with no connection.
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