This is your complete pre-trip checklist for China travel in 2025. Each item links to our detailed guide for that topic. Print this page, check off each item, and arrive in Beijing fully prepared. We update this checklist monthly to reflect the latest policies and requirements.
Kurz & Knapp
Visa/Passport
6+ months validity, visa ready
VPN
Install 2 VPNs before departure
Essential Apps
WeChat, Alipay, DiDi, Translate
Cash
500-1,000 RMB for emergencies
Documents and Visas (Start 3 Months Before)
Check 1: Passport validity - your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. Check 2: Determine which visa policy applies to you. Citizens of 55 countries can use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy. Citizens of 48 countries can use the unilateral visa-free policy for up to 30 days. If neither applies, apply for a tourist (L) visa at your nearest Chinese embassy. See our full 240-hour visa-free transit guide. Check 3: If using transit policy, book your onward ticket to a third country (e.g., Beijing → Bangkok, Beijing → Tokyo, Beijing → Singapore). Print this ticket! Check 4: Book refundable hotels for your entire China stay (some immigration officers ask for proof of accommodation). Check 5: Make photocopies of your passport photo page, China visa (if applicable), and all flight tickets. Keep copies separate from originals. Check 6: Register your travel with your home country's embassy in Beijing (most have a free registration system for citizens). Check 7: Buy travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and COVID-related issues.
VPN Setup (Critical - Do This Before You Fly)
Check 8: Buy a subscription to ExpressVPN (most reliable in China, 90%+ success rate). Install the app on ALL your devices. Check 9: Buy a backup VPN subscription - NordVPN or Astrill VPN. Install on all devices. Check 10: Enable obfuscation/stealth protocol in both VPN apps' settings. Without this, your VPN may be detected and blocked. Check 11: Write down your VPN login credentials on paper. Your phone may break or be lost. Check 12: Download VPN installer .apk files (Android) to your device as a backup for reinstallation. Check 13: Connect to each VPN while still in your home country to confirm your credentials work. Configure auto-connect. Check 14: For advanced users: set up a Shadowsocks or V2Ray proxy as a third-layer backup (see our full VPN guide for instructions). Check 15: Test ALL blocked services (Gmail, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram) through your VPN before departure.
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Mobile Payment Setup (Must-Do Before Departure)
Check 16: Download Alipay from your home country's app store (this gives you the international version). Check 17: Link your international Visa or Mastercard credit card to Alipay. Follow our step-by-step WeChat Pay guide. Check 18: Download WeChat and complete registration. Verify with your passport. Check 19: Link a credit card to WeChat Pay (Visa/Mastercard credit cards only - no debit cards). Check 20: Make a 1 RMB test payment to a friend or use a mini-program to buy something small. Confirm payment works. Check 21: Set a travel notice with your home bank. Tell them you will be in China to prevent fraud blocks. Check 22: Confirm your credit card's foreign transaction fee. Ideally use a card with 0% foreign transaction fees (like Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture). Check 23: Download UnionPay Tourist Pass info (optional but recommended for long stays - loadable RMB prepaid card from Bank of China).
Essential Apps Installation (Before You Board)
Check 24: Download essential apps while still in your home country: VPNs (top), WeChat, Alipay, DiDi, Trip.com, Google Translate (install Chinese offline pack - 150 MB), Baidu Maps (install Beijing offline maps), Meituan. Check 25: For iPhone users: if you need China-only apps (Meituan, Baidu Maps), create a second Apple ID registered in China using your email. You can download free Chinese apps without a Chinese payment method. Check 26: For Android users: download APKPure app store app (.apk file) as an alternative to Google Play (which is blocked in China). Store the .apk file on your phone. Check 27: Download Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube content for offline viewing. Streaming will be slow even with VPN. Check 28: Set up a notes app with your hotel address in Chinese, emergency phrases, and phone numbers. Check 29: Save screenshots of your WeChat/Alipay payment QR codes as offline backup in case of no internet.
Packing and Practical Items
Check 30: Pack a power bank (10,000 mAh minimum) - you will use your phone heavily for maps, translation, and payments. Check 31: Bring a universal power adapter. China uses 220V with Type A (two flat pins, same as US/Japan) and Type I (three flat pins, same as Australia/New Zealand) outlets. Check 32: Pack tissues and hand sanitizer. Many public restrooms do not provide toilet paper. Check 33: Bring a reusable water bottle. Tap water in Beijing is not drinkable, but hotels and offices have water dispensers. Check 34: Pack a small notebook and pen. Useful for having addresses written down, taking notes, and showing Chinese characters. Check 35: Bring photocopies of your passport, visa, and important documents. Keep them in a separate bag from your originals. Check 36: Pack a printed copy of your hotel booking and flight tickets. Paper backups are critical when technology fails. Check 37: Carry a small business card holder - you will receive business cards and should store them properly.
Final 72 Hours Before Departure
Check 38: 72 hours before: Reconfirm your visa policy eligibility. Check the latest updates at the National Immigration Administration website (en.nia.gov.cn). Policies change frequently - what was true last month may have changed. Check 39: 48 hours before: Send your itinerary, hotel info, and emergency contacts to a family member or friend back home. Check 40: 24 hours before: Charge all devices. Download offline content. Save emergency numbers. Verify VPN works one last time. Check your passport and printed documents are in your carry-on bag. The most important rule: every digital item on this checklist should have a physical backup. VPN credentials written down. Hotel address in Chinese printed. Emergency phone numbers on paper. This single rule will save you in 99% of travel emergencies in China.
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