PRACTICAL GUIDE · CHINA
China arrival
checklist.
Four things decide whether your first day in China feels easy or stressful: staying online, paying for things, getting around, and eating well. Sort them in advance and the rest follows.
1. Connectivity
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Gmail are blocked on mainland Chinese networks. A travel eSIM routes your data outside the firewall, so the apps you already use keep working without a VPN. There is no physical SIM to collect and no local phone number required.
- Buy and install an eSIM before you fly, and activate data roaming on arrival.
- Download offline maps and translation packs for the cities you will visit.
- Save your hotel name and address in Chinese characters — you will show it to drivers.
2. Payment
China is largely cashless. Alipay and WeChat Pay accept international cards, which is how most visitors pay. Small amounts of cash are a useful backup for taxis and small vendors.
- Install Alipay or WeChat Pay and link an international card before you leave.
- Carry a small amount of RMB cash as a backup, not your main payment.
- Inform your bank you are travelling so your cards are not blocked.
3. Transport
Ride-hailing usually needs a local app and payment method. For the first journey — from the airport to your hotel — a pre-booked transfer removes the language and app barrier entirely.
- Consider a pre-booked airport transfer with an English-speaking driver.
- For later trips, the metro and high-speed rail are reliable and inexpensive.
- Keep your hotel's Chinese address handy for any taxi or ride you take.
4. Food
If you eat halal or avoid pork, plan your meals rather than searching on arrival. Halal and no-pork restaurants exist in Guangzhou, but they are hard to find without local language.
- Check our halal and no-pork dining guide.
- Learn the word 清真 (qīngzhēn) — it means halal and appears on halal restaurant signs.
- Tell us your dietary needs and we can book your first meal.
The full checklist
- Install a China eSIM before you fly
- Install Alipay or WeChat Pay and link a card
- Download offline maps and a translation app
- Screenshot your hotel address in Chinese
- Tell your bank you are travelling
- Book your airport transfer
- Plan your first meal if you have dietary needs
- Carry a little RMB cash as backup
Facts in this guide are general travel information and may change. Specific services, prices and availability are confirmed with Localful before booking. Last updated 5 October 2026.