China First-Trip Starter Kit

1. Before you book

• □Check entry requirements with the relevant embassy or immigration authority for your passport, purpose, route and dates.
• □Choose your first hotel and ask for its Chinese name, full address, front-desk phone number and check-in requirements.
• □Leave room for immigration, baggage, transport and rest on arrival day. Confirm the airport code and terminal.

2. Before you fly

• □Install Alipay, register with a number you can access, and try linking your eligible card. Keep a separate payment backup.
• □Check phone compatibility, carrier lock, plan coverage and activation. Keep access to the number used for account verification.
• □Install a map and translation app. Save hotel details, bookings and useful phrases where you can open them without mobile data.

3. When you land

• □Confirm your mobile connection and open your saved hotel address before choosing transport.
• □Compare the complete journey to your hotel, including transfers and luggage. Check current last-train times before paying.
• □At your accommodation, confirm check-in and any registration steps, charge your phone and make a small payment test nearby.

Sources and current details

This is a preparation checklist. Confirm current entry rules, service availability, fares and operating hours with the relevant authority or provider before traveling.

• Shanghai: overseas visitor payment setup
• Shanghai: multilingual navigation services
• Shanghai: airport transport guides