Your preparation checklist
Start with these essentials, then confirm the details for your own dates and arrangements.
- Check the entry requirements and documents that apply to you.
- Prepare a payment method and a practical backup.
- Arrange mobile connectivity for your arrival.
- Check how you will reach your first night's accommodation.
- Keep your agreed travel contacts with your itinerary.
- Review the weather and pack for your planned activities.
Choose the experiences that matter most
Write down three things you would be disappointed to miss: perhaps historic sites, a particular landscape, regional food or time with family. Then separate your list into must-see places and welcome extras. This gives you a useful way to make choices when two destinations compete for the same day.
A route with fewer stops can leave space for a neighbourhood walk, an unhurried meal or a second look at a favourite place. Use the example journeys to compare combinations of places, rather than treating every stop as essential.
Count usable days, not just holiday dates
Put international flights, arrival nights and departure times into a simple calendar before adding sightseeing. For every change of city, include packing, hotel checkout, the transfer to the station or airport and the journey to the next hotel.
- Mark each night with the city where you will sleep.
- Keep the arrival day flexible, especially after a long flight.
- Notice consecutive early starts and one-night stays.
- Compare an extra destination with an extra full day in a place already on your route.
Make your arrival plan easy to find
Save the full name of your arrival airport, terminal, accommodation and any agreed meeting point. Keep the hotel address in Chinese as well as the name used in your booking. If a transfer is arranged, check how you will identify the person meeting you and what to do if the flight changes.
Think through the first evening too: reaching the hotel, finding a meal and knowing the next morning’s start time. A clear first day is more useful than a packed first day.
Check documents before fixing the route
Entry arrangements depend on your travel document and journey. Start with the National Immigration Administration and the Chinese embassy or consulate relevant to your application; a rule described for another nationality may not apply to you.
Keep passport details, international travel dates, accommodation information and any required onward journey together. Include every border crossing when checking the route, especially if you plan to leave mainland China and return. The entry and visa guide explains the questions to resolve before booking.
Prepare your phone and two ways to pay
Before departure, make sure you can sign in to the apps you expect to use and receive verification messages on the number attached to them. Decide how you will obtain mobile data, and save essential addresses and contact details offline.
For everyday spending, prepare a main payment method and an independent backup. Carrying a second option is particularly useful when a phone battery, card or account causes a problem. Keep personal spending separate from the services listed in your travel proposal.
Describe your preferred pace in concrete terms
“Relaxed” means different things to different people. Explain whether you prefer late starts, shorter walks, a rest after lunch or fewer hotel changes. Mention stairs, uneven ground, dietary requirements and the ages of children travelling with you.
For each sightseeing day, choose one priority and leave optional activities clearly marked. This makes it easier to adjust without feeling that the whole day has been lost. Specific preferences help you judge a proposed route far better than a long list of attractions.
Use one final travel checklist
- Documents: travel document, entry requirements and booking names checked.
- Transport: exact airports and stations, departure details and meeting points saved.
- Phone: data plan, charging equipment and offline copies prepared.
- Daily needs: payment backup, personal medication arrangements and walking footwear ready.
- Contacts: accommodation, transport and any agreed journey support stored somewhere other than one phone.
Keep this list with the latest itinerary. When a booking changes, update the saved version as well as the calendar.
Official information
Reviewed on October 3, 2026
