Quick answer: Bring your original passport and confirm your current China entry requirements before departure. Keep your flight, hotel, train, insurance, and important address information available on your phone, and save backup copies somewhere you can reach if your phone is lost.
China travel becomes much easier when your essential documents are organized before you leave home.
1. Your original passport
Your passport is the most important travel document in China.
You may need it for:
- Entering China
- Hotel check-in
- High-speed train travel
- Domestic flights
- Some attraction tickets or identity checks
Bring the same passport you used for reservations that are tied to your identity.
Before departure, check that your passport will remain valid for your intended trip and that the passport number on your bookings is correct.
2. Check your current visa or visa-free eligibility
Do not rely on an old travel blog or a friend’s previous trip.
China’s entry policies can change, and the rule may depend on:
- Your nationality
- Your reason for travel
- Your length of stay
- Whether China is your final destination or a transit stop
- Your arrival and departure cities
For example, China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy can apply to eligible U.S. passport holders traveling through China to a third country or region, but it has specific route and entry-port requirements.
Before booking a trip around a visa-free policy, verify the current rule with China’s National Immigration Administration or the Chinese embassy/consulate serving you.
3. Arrival information
China may require foreign travelers to provide arrival information at entry.
Keep these details easy to find:
- Passport information
- Flight number
- First hotel name
- Hotel address
- Contact information if requested
- Planned departure information
If an online arrival-card option is available for your trip, complete it only through an official government channel.
4. Hotel confirmations
Save the confirmation for at least your first hotel.
I recommend keeping:
- Hotel name in English
- Hotel name in Chinese if available
- Full address
- Phone number
- Booking number
- Check-in and check-out dates
A screenshot is useful because it still works if your data connection is temporarily unavailable.
Hotels normally register foreign guests’ accommodation information during check-in using the traveler’s passport.
5. Train and domestic-flight confirmations
Keep your transportation confirmations on your phone.
For high-speed rail, the booking is tied to your passport rather than a traditional paper ticket.
Useful details to save include:
- Train or flight number
- Exact station or airport name
- Departure time
- Car and seat number for trains
- Booking reference
For train travel, the exact station name matters because large Chinese cities can have several major railway stations.
6. Travel insurance information
If you buy travel insurance, save:
- Policy number
- Emergency assistance phone number
- Claims instructions
- Coverage summary
Keep this information somewhere other than only inside the insurer’s app.
7. Backup copies
Keep digital copies of important documents, including:
- Passport photo page
- Visa, if applicable
- Flight reservations
- Hotel reservations
- Train bookings
- Travel insurance
Store copies in a secure cloud account or another location you can access from a second device.
A passport copy does not replace your original passport for travel or identity checks, but it can be very helpful if the original is lost.
8. Save important addresses in Chinese
For your first hotel, railway stations, airports, and major destinations, save the Chinese name and address when possible.
This is useful for:
- Showing a taxi driver
- Confirming a DiDi destination
- Asking hotel staff for help
- Checking that you are going to the correct railway station
My simple pre-trip document folder
Before leaving the United States, I would keep one folder on my phone containing:
- Passport copy
- Entry/visa information
- First hotel confirmation
- Flight confirmations
- Train confirmations
- Insurance information
- Chinese hotel address
- Emergency contact information
That is usually enough to solve most document-related questions quickly while traveling.
FAQ
Do I need to carry my passport every day in China?
Your passport is your primary identity document and is required for important travel tasks such as hotels and trains. Keep it secure and available when you may need it.
Is a passport photo on my phone enough for high-speed rail?
No. Bring the original passport used for the booking.
Should I print all my reservations?
Usually no, but keeping a few paper backups is reasonable if you prefer them. Screenshots and digital confirmations are normally more convenient.
Should I book every hotel before entering China?
Not necessarily, but having your first accommodation details ready makes arrival easier and gives you an address to provide if requested.
Related: China Travel Without Speaking Chinese
Back to Before You Go: Before You Go