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Before You Go
Set up the essentials before your flight so you can connect, pay, navigate, communicate, and recover more easily if one part of the plan stops working.
Set up the six systems your trip depends on
A first independent China trip gets much easier when you prepare reusable systems before departure instead of researching every city separately. Start with mobile data and payments, then install your core apps, save important travel documents and addresses, prepare translation, and keep an offline fallback.
Start with How to Travel China Independently, then return here for the setup guides you need.
Most useful for U.S. travelers: Compare China eSIMs · Set up payments for China
Internet & Mobile Data
Choose eSIM, roaming, or another way to stay connected before you land.
Read the guide →02Payments
Set up mobile payment and understand the options for paying in China.
Read the guide →03Essential Apps
Install the core apps you will rely on for payments, rides, maps, trains, and translation.
Read the guide →04Documents
Prepare your passport, entry information, hotel and train confirmations, insurance, and backup copies.
Read the guide →05Language
Prepare translation tools, Chinese addresses, screenshots, and simple ways to communicate without speaking Chinese.
Read the guide →06Offline & Backup Plan
Save the information you need without internet and prepare a backup for payment, navigation, transport, and hotel problems.
Read the guide →Do not make internet your only memory.
For important hotels, transport, and reservations, save the details you would need if mobile data becomes unavailable.
What to save offline →