Confirm before making fixed commitments
- Your entry requirements. Check the passport you will carry, travel purpose, dates and border crossings against official information. Resolve uncertainties with the relevant authority. Start with our entry preparation guide.
- What matters most. Choose the experiences you want more time for: history in Beijing or Xi’an, city walks in Shanghai, food and pandas in Chengdu, or scenery around Guilin and Zhangjiajie.
- Nights and moving days. List each overnight stay and the complete transfer between them. Compare your outline with the 14-day example. Remove a stop if the time left in each place no longer matches your interests.
- Reservations. Check accommodation locations and your priority attractions’ current visitor arrangements before fixing the day-by-day order.
Test before departure
- Transport details. Check the full station or airport name and passenger information. For rail, follow current 12306 guidance and carry the valid document used to book. Read the transport guide.
- Payments. Set up the method you intend to use, check current support with your providers and prepare a separate backup. Read the payment guide.
- Phone connection. Check your plan, device compatibility, activation and access to verification messages. Open essential apps and sign in before departure. Read the internet and apps guide.
- Personal needs. Check that the planned walking, food and accommodation suit everyone travelling. Put important needs into clear written notes you can show when necessary.
Keep accessible on arrival
Save the first accommodation’s address in Chinese and English, important booking confirmations, the onward route and a way to contact the host. Test that you can open them with mobile data switched off. Keep essential recovery information secure and separate from your phone.
Check the current official arrival-card process and whether it applies to you. Revisit unresolved questions when dates, documents or the route change. Leave the first day light enough to settle in rather than relying on every arrival step going exactly to plan.
