Your First 24 Hours in China: A Step-by-Step Arrival Plan (2026)你在中国的头 24 小时：分步抵达计划（2026）

1 Before you fly: 20 minutes that save 3 hours 出发前：花 20 分钟，省 3 小时

The first 24 hours starts before you leave home. Spend 20 minutes on home Wi-Fi to set up the four things you will need the moment you land:头 24 小时从离家前就开始了。花 20 分钟在家用 Wi-Fi 上备好四样东西，落地就能用：

• Payments:支付： download Alipay or WeChat Pay and add a foreign card. The setup is much easier on your home network than on airport Wi-Fi. 下载 Alipay 或 WeChat Pay，绑定外国银行卡。在家用网络下完成，比机场 Wi-Fi 顺手得多。
• Connectivity:网络： buy a China eSIM online or plan to pick up a physical SIM at the airport. Use our 提前买好中国 eSIM，或计划到机场柜台买实体 SIM。不确定选哪个就用我们的connectivity picker上网方案选择器 if you are unsure which option fits your phone.，它会按你的手机型号推荐。
• Maps:地图： install Amap or Gaode and download the offline map for your arrival city. Google Maps does not work reliably here. 安装 Amap（高德）并下载抵达城市的离线地图。Google Maps 在这里不太好用。
• Hotel details:酒店信息： save the hotel name, address, and phone number in Chinese in your phone notes. You can show this to taxi drivers and airport staff. 把酒店中文名、地址、电话存在手机备忘录里，方便给司机或机场工作人员看。

If you want a printable version of this checklist, plus our visa and payment prep steps, grab the free 如果你想要这份清单的可打印版，以及签证和支付的准备工作，领取免费pre-trip tools行前工具.。

2 Get connected at the airport 在机场联网

Your first goal after immigration is to get online. Without internet, you cannot call a ride, translate, or pay with confidence.过了边检后的第一个目标就是连上网。没有网络，打车、翻译、付钱都不踏实。

• If you bought an eSIM:如果你买了 eSIM： turn it on as soon as the plane doors open. Most eSIMs activate automatically when they connect to a local network. 舱门一开就启用。大多数 eSIM 连上本地网络后会自动激活。
• If you need a physical SIM:如果你需要实体 SIM： follow the signs for "SIM Card" or look for official counters for China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom in the arrivals hall. Bring your passport. 跟着「SIM 卡」标识走，或找到达大厅里的中国移动、中国联通、中国电信官方柜台。带上护照。
• Free airport Wi-Fi:机场免费 Wi-Fi： most airports offer free Wi-Fi, but it usually requires a Chinese phone number for SMS verification. Get your SIM first, then use Wi-Fi as backup. 大多数机场有免费 Wi-Fi，但通常要中国手机号收短信验证。先办 SIM，再把 Wi-Fi 当备用。

Once you are online, send a quick message to someone back home, then open your map app and pin your hotel. You are now ready for the next step.一连上网，先给家里人报个平安，然后打开地图 App 钉住酒店位置。接下来就可以处理下一步了。

3 Get your money sorted 搞定你的钱

China runs mostly on mobile payments. Cash is still useful, but Alipay and WeChat Pay are what you will use 90% of the time.中国主要用移动支付。现金也有用，但 Alipay 和 WeChat Pay 会占你 90% 的支付场景。

• Open your payment app:打开支付 App： log into Alipay or WeChat Pay and confirm your linked foreign card is active. If you did not set this up before flying, use airport Wi-Fi or your new SIM to do it now. 登录 Alipay 或 WeChat Pay，确认绑定的外国银行卡可用。如果登机前没设置，就用机场 Wi-Fi 或新办的 SIM 卡现在完成。
• Carry cash backup:带现金兜底： keep about 300 to 500 RMB in small bills (10s, 20s, 50s) for taxis, street food, and older shops that may not scan QR codes. 随身带 300 到 500 元人民币小面额（10、20、50 元），打车、街边小吃、不会扫码的老店都能用上。
• ATM fallback:ATM 兜底： if you need more cash, airport ATMs usually accept Visa, Mastercard, and Union International cards. Stick to ATMs inside the terminal. 如果需要取现，机场 ATM 通常支持 Visa、Mastercard 和境外银联卡。只在航站楼内的 ATM 取。

For a deeper walkthrough, see our 更详细的绑定和支付流程，请看how to pay in China guide中国支付指南.。

The things that actually cause first-trip stress are the same everywhere in China, so handle them once before you land:真正让首次出行感到压力的事，在中国哪里都一样，所以落地前一次性处理好：

• Visa.签证。 Many nationalities can now visit visa-free for short stays, and there is a 240-hour (10-day) transit-without-visa rule if you have an onward ticket to a third country or region. Eligibility depends on your passport and route, so confirm the current rules with official sources before you book, our 目前许多国家公民可免签短期停留，且如果你持有前往第三国或地区的续程机票，还能享受 240 小时（10 天）过境免签政策。是否符合资格取决于你的护照和航线，因此在预订前请向官方渠道确认最新规定，我们的China visa guide中国签证指南 walks through it with a free checker.附带免费资格查询工具，为你一步步讲清楚。
• Payments.支付。 Set up Alipay and/or WeChat Pay with a linked international card before you land. Once that is done, you can pay for almost everything by scanning a QR code. Our 在落地之前，先绑定国际银行卡，开通 Alipay（支付宝）和/或 WeChat Pay（微信支付）。完成之后，你几乎可以扫码支付一切。我们的how-to-pay guide支付操作指南 has the step-by-step.有详细的分步讲解。
• Connectivity.联网。 Airports and eSIM apps make getting online simple, but doing it in advance means you land with maps and translation already working. Our 机场和 eSIM 应用让联网变简单，但提前办好意味着你落地时地图和翻译已经可用。我们的eSIM vs SIM vs roaming guideeSIM、SIM 与漫游对比指南 helps you pick.帮你选。

4 Get from the airport to the city 从机场到市区

This is where many first-time travelers get stressed. The rule is simple: use official transport and ignore anyone who approaches you.这是许多首次来华游客最容易紧张的环节。规则很简单：走正规交通，别理主动搭讪的人。

• Official taxi:正规出租车： follow the clearly marked taxi signs to the official rank. The driver should use the meter. Have your hotel address in Chinese ready to show. 跟着「出租车」指示牌走到官方候客点。司机应该打表。提前准备好酒店中文地址给司机看。
• Ride apps:打车 App： DiDi is the main ride-hailing app. Download it and link a payment method while you have good Wi-Fi. DiDi 是主要打车软件。趁 Wi-Fi 好时下载并绑定支付方式。
• Airport trains:机场快线： 北京、上海、广州的机场快线/地铁又快又便宜。如果你行李不多，这是避开堵车的好选择。 Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have fast airport express trains or metro lines. They are cheap and avoid traffic if you do not have too much luggage.
• Avoid touts:远离拉客： do not get into unmarked cars or accept rides from people who walk up to you in the arrivals hall. They usually charge far more than official taxis. 别上无标识的车，也别接受到达大厅里主动搭讪的人。他们的收费通常比正规出租车高很多。

If your hotel offers an airport pickup, book it before you fly. It costs more, but it removes all guesswork after a long flight.如果酒店提供接机，可以在出发前预订。贵一点，但长途飞行后不用费脑筋。

Want to get DiDi working before you land? Use the setup guide below:想在落地前就把 DiDi 准备好？用下面的设置向导：

5 Check into your hotel 办理酒店入住

Hotels in China are required to register foreign guests with the local police. This is normal and automatic, so do not be surprised when they ask for your passport.中国酒店需要把外国住客信息报给当地派出所。这是正常流程，自动完成，所以前台要护照时不要惊讶。

• Passport and visa:护照和签证： hand over your passport and visa. The front desk will scan them and complete the police registration. 把护照和签证交给前台。他们会扫描并完成公安登记。
• Address card:地址卡： ask for a business card with the hotel name and address in Chinese. This is your get-home card for taxi drivers. 要一张印有酒店中文名和地址的名片。这就是你打车回酒店的「回家卡」。
• Wi-Fi and power:Wi-Fi 和电源： get the Wi-Fi password and confirm your adapter works with Chinese sockets. Most hotels also lend adapters at the front desk. 记下 Wi-Fi 密码，确认转换插头能用。大多数酒店前台也借转换插头。
• Test your payment:测试支付： before you head out, buy a bottle of water at the hotel shop or scan the mini-bar QR code to confirm your payment app works. 出门前先在酒店小卖部买瓶水，或扫迷你吧二维码，确认支付 App 能正常付款。

6 Your first meal, keep it easy and local 你的第一餐，简单本地化

You are tired, hungry, and everything looks different. Keep the first meal simple so you do not overload your brain.你又累又饿，看什么都新鲜。第一餐从简，别让大脑超负荷。

• Pick a busy local place:选人多的本地店： a restaurant full of locals is usually safe, tasty, and affordable. Avoid empty places near the hotel entrance that target tourists. 本地人多的餐馆通常安全、好吃、不贵。避开酒店门口专门宰游客的空店。
• Order by photo:看图点菜： point at photos on the menu, or use your translation app's camera mode. A simple formula works: one meat, one vegetable, and rice or noodles. 指着菜单图片点，或用翻译 App 的拍照模式。简单公式：一份肉、一份菜、一碗饭或面。
• Pay with your app:用 App 付款： when the bill comes, scan the QR code on the table or counter. The staff will show you which code to use. 结账时扫桌上或收银台的二维码，店员会告诉你扫哪个。

Street food can wait until day two or three, when you are more rested and can judge hygiene more clearly.街头小吃可以等到第二、第三天，等你休息好了、也能判断卫生情况再尝试。

7 Get oriented (the calm-before-bed checklist) 熟悉环境（睡前静心清单）

Before you sleep, spend 20 minutes getting your phone travel-ready. This is what turns "surviving" into "enjoying":睡觉前，花 20 分钟把手机调成适合旅行的状态。正是这一步，把「熬过去」变成「享受」：

• Maps:地图： install a China-friendly map app (Amap/Gaode) and pin your hotel, the nearest metro, and tomorrow's first stop. 装一个适配中国的地图 App（Amap/Gaode），把酒店、最近的地铁站和明天第一站都钉在地图上。
• Translate:翻译： a translation app with camera mode lets you read menus and signs by pointing your camera. Download the offline language pack while you have good Wi-Fi. 带拍照模式的翻译 App，镜头一指就能读懂菜单和招牌。趁 Wi-Fi 好，把离线语言包下载下来。
• Messages:消息： if WhatsApp or your usual app is restricted, set up WeChat so you can contact your hotel and tour operators. 如果 WhatsApp 或你常用的 App 用不了，就装好 WeChat，这样你能联系酒店和旅行社。
• Emergency numbers:紧急电话： save them now (next section) so you are not searching later. 现在就存好（下一节），免得以后现找。

8 Stay safe: numbers to save tonight 注意安全：今晚就要存好的电话

China is generally safe for travelers, but the first evening is the right time to save the numbers you hope you never need. Put them in your phone now:中国对游客总体安全，但第一天晚上就该把希望永远用不上的号码先存好。现在就存进手机：

Also write your hotel address in Chinese in your phone notes. If you ever need a taxi back, showing the Chinese text is faster and clearer than speaking.同时把酒店中文地址写在手机备忘录里。如果需要打车回去，直接出示中文地址比说话更快更清楚。

9 Common first-24-hour mistakes 头 24 小时常见错误

Most problems on day one come from expecting home-country habits to work the same way. Avoid these five:第一天的大部分问题，都来自默认自己国家的习惯在中国也通用。避开下面五个坑：

• Relying on Google Maps, Uber, or WhatsApp:依赖 Google Maps、Uber 或 WhatsApp： these often do not work without a VPN. Have Amap, DiDi, and WeChat ready before you land. 这些通常离不开 VPN。落地前准备好 Amap、DiDi 和 WeChat。
• Changing money at unofficial counters:在非官方柜台换钱： use airport ATMs or bank counters. Unofficial exchange booths can give poor rates or worse. 用机场 ATM 或银行柜台。非官方兑换点汇率差，甚至可能有风险。
• Getting into unmarked "taxis":上无标识「出租车」： if it does not have a taxi sign and a meter, say no. Official ranks are clearly marked. 没有出租车顶灯和计价器就拒绝。正规候客点都有明确标识。
• Forgetting to tell your bank:没通知银行： notify your bank or card issuer that you are traveling to China, or your first payment may be declined. 出发前通知银行你要去中国，否则第一笔支付可能被拒。
• Carrying only 100 RMB bills:只带 100 元大钞： small taxis and stalls may not have change. Carry 10s, 20s, and 50s for the first day. 小出租车和小摊可能找不开。第一天多带 10、20、50 元小面额。

Frequently asked questions常见问题