Health & Everyday LifeEssential
First 72 Hours in China: Practical Setup Checklist
Your first three days in China are easier when you set up the core systems in the right order.
Difficulty
Easy
Time needed
1-2 hours total
Updated
May 6, 2026
Helpful?0-5 points
Requirements
- Passport, hotel address, and arrival details saved offline.
- Phone data plan, roaming, eSIM, or local SIM plan.
- At least one payment app attempt plus a backup card or cash.
- Map, translation, and messaging tools installed before arrival.
- Chinese address for your first hotel, dorm, apartment, or office.
Manual
Step-by-step guide
- Before landing, save passport scans, hotel address in Chinese, arrival contact, and emergency contact details offline.
- On arrival, get data working first through roaming, eSIM, airport Wi-Fi, hotel Wi-Fi, or local SIM.
- Confirm hotel or housing check-in and save the exact address in Amap or another map app.
- Set up at least one payment app, then test a small payment before relying on it.
- Set up transport basics: metro route to your area, ride-hailing pickup method, and train station names if you have intercity travel.
- Test one food or daily delivery workflow before you urgently need it.
- Save important support contacts, local addresses, and payment backups offline.
- After the first night, review what failed and fix only the highest-priority blocker next.
Troubleshooting
Common problems and fixes
- Trying to solve payments, phone access, and transport all at the airport can be stressful.
- Some apps need SMS, identity checks, or card verification before they work.
- Jet lag and language friction make simple tasks feel harder.
Best route and backup plan
Backup options
- Prioritize data and hotel access first.
- Use hotel staff for your first taxi, food order, or address confirmation.
- Use the First 72 Hours Checklist to decide which setup blocker matters most.
Keep going
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