China Travel Prep
Change language
Getting around
What should I do in the first hour after landing in China?
Last updated Jul 12, 2026
Prepare the hotel details you will need on arrival
Confirm the destination text you have. The check creates a driver card only from verified Chinese details and otherwise gives you a verification checklist.
Your first-hour checklist
- Follow immigration, baggage, and customs instructions from the responsible authority before leaving the controlled arrivals area.
- Turn on the data or roaming plan you prepared and confirm that one contact and navigation method works on that connection.
- Confirm one usable payment method and one fallback; do not assume a card or wallet is accepted until its responsible provider says so.
- Pull up lodging details confirmed by the property or booking provider, with an offline copy if possible.
Getting to your hotel
- Read the current airport or station transport page and follow signs to the official taxi, public-transport, or ride-hailing pickup area.
- Check service hours and the actual luggage or accessibility needs of your group before choosing rail or bus.
- Verify the destination in the app or with the transport desk against your property-confirmed lodging details.
Don't overdo day one
Once you reach the correct lodging, use a low-stakes transaction to test any mobile-payment setup while you still have a fallback. Everything else on the first day is optional sequencing advice, not a transport or payment guarantee.
Keep reading
Related questions
Payment-app support, visa rules, and connectivity change. Verify time-sensitive items with official sources before departure.