Digital Preparation Checklist for First-Time Visitors to China (2026)

Set up four things before your flight to China: payment app, VPN or eSIM with built-in tunnel, offline maps, and translation. China runs on QR-code apps, blocks Google and WhatsApp, and removed several Western apps from the local App Store. Once you land, downloading them becomes hard. Install Alipay from your home App Store and link a Visa or Mastercard directly under Me, Bank Cards, with passport verification. Direct binding charges 3% on transactions over ¥200, with a ¥100,000 monthly cap. Alternatively, use TourCard, which charges 5% upfront on top-ups, holds ¥10,000 per 180 days, and is friendlier for short trips. Install a paid VPN like Astrill or LetsVPN before departure, since their websites are blocked in China. Or buy a tourist eSIM from Holafly, Airalo, or Nomad with built-in VPN routing for €5-15 per week. Download Apple Maps or Amap for navigation, and Google Translate offline packs for Chinese-English. Add Trip.com for trains and hotels, and DiDi (or DiDi inside Alipay's mini-program) for taxis. Screenshot your hotel address in Chinese characters in case the driver needs the printed form. Carry ¥300-500 cash as a fallback for older taxis or rural vendors who reject QR.