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Before You Go

Prepare for your first trip to China with practical guidance on visa-free transit, essential pre-departure tasks and your first 72 hours after arrival.

6 practical guides

Check your trip readiness Open the first-trip checklist Set up internet and apps

Guide

China Tourist Visa Guide for First-Time Visitors (2026)

Published September 8, 2026

Learn how to find the correct China tourist visa office, follow its local document rules, complete online review and submission, and prepare for final entry inspection.

Traveler preparing passport and itinerary documents for a China tourist visa application

More in this topic

Carry-on essentials for a first trip to China

Guide

Published August 25, 2026

China Packing List for First-Time Visitors (2026)

A practical China packing list for documents, payments, connectivity, weather, medicines, and items worth preparing before departure.

Passport and boarding pass prepared for a trip to China

Guide

Published August 25, 2026

China Visa-Free Entry for Tourists: 30-Day Rules and Checklist

Understand China visa-free entry rules, transit options, eligibility checks, and the documents to confirm before your trip.

Traveler with luggage walking through a modern airport terminal

Guide

Published August 17, 2026

China 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit Guide: Requirements

Check the current China 240-hour visa-free transit requirements, documents, route conditions, permitted areas, stay calculation and common mistakes.

China travel checklist for first-time visitors

Checklist

Updated September 23, 2026

First Trip to China Checklist: What to Do Before You Fly (2026)

Everything you need to do before flying to China — visas, apps, payments, and SIM cards.

first 72 hours in China travel checklist

Guide

Published July 24, 2026

China Travel Checklist: Your First 72 Hours in China (2026)

A practical arrival guide — what to do in your first 72 hours in China, from the airport onwards.