Travel Essentials
Travel essentials for China
Find the next practical step for transport, connectivity, money, dining, drones and daily life.
Where should I start?
Start with what you need on day one
Choose the problem you have now. Start with the lead guide in that section, then open a more specific recovery guide if a booking, payment, registration or gate check fails. Hotel booking and check-in decisions are under Hotels & Stays. Every article also appears in All Guides.
Phone & Internet
Do You Need a Chinese Phone Number in China?Decide if mainland +86 voice/SMS is necessary, versus roaming or data eSIM; show foreign-passport SIM registration.China SIM Card for Foreigners: Buy a +86 Number With Your Passport (2026)Apply at staffed operator offices with a passport; verify SMS and contract cancellationChina eSIM PickerMatch phone, trip length, and data needs to a China eSIM option.Which VPN Works in China for Tourists?Choose a reliable access plan by network: dated China VPN reports, travel eSIM alternatives, and failure fallbacks.
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Does Surfshark Work in China in 2026? Official Fixes and Travel BackupUse October 2026 Surfshark provider guidance, manual WireGuard caveats and independent travel connectivity alternatives.Best Map App for ChinaChoose a navigation app that works for international visitors.WeChat Friend Verification: No Helper?Use verified account support and trip-communication alternatives instead of a fake security bypass.
Transportation
Open the Transportation topic overview →Rail & Stations
Should I book China train tickets on 12306 or Trip.com?Compare official 12306 booking with Trip.com for a foreign-passport traveler.Missed Your China Train? 12306 Same-Day Change and After-Departure Fees (2026)Missed a China train? See 12306 same-day free change rules, the 40% next-day fee after departure, passport-counter recovery and midnight deadline.12306 Waitlist Paid but No Ticket? China Train Standby Status Explained (2026)Paid a 12306 standby prepayment? Find out why this is not a train ticket, how to check fulfillment, when to cancel and how refunds work.Foreign Passport Won't Scan at a China Train Station Gate? (2026)China railway passport scanner or gate rejected you? Find the staffed lane, carry your original passport and show a bilingual railway ticket-check request.
See 24 more rail & stations guides
12306 China Train Ticket Refund for Foreigners: Fees and the 2026 Free-Refund RuleHow to refund a China train ticket with a foreign passport: 12306 refund fees, the new 30-minute 2026 exception, station counter and card refunds.China High-Speed Train Seat ClassesDecide whether Second, First, or Business Class is worth booking on China high-speed trains.12306 Passport Verification Failed?Fix pending or rejected foreign-passport identity checks, document upload and station-window verification.China Train Ticket Has No Seat Number?Find your carriage and seat, check issued status, and distinguish waitlists from no-seat tickets.Wrong Passport Name on a China Train Ticket? Change, Refund or RebookFind the official 12306 passenger-identity refund procedure before rebooking with the correct passport details.12306 Paid but No Confirmation Email?Confirm an issued order even when email or SMS never arrived, separate from standby prepayment.Trip.com China Rail Ticket Issuance Failed After PaymentSeller charged but no China Railway ticket was issued: reconcile status and plan a safe fallback.12306 Wheelchair and Special Passenger AssistanceGet separate train station wheelchair assistance and understand 6h online/60m counter timing.12306 App Crashes for ForeignersRecover from an app crash via official web booking; distinguish passport identity verification from actual ticket issuance.China Railway Light Travel: 2026 Luggage PickupCheck 2026 Light Travel 212-station coverage, 35 km service range, ¥48–98 pricing and eligible rail luggage.Soft Sleeper: Can 3 People Buy 4 Berths?Check railway ID-based ticket rules and valid family sleeper cabin arrangements without invented passenger IDs.China–Laos International Train Paper Ticket and BorderBook special China–Laos train and collect required paper ticket before Mohan/Boten international inspection.Chinese New Year 2027 Train Ticket BookingCalculate 12306 15-day presale dates for February 2027 without inventing government holiday or Chunyun schedule.Furongzhen Station to Ancient TownFind official scenic bus from rail station and ticket, luggage, last shuttle details.Shanghai Hongqiao Luggage StorageCompare metro lockers and nearby staffed luggage storage, including prices, overnight rules and collection.China Train Child Tickets: Free Under-6 Declaration on 12306 (2026)Declare an under-6 child with a passport on 12306 or third-party booking, choose paid seat if required, know official counter fallbackLost Bag on a China Train? 12306 Recovery Without a Local NumberUse railway lost-property reporting even if a third-party booking and foreign number block online formsNew Passport, Old 12306 Ticket? Check Before BoardingResolve passport renewal and paid ticket identity mismatch before a railway gate check12306 15-Day Train Ticket Release Times by StationLook up exact station sale clock and avoid unissued pre-bookingsCan You Board a China Train at a Later Station? 12306 'Buy Long, Ride Short' RuleBought a longer 12306 route because your shorter segment was sold out? Learn when you can board the same train at an intermediate station, what happens to unused fare, and what must match.Can You Change the Destination on a 12306 Train Ticket? 48-Hour Rule ExplainedNeed a different arrival station on a China Railway ticket? Compare 12306 endorsement vs Change Destination, the 48-hour deadline, same-city station exceptions and refund/rebook fallback.12306 Payment Failed With a Foreign Card: What to Try Before You Lose the SeatForeign card, Alipay or WeChat payment failed on China Railway 12306? Diagnose the payment state, avoid duplicate charges, and use the safest official fallback.Do I Need a Paper Train Ticket in China With My Passport?Understand China Railway e-tickets, paper tickets, itinerary sheets and reimbursement receipts for foreign-passport travelers — and what actually gets you through the gate.How Early Should You Arrive at a China Train Station?Use a practical arrival-buffer calculator for foreign-passport rail travel, then follow the exact station sequence, passport fallback and missed-train recovery.
City & Air Travel
DiDi with a Foreign Phone NumberRegister DiDi with an international phone number, handle card authorization and choose a reliable airport pickup.China IDP & Temporary Driving PermitCheck whether you need a temporary driving permit, what documents to prepare, and how Beijing or Shanghai applications work.Lost an Item in a DiDi in China? Find Your Driver and Get Help (2026)Find a lost phone or document after a DiDi ride when the requesting phone/account is unavailable and traveler lacks Chinese numberChina Domestic Flight Card Payment Failed? Booking RecoveryDetermine card decline versus unissued domestic airline ticket; avoid duplicate charges
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China Flight Missing Middle Name? Airline Ticket CorrectionCheck passenger-name record and request approved domestic airline correction before check-inDomestic Flight to International Exit ImmigrationKnow when Guangzhou-to-Beijing domestic flights require outbound Chinese immigration at PKX or PEK.China Airport Transit BaggageUnderstand baggage through-check, collection and recheck during an airport connection in China.China Airport to Train Station Transfers: Shanghai & BeijingMatch the exact airport and railway station, build a realistic connection buffer, and use current Shanghai or Beijing transfer routes.Air China 33-Hour Beijing Layover HotelCheck 2026 CA overnight transfer hotel 30-hour cap, 999 e-ticket and ticket operator; recover from schedule changes.Shenzhen Airlines Free Transit Hotel CA + ZHDecide whether both connecting flights are actually ZH operated, and meet Shenzhen hotel 479/999 and 6–36h rules.Alipay Metro QR Code Failed to Activate? Fixes & Ticket Options (2026)Recover from metro-specific Alipay Transport activation/invalid international number or SMS problem at station gateWhat If My Return Flight Is Cancelled but My Outbound Still Flies?Check your options when a return flight is cancelled but the outbound flight still operates.China Airline Online Check-In Not Working? Foreign Passport & Airport Counter FallbackCan’t check in online for Air China, China Eastern, China Southern or another Chinese airline? Diagnose booking retrieval, route eligibility, passport mismatch and use the correct kiosk/counter fallback.China Eastern Booking Not Found After Trip.com or an Agent: Is Your Ticket Valid?Trip.com shows confirmed, but China Eastern says reservation not found? Distinguish the OTA order from the airline PNR and issued e-ticket; verify issuance before seat selection or airport check-in.China Eastern Extra Baggage Not Available After an OTA Booking: What Now?Booked China Eastern through Trip.com or another agency and cannot add baggage? Check the 6-hour prepaid window, flight eligibility, overweight vs extra-piece fees and airport options.Foreign Bank Cards on Beijing & Shanghai Metro: Tap to Ride GuideCheck whether your Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB or UnionPay can tap directly at Beijing or Shanghai metro gates, plus exact fallbacks if it fails.How do I get from Shanghai Pudong Airport to the city center?Pick your route before you leave the terminal: Metro Line 2 for a direct metro ride toward People's Square, Maglev to Longyang Road plus a metro transfer, or the official taxi stand for door-to-door travel.How do I transfer between Hongqiao and Pudong airports?Use Shanghai's Airport Link Line, which the Shanghai government says now connects the two airports in about 40 minutes.
Money & Shopping
Open the Money & Shopping topic overview →WeChat Pay Foreign Card Failed? Fix Card Linking and QR Payments in China (2026)WeChat Pay foreign Visa or Mastercard declined? Distinguish bank card link failures, passport checks, SMS codes and merchant QR payments before retrying.Can You Use WeChat Pay HK in Mainland China? HKD Wallet vs Weixin PayIdentify a genuine HKD WeChat Pay HK wallet, mainland merchant QR support and a safe fallback when a Hong Kong payment fails.How to Pay in China When Alipay or WeChat FailsSwitch between compatible foreign POS cards, RMB cash, official ATM withdrawals and transit-counter payments when QR payments fail.Alipay Setup for Tourists in ChinaRegister with an overseas phone number, link an international card and make a first merchant QR payment.
See 15 more money & shopping guides
Alipay Verification Failed but Payment Works?Separate passport identity failure from overseas-card authorisation, merchant payments and account restrictions, with safe fallback steps.TenPayGo for Tourists in ChinaDecide whether TenPayGo is worth setting up, compare it with Alipay and Weixin Pay, and keep a backup payment route.TenPayGo Payment Failed or Card Charged?Reconcile TenPayGo, merchant and card status before retrying, then prepare evidence for support.China Tax RefundDecide if you qualify for China’s departure VAT refund, which route applies, and what to do at purchase and departure.Xiamen Airport Tax Refund: Departure Steps and 2026 Cross-Province RulesCheck Xiamen exit-airport refund eligibility, customs steps and 2026 cross-province pre-refund rules before baggage drop.Buy an iPhone in China?Decide whether to buy an iPhone in China: exact model and SIM or eSIM setup, warranty geography, price math and departure tax-refund conditions.China ATM Swallowed Your Foreign Bank Card? Recovery Steps for Tourists (2026)Recover foreign bank card retained by mainland ATM and maintain access to emergency money without unsafe transfersBringing Cash Through China Customs: USD 5,000 and RMB 20,000 Declaration RulesCan you transit China carrying more than USD 5,000? Check China's inbound and outbound cash declarations, red channel, transit scenarios and paperwork before travel.Alipay Foreign Card Fees in China: The RMB 200 and 3% Rule ExplainedWhy did Alipay add a 3% fee to your international bank card payment in China? Understand the RMB 200 threshold, card issuer FX charges and checkout alternatives.Alipay Won’t Link Your Foreign Bank Card? Find the Failed StepForeign Visa or Mastercard rejected while adding it to Alipay? Diagnose card network, issuer authorization, verification, error stages and available tourist payment backups.Alipay Card Linked but Payment Declined in China? Fix the Actual StageCard shows in Alipay but a merchant QR transaction failed? Separate issuer declines, wallet checks, merchant type, payment status and cash/payment fallback without double-paying.e-CNY for Foreign Tourists: Set Up Digital Yuan With Visa or MastercardSet up China’s e-CNY digital yuan as a foreign visitor using an overseas phone number and Visa/Mastercard top-up, then understand where it helps and how to recover unused balance.China Tax Refund: Missed Customs Verification or Already Left China — Can You Still Claim?Missed China tax-refund Customs verification, used the wrong airport, or already left mainland China? Diagnose whether the refund can still be completed and what happens to instant-refund advances.Does Mastercard Work in China? Alipay, WeChat Pay, POS & MetroA tourist decision guide for using an overseas Mastercard in China: Alipay, WeChat Pay, direct card terminals, metro gates, fees, limits and backup plans.WeChat Pay for Foreign TouristsHow overseas visitors approach Weixin Pay: foreign phone number, linking a supported bank card, identity checks, merchant QR payments and troubleshooting.
Food & Dining
China Restaurant QR Ordering Will Not Work?Diagnose the table QR, merchant mini program and foreign-linked bank-card payment without double paying.Vegetarian China Hidden Broth and SauceUse Chinese kitchen questions and vegan/vegetarian cards before paying QR menu.China Food Delivery for Foreign Tourists: Hotel Address, Phone & PaymentSet a usable Chinese hotel delivery address, handle phone/SMS blocks, pay through a supported route and complete the rider handoff.How to Order Food to Your China High-Speed Train Seat on 12306Use 12306 catering to order station restaurant food to your G/D train seat: supported trains, delivery station, cutoff, carriage/seat, phone number, payment and fallback.
Drones & Flight Rules
Open the Drones & Flight Rules topic overview →China Drone RegistrationChina drone registration (CAAC UOM) for foreign visitors.China UOM App Download: Official iPhone, Android and Website LinksVerify official CAAC mobile app and website routes before registration, avoiding untrusted APKs and misleading SMS/owner shortcuts.UOM Registration Without a Chinese Phone NumberFind the official web path, resolve missing UOM apps, +86 SMS, foreign passport and DJI Fly sync issues.Drone Batteries, 3C and Flight Rules for ChinaAirline battery carriage, genuine DJI flight batteries versus CCC power bank rules
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Can You Bring a Drone to Beijing in 2026?Beijing drone possession and transit logistics after November 15, 2026UOM Verification Code Not Received? Fix SMS ProblemsOfficial UOM links, Chinese registration labels, and checks when the website will not open.UOM Passport Photo Requirements: What Should Foreigners Upload?Identify passport upload fields and what to check without a Chinese visa page.Can I Register My DJI Mini 2 SE in China Before Arrival?Real foreign visitor case: SMS verification, passport documents, pending identity review, and aircraft registration next steps.UOM Drone Model or Serial Number Problems: What to CheckCheck the UOM manufacturer and model fields, locate a DJI aircraft serial, and handle mismatches without guessing.UOM Identity Verification Pending? What to Do NextIdentify the pending or rejected stage, read the actual result, and decide what to correct or verify next.How to Find and Save Your UOM Drone Registration Mark and QR CodeFind the aircraft registration mark and QR, save the official result, and check that it belongs to your drone.Do You Need a Drone Flight Permit in China?Check registration versus flight approval, suitable airspace, local filing, and next actions.Zhangjiajie Drone Rules for VisitorsFind the real park enquiry point, separate official flight airspace from scenic-area launch conditions, and prepare a lawful alternative when approval is unclear.How to Check China's Official UOM Drone Flight Map Before You FlyFind the official China UOM flight-airspace map and check your exact location, drone class, planned altitude and flight date before taking off. Registration is not flight approval.Where Can Tourists Fly Drones in Shanghai in 2026? Official Map and SuishenbanCheck Shanghai's official 2026 drone airspace map, when a flight application is required, and how to find the Suishenban flight-service and park experience-zone options.China Drone Rules 2026: Registration vs Activation vs Remote IDUnderstand China's 2026 drone registration, activation and operating-identification requirements, including existing DJI drones, the CAAC UOM QR code and location-based flight permission.Custom FPV Drone Not Listed on China UOM? Registration Rules (2026)Separate self-built producer and owner requirements with safe UOM escalation
Health & Medication
Medication to ChinaUnderstand medicine import compliance and open exact-intent pages for Vyvanse and Adderall.Can I Bring Vyvanse / Elvanse to China?Restricted-status travel rules for lisdexamfetamine dimesylate and required documents.Can I Bring Adderall to China?Ingredient mapping from Adderall to Chinese Category I psychotropic listings.Peanut Allergy in ChinaPrepare for peanut allergy travel in China with a Simplified Chinese allergy card and restaurant verification steps.
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Can You Bring Ambien (Zolpidem) to China? 2026 Customs RulesTraveling to China with Ambien/zolpidem? Check its Category II psychotropic classification, medical documents, quantity evidence and Customs declaration steps.Can You Bring Concerta or Ritalin (Methylphenidate) to China? 2026 Customs RulesChina Customs guidance for Concerta/Ritalin/methylphenidate: Category I psychotropic classification, diagnosis certificate, passport, prescription quantity and declaration steps.
Rules & Safety
China Power Bank RulesCheck CCC mark and capacity limits for domestic flights in mainland China.China Plug AdapterDecide whether you need a plug adapter or a voltage converter for mainland China — and how to read your charger label.Do You Need Your Original Passport in China?Compare original ID requirements at 12306 stations, the Palace Museum and accommodation check-in.
Daily Life
Public Toilets in China for Tourists: Find Restrooms with AmapSearch 公厕 in Amap, use city-specific toilet finders where available, and prepare for squat/seated facilities and tissue differences.Laundry in China for Tourists: Hotel Machines & Laundry ShopsVerify hotel guest laundry, find a local 洗衣店 when needed, and confirm wash/dry price and turnaround before handing over clothes.