Arrival plan
First 72 Hours in China
Use this order to get stable after landing: phone data, hotel route, payment test, check-in, first meal, and a simple way back.
Follow this arrival order
- 1 Stabilize Before leaving the airport Get your phone online
Make sure maps, messaging, translation, and verification routes work before the day gets harder.
- 2 Transfer First hour Choose the simplest airport route
Pick the route that fits your luggage, arrival time, payment readiness, and tiredness.
- 3 Settle At the hotel Check in without surprises
Have passport, booking name, payment, and the Chinese hotel address ready at the desk.
- 4 Prove First low-stress purchase Test payment early
Make one small real payment before hunger, transit, or late-night fatigue raises the stakes.
- 5 Routine Day two or three Build one repeatable city loop
Practice getting out, paying, eating, and returning once so the city stops feeling fragile.
Use these when the moment appears
Phone and arrival setup
- SIM If data is not solved Buying a SIM at the airport
Use an official counter and test data before walking away.
- Apps Before going out Best apps for foreigners
Decide which apps actually need to work during the first days.
- Translate When language is thin Translation apps
Keep communication short, visible, and easy to show.
Food, movement, and return routes
- Food First meal Ordering food without Chinese
Use pictures, QR menus, pointing, and short translations.
- Didi When transit feels hard Using Didi in China
Set up ride-hailing before you are tired outside a station.
- Lost If the route breaks Getting lost: what to do
Stop first, confirm your location, then choose one clear next move.
Backups for awkward moments
- Failed If payment fails Payment failed: what to do
Confirm status, switch once, and avoid repeat retries.
- Hotel If check-in fails Hotel foreigners policy
Know when to escalate, use platform support, or move to a backup hotel.
- Help If something urgent happens Emergency contacts
Keep the few numbers and documents that matter easy to reach.
- Care If you get sick Emergency care in China
Know when the problem has moved beyond self-solving.