Why order matters
Some of these steps depend on others. Payment setup must work before certain apps function. Your VPN must be installed before you land — you cannot download most VPN apps once you are connected to a Chinese network. Do these in order.
1. Install your VPN before departure
Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, and most Western services are blocked in mainland China. A VPN lets you use them normally. The critical detail: most VPN app stores and websites are also blocked from within China. Install your VPN at home, confirm it connects, and make sure your subscription covers your travel dates. ExpressVPN and NordVPN have historically been reliable in China — check current community reports on r/chinavisa immediately before travel as this changes.
2. Download Google Translate for offline use
Open Google Translate, go to Languages, and download the Chinese (Simplified) offline language pack. This enables the camera translation feature — point your phone at any Chinese text and it overlays the translation instantly. Works on menus, ticket machines, medicine packaging, and station signs. No internet connection needed once downloaded.
3. Set up Alipay International or WeChat Pay
Cash is increasingly difficult to use in China — many restaurants, attractions, and transport options are app-payment only. Alipay’s international version accepts foreign Visa and Mastercard directly. Download it, register with your foreign phone number, and link your card. Do this at home where troubleshooting is easier. Test with a small transaction if you can find a way to do so before departure.
4. Install and configure Didi
China’s ride-hailing app. Link your foreign card in the international version. See our full Didi setup guide for the step-by-step. Do this before you land — the pickup pin setup and payment verification are easier on a stable home connection.
5. Download offline maps
In Google Maps, search each city you are visiting and download the offline map. Station concourses often have poor mobile signal underground. Also download Amap (Gaode Maps) — it is the most accurate mapping app within China for local navigation and has its own ride-hailing feature.
6. Book your train tickets
If your dates are fixed, book before you arrive. Popular routes during Golden Week (early October) and Spring Festival (January/February) sell out within hours of tickets being released. Use Trip.com or Klook from outside China. See the train booking guide for which platform suits your situation.
7. Get your eSIM or local SIM sorted
A Chinese SIM or eSIM gives reliable local data — important for maps, Didi, and translation. Airalo sells China eSIMs that activate before you land. Your home roaming plan likely works in China but can be slow or expensive for extended use. Activate and test the eSIM before departure rather than at the airport.
8. Make a physical backup card
Write your hotel address in Chinese characters on a small card. Add the Chinese name of your arrival city and first destination. If your phone dies, loses signal, or the app fails, handing this card to a taxi driver still gets you where you need to go. Email your hotel before arrival and ask them to provide their address in Chinese — they will always have this and it takes them seconds to send.