Coming soon
The China Survival Kit
Everything a foreigner needs to land, pay, connect, and stay healthy in China — distilled from our field-tested guides into one ordered playbook.
What’s Inside
Five survival layers, in the order you actually need them. Each one is distilled from a guide we maintain and update — the kit gives you the sequence, the checklists, and the decisions in one place.
Pay Like a Local
Set up WeChat Pay and Alipay with a foreign passport, understand the real card limits and the ¥200 / 3% fee rule, and know exactly when cash is still your best friend.
- Step-by-step wallet setup
- Foreign-card limits & fees decoded
- Cash-or-card decision table
Get a Phone Number That Works
A +86 number is the master key to Chinese apps. Learn how to get one as a visitor, keep it alive after you leave, and which verification workarounds to avoid.
- Carrier requirements & documents
- OTP / verification-code playbook
- Virtual-number scams exposed
Survive Your First Week
The exact order things must happen: SIM card, wallets, police registration, bank account. A day-by-day schedule so nothing blocks anything else.
- Day-by-day arrival checklist
- Police registration walkthrough
- Bank account starter kit
Stay Out of Medical Trouble
What to do when you get sick, which medicines are prohibited or controlled at the border, and how to see a doctor without speaking Chinese.
- Hospital visit playbook
- Prohibited medications list
- Pharmacy & insurance basics
Stay Connected Behind the Firewall
eSIM vs local SIM vs roaming — decided before you fly — plus the VPN setup order and the quick reference for what works in China and what doesn’t.
- eSIM decision guide
- Pre-departure VPN setup
- Blocked-apps quick reference
Read it tonight. Use it tomorrow.
The kit is built around the window that matters most: the days before you fly. Travelers who set up VPN, eSIM, and wallets before departure skip the failures that cost everyone else their first week.
Get Notified When It LaunchesFrequently Asked Questions
What exactly is the China Survival Kit?
It’s a digital playbook (PDF) that bundles the five survival layers every foreigner needs in China — payments, phone numbers, first-week admin, healthcare, and connectivity — into one ordered, checklist-driven document you can read in an evening and act on immediately.
Is it a physical product or an app?
Neither. It’s a digital download. When it launches, you’ll get a download link by email; read it on any device and print the checklists if you prefer paper.
How is it different from the free guides on this site?
Same research, different packaging. The free guides stay free and keep getting updated. The kit distills them into a single sequence with pre-trip checklists, decision tables, and day-by-day plans — no tab-hopping, no ads, nothing left out of order.
How much does it cost?
Pricing isn’t final yet. It will be a one-time purchase — no subscription, no upsells — and future revisions will be included for buyers.
When should I get it — before or after arriving in China?
Before you fly. Several steps (downloading a VPN, activating an eSIM, registering WeChat) are dramatically easier outside China, and the kit’s pre-departure checklist is built around that window.
Disclaimer
The China Survival Kit is an independent informational product by China Neighbor. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by WeChat, Alipay, any mobile carrier, or any government agency. Content reflects our research as of September 2026 — rules, prices, and app behaviors in China change fast, and policies you encounter may differ. Nothing in the kit is legal, medical, or financial advice; consult qualified professionals for your specific situation. Digital product — delivered by email at launch.