常见问题
Do I need to speak Chinese to get set up?
Not for most things. Bank of China's main branches, major hospitals, and government service centers in large cities have some English-speaking staff. WeChat itself is in English. Google Translate camera mode is excellent for signs and menus. For police registration: a Chinese colleague, your HR department, or your landlord can help translate if needed.
What if I'm on a tourist visa?
Some services are more restricted on tourist visas: banks may decline account opening (go to Bank of China, which is most foreigner-friendly), work is not permitted, and the residence permit process doesn't apply. But WeChat, Alipay, SIM cards, and daily life are fully accessible on a tourist visa.
How much cash should I carry?
Very little. China is highly cashless. Keep ¥500–1,000 ($70–140) as emergency backup, but you'll rarely use it once WeChat Pay and Alipay are set up. Some places that still prefer cash: small rural markets, older restaurants, some government offices.
Quick Summary: Your first week in China involves a specific sequence of essential admin. The order matters — some tasks unlock others. Priority order: SIM card → WeChat setup → Alipay/WeChat Pay → police registration → bank account. Everything else flows from these five.
This checklist expands week one of our Chinese Internet Survival Guide — the hub page explains why each layer exists before you work through the when here.
Before You Land
These must be done before your flight, not after:
- VPN downloaded and tested — VPN websites are blocked in China. See VPN guide
- WeChat downloaded and registered — Registration is possible in China but verification is harder without established contacts
- eSIM or roaming plan activated — Don’t arrive with no data. See eSIM guide
- Travel insurance purchased — Buy before departure; most insurers don’t sell to you after you’ve arrived
- Medications checked against China’s rules — Some common medicines (Adderall/ADHD stimulants, codeine, CBD products) are prohibited or controlled at the border; keep originals + prescriptions for the rest. See prohibited medications guide
- Offline maps downloaded — Google Maps requires VPN; download Apple Maps or Baidu Maps offline data
- Power bank rules checked — ≤100Wh, legible label, carry-on only; domestic flights since mid-2025 also check the CCC mark on China-bought banks. See power bank flight rules — or skip carrying one and rent a shared power bank on arrival
- Emergency contacts noted — Your embassy’s emergency number, your insurer’s 24/7 line, local hospital
Prefer this pre-departure prep (and the whole week-one sequence) bundled into one printable playbook? That’s exactly what our China Survival Kit is — everything above, ordered and checklist-driven, launching soon — while every guide it draws from stays free on this site.
Day 1: Connectivity First
Priority 1: Get a SIM Card
Where: Airport arrivals hall — China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom all have counters.
What you need: Passport. That’s it.
What to get: A tourist SIM or short-term plan with data and calling. Expect ¥100–300 ($14–42) for 30 days of data.
Carrier tip: China Unicom is often recommended for expats — better coverage and a slightly easier setup process. Bring cash or an international card to pay; some (not all) airport counters accept foreign cards.
If you have an eSIM already: Activate it, check it works, then get a local physical SIM in the next few days for calls and a local number.
A local number is important — many services (WeChat Pay, Alipay, bank accounts, hospital registration systems) require a Chinese phone number.
See full guide: SIM Card for Foreigners in China
Landing at an airport? The China airport SIM card guide maps arrivals-hall counters at ten international airports, compares the 7/15/30-day tourist packages, and flags which desks are staffed 24 hours.
Priority 2: Connect to VPN
As soon as you have data, turn on your VPN. Without it:
- Google Maps won’t work
- Gmail won’t work
- WhatsApp won’t work
- Most news sites won’t work
Connect to Hong Kong or Taiwan servers for fastest speeds.
Priority 3: Notify People You’ve Arrived
Use WeChat (or WhatsApp via VPN) to tell your employer, landlord, and family you’ve landed. This is also a good time to test that all your apps work.
Day 1–2: Payments Setup
Without payment apps, you’re functionally limited in China. This is urgent.
WeChat Pay (微信支付)
- Open WeChat → Me → Pay (or Services → Wallet)
- Link your international Visa or Mastercard
- Enter passport number for verification
- Test with a small purchase
Limits with a foreign card: passport-verified users get a regulatory ceiling of $5,000 (¥35,000) per transaction and ~$50,000 per year — but WeChat’s own per-transaction cap for foreign cards is often lower, around ¥6,000. Payments over ¥200 incur a 3% cross-border fee.
Alipay (支付宝)
- Download Alipay from your App Store
- Register with your phone number (Chinese or international)
- Link international Visa/Mastercard
- Complete identity verification (passport)
Alipay uses the same ~$5,000/$50,000 caps and ¥200/3% fee rule, and commonly clears single charges up to ~¥35,000 on fully verified accounts.
Cards that work well: Wise, Revolut, HSBC, and some Singapore/Malaysia bank cards. Some US and UK credit cards often fail verification — if yours doesn’t work, try another card before giving up.
Tip: Set up both. Some merchants accept only one. Having both ensures you’re never stuck.
See full guide: How to Pay in China 2026
Day 2–3: Police Registration
This is legally required — don’t skip it.
Who Must Register
All foreigners staying overnight in China must register their address with local police. The deadline is 24 hours after arrival (the rule itself is unchanged since 2013), though in practice enforcement varies.
If staying at a hotel: The hotel handles this automatically. You don’t need to do anything — they submit your details when you check in.
If staying in a private apartment: You (or your landlord) must register at the nearest police station (派出所, pàichūsuǒ) — or online: since September 21, 2026 the National Immigration Administration accepts online filing nationwide (piloted in seven provinces from March 2026) via its platform (s.nia.gov.cn), the 移民局12367 app, or its WeChat/Alipay mini-programs. An online filing has the same legal effect as going in person, and the in-person counter remains open as a fallback.
How to Register
Required documents:
- Passport with valid visa
- Your China address (full address in Chinese)
- Sometimes: your lease agreement
Where to go: The nearest 派出所 (local police substation). Not the main police station — the neighborhood-level substation.
What to say: “我要做住宿登记” (Wǒ yào zuò zhùsù dēngjì) — “I need to do accommodation registration.”
What you receive: A registration receipt (临时住宿登记表) — keep this. You may need it for subsequent address changes, bank account opening, or visa extensions.
Time needed: Usually 15–30 minutes at the station.
Why It Matters
Unregistered foreigners can face fines of up to ¥2,000, and skipping registration can complicate future visa renewals. More importantly, police registration is often required to:
- Open a bank account
- Apply for residence permit extensions
- Register at hospitals
- Get your residence permit stamped correctly — the official sample images of Chinese entry-exit documents show what the permit sticker should look like
Days 2–3: Getting Around
Metro Card
Available at any subway station service counter or machine:
- Deposit: Usually ¥20 (refundable when you return the card)
- Top-up: Cash or mobile payment at station machines
- Alternative: Many cities support phone-based metro entry directly through Alipay or WeChat — no physical card needed
DiDi (滴滴)
China’s Uber equivalent. Download the app, register with your phone number, and link Alipay or WeChat Pay.
Tip: DiDi has an English interface, but drivers only see Chinese. Save your destination written in Chinese — this also helps with street taxis and food deliveries, since drivers and couriers can’t read English addresses.
Days 3–5: Bank Account
Timing: Do this after you have: a local phone number, police registration receipt, and your work or study documents (if applicable). If you’re in China on a job offer, run the employer through our Chinese employer vetting checklist before you sign anything — a shaky employer unravels every document that depends on it.
Why You Need a Bank Account
- Domestic-tier limits on WeChat Pay and Alipay (commonly ¥50,000+ per transaction, no ¥200/3% foreign-card fee)
- Send and receive person-to-person transfers and red packets — blocked with foreign cards
- Receive salary in RMB
- Pay rent via bank transfer
- Access to more financial services
- Withdraw and deposit cash easily
Best Banks for Foreigners
| Bank | English Service | Foreign-Friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of China (中国银行) | ✅ Good | ✅ Most foreigner-friendly |
| ICBC (工商银行) | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Widely available |
| HSBC China (汇丰) | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Best for expats (premium tiers) |
| China Construction Bank (建设银行) | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Reliable |
| China Merchants Bank (招商银行) | ⚠️ Limited | ✅ Popular with expats, good app |
Recommendation: Bank of China for most foreigners (most branches will handle foreigners; English service available at major branches). HSBC if you already bank with them internationally. China Merchants Bank (招商银行) is another popular option among expats — its branches in central city locations, along with Bank of China and ICBC, will typically take a passport.
What You Need
- Passport (original)
- Chinese phone number (required for mobile banking)
- Police registration receipt (required by most banks)
- Visa (student/work/residence — tourist visas may be declined by some banks)
- Some banks also require: employer letter, lease agreement, or reference from existing customer
The Process
- Go to the bank during business hours (usually 9am–5pm, closed 12–1pm at some branches)
- Take a number from the ticket machine
- Wait (can be 30 min–2 hours at busy branches)
- Show documents, complete forms, create PIN
- Receive debit card same day (usually)
- Register for mobile banking
See full guide: Opening a Bank Account in China as a Foreigner
Days 5–7: Join the Community
WeChat Groups
Ask colleagues, your building management, or your employer’s HR for relevant group chats:
- Building/apartment community group
- Workplace group
- City expat groups (search “Wuhan expats” or your city in WeChat groups)
Expat Facebook Groups (via VPN)
Search for “[Your City] Expats” on Facebook — most major Chinese cities have active groups useful for:
- Apartment recommendations
- Restaurant suggestions
- Visa questions
- Finding English-speaking doctors
Local Expat Forums
- The Beijinger (Beijing)
- City Weekend (Shanghai)
- Reddit: r/chinalife, r/expats
- InterNations — professional expat networking with city chapters
Complete Day-by-Day Schedule
| Day | Must Do | Should Do |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | SIM card, VPN on, WeChat Pay setup | Grocery store run, find nearby pharmacy |
| Day 2 | Alipay setup, test payments | Police registration (if private apartment) |
| Day 3 | Police registration (if not done) | Explore neighborhood on foot; get a metro card or set up phone-based metro entry |
| Day 4 | Bank account application | Join WeChat groups |
| Day 5 | Activate mobile banking | Find local hospital/clinic |
| Day 6 | Sort any remaining admin | Explore a local restaurant, market |
| Day 7 | Review what’s missing | Rest |
Useful Apps to Download in Week 1
| App | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WeChat (微信) | Everything | Non-negotiable |
| Alipay (支付宝) | Payments, services | Essential backup to WeChat Pay |
| DiDi (滴滴) | Taxis | Better than street hailing |
| Baidu Maps (百度地图) | Navigation | Works without VPN; better local data |
| Amap (高德地图) | Navigation | Popular alternative to Baidu Maps |
| Meituan (美团) | Food delivery, reviews | WeChat mini program or standalone |
| Taobao (淘宝) | Online shopping | China’s main e-commerce platform |
| Dianping (大众点评) | Restaurant reviews | Like Yelp — reviews, queue tickets and group deals |
| 12306 | Train tickets | Official national train booking |
| Ctrip/Trip.com | Hotels, flights, trains | English-language interface |
| Your VPN | Internet access | Set up before arrival |
What NOT to Stress About Week 1
These matter eventually but don’t need to happen in week 1:
- Residence permit: Usually applied for within 30 days of arrival — there’s time
- The rest of month one: the work permit card (15-day employer filing clock), the work-type residence permit (30-day clock), your salary card and the social insurance card all keep running after week one — the first month working in China checklist picks up where this page ends. The salary, tax and social insurance rules behind your first Chinese payslip get their own walkthrough once the job starts
- Driving license conversion: Takes months; not needed immediately
- Local social life: Week 1 is for admin. Social building comes naturally after
- Learning Chinese: Useful long-term but not urgent for daily function
- Google Pay/Apple Pay: Less useful than WeChat Pay/Alipay in China
Emergency Information
Save these numbers in your phone:
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 110 |
| Ambulance | 120 |
| Fire | 119 |
| Non-emergency foreigner police line | 110 (ask for interpreter) |
| National Immigration Administration hotline (exit-entry questions, English in major cities) | 12367 |
| Your country’s embassy | Look up before arriving |
| Your travel insurance emergency line | From your policy document |
If something goes wrong:
- Medical: Go to nearest 三甲医院 (Grade 3A hospital) emergency room. Show your passport. See healthcare guide.
- Legal trouble: Contact your embassy first
- Lost passport: Embassy + nearest public security bureau (公安局) to report
Related Guides
- WeChat for Foreigners Guide — Full WeChat setup and usage
- How to Pay in China 2026 — WeChat Pay, Alipay, cash complete guide
- SIM Card for Foreigners in China — Which carrier and plan to choose
- VPN for China 2026 — Set up before you arrive
- China Travel Insurance — Get before departure
- Opening a Bank Account in China — Step-by-step bank guide