Pre-Arrival Master Checklist
Everything you need to prepare before your China trip. Check off items as you complete them.
Visa-Free Entry Policies
Citizens of 50 countries (including UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and most EU nations — not the United States) can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days for tourism, business, family visits, exchange visits, or transit. No third-country ticket required. Always confirm using the official NIA / MFA source before departure.
Citizens of 57 countries may use the 240-hour transit visa-free policy only when transiting through China to a third country or region, entering through eligible ports, and staying within the permitted areas.
Two separate policies exist. Use the checker above to see which one applies to your country. 30-day visa-free = regular entry, no third-country ticket needed. 240-hour transit visa-free = transit only, requires a confirmed onward flight to a different third country.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| 240h eligible countries | 57 transit-eligible countries including the US, UK, many EU countries, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, and — added August 20, 2026 — Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam. Check the official NIA list before departure. |
| Time calculation | Starts from 00:00 the day AFTER arrival (not landing time) |
| Third country ticket | Must have confirmed flight to a DIFFERENT country than departure (e.g. US→China→Japan works, US→China→US does NOT) |
| Travel zones | Stay within the permitted areas for your entry port. Some regions allow cross-provincial travel, but it is not nationwide. |
Passport Preparation
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your entry date (strongly recommended). Save digital copies:
- Photo of passport info page saved to phone
- Email a copy to yourself as backup
- Save to cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud)
- Always carry the physical passport — needed at hotels, train stations, attractions
eSIM Setup
An eSIM gives you instant data the moment you land. Many travel eSIMs route data internationally and may keep Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and other international apps working in China, but access can vary by provider and plan. Confirm China coverage and app access with your eSIM provider before purchase, and keep offline backups.
Navigation Apps
| App | English? | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Maps (iPhone, uses Amap data in China) | Full English | Best for iPhone |
| Amap (高德地图) | English available | Best for Android |
| Baidu Maps | Chinese only | Skip |
| Google Maps | Full English | Not available in China |
Pro tip: Download offline maps for your destination cities. Apple Maps → long-press city → Download Map.
Compare Plans
One product, three support levels. Light is free; Pro adds the Guide; Premium adds real human Concierge support.
- Planner — day-by-day trip planning
- Planner for 20+ cities
- Drag-and-drop edit
- Save unlimited drafts
- Sample inspiration trips
- Everything in Light
- Guide — pre-arrival master checklist
- Getting Around guide (DiDi, HSR, Metro)
- Food & Dining deep guide
- Money & Payment tips
- Daily Life & Customs guide
- Everything in Pro
- Concierge — real human support via WhatsApp/WeChat
- Restaurant reservation attempts
- Urgent translation help for travel situations
- Train ticket & attraction booking assistance
- Some bookings may require advance payment
Contact us at info@trisaino.com if you have any questions regarding product features and pricing.
| Feature | Light | Pro | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master checklist | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Interactive tools | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Transport & food guides | No | Yes | Yes |
| Cultural & daily life guides | No | Yes | Yes |
| Real human support | No | No | Yes |
| Restaurant booking | No | No | Yes |
| Service-hour support | No | No | Yes |
Need a Custom Itinerary?
Use our AI Trip Planner to create a personalized day-by-day itinerary based on your interests, travel dates, and budget.
Try AI Trip Planner →Account
Sign in to manage your subscription and trip dates.
Sign in to your trisAino account
Sign in to save your checklist progress, unlock premium content, and manage your subscription.
