After your passport and visa come back, a few practical steps make arrival in China easier: check the visa details, arrange mobile data, set up mobile payments and plan train travel.
Compare the visa with your travel plans. It shows the date by which you must enter, the number of entries and the permitted duration of each stay. If anything does not match your plans, contact the Embassy or Consulate that issued it before you travel.
Ask your carrier about an international roaming plan, or buy a travel eSIM for China. Install an eSIM while you are still at home and keep its activation details with you. Download the maps, translation and messaging apps you rely on before departure, because some overseas apps may be unavailable in mainland China.
Many shops, restaurants and taxis in China accept Alipay or WeChat Pay. Both apps accept many international Visa and Mastercard cards: install one, link your card and complete the identity checks before you leave. Bring some cash and a physical card as a backup.
China Railway sells tickets through its official 12306 website and app, which has an English version. Tickets are booked with your passport details, and you show the same passport at the station.
Hotels register foreign guests with their passports, and passports are checked at railway stations. Keep your passport with the visa on hand throughout your trip.
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