What You Need Before Entering China[ China Sourcing Guide - 02 ]

A practical pre-arrival checklist for apps, payments, cards, and eSIM setup

If you are preparing for a trip to China, one of the biggest mistakes is arriving without your apps and payment tools ready. In China, mobile payments are deeply integrated into daily life, and many shops, taxis, restaurants, and smaller merchants expect QR-based payment instead of cash or a foreign card. Because of that, your setup should be done before your flight, not after landing.

1) Download WeChat before your trip

WeChat is one of the most important apps to install before entering China because it is used for messaging, business communication, scanning QR codes, contacting suppliers, sharing locations, and in many cases making payments through WeChat Pay. For business travelers especially, WeChat is often the default communication tool with factories, sourcing agents, and local contacts. Foreign visitors can now link certain international cards to WeChat Pay, which makes it much more useful than before for daily spending in China.

A smart move is to register and verify your WeChat account while you are still in your home country. That helps avoid SMS, login, or account-verification problems after arrival. Some traveler guides also note that account setup can occasionally require extra verification, so doing this early gives you time to fix issues before your travel date.

2) Download Alipay before your trip

Alipay is the other must-have app. For many travelers, it is one of the easiest ways to pay in China because overseas users can sign up for the international version and bind an international bank card. Alipay is widely used for shops, restaurants, transport-related payments, and many everyday purchases, making it one of the most practical tools to prepare before arrival.

For a lot of visitors, the best setup is actually both WeChat and Alipay, not just one. Some merchants prefer one ecosystem over the other, and having both reduces friction when paying. In practice, this gives you a better chance of smooth transactions during your stay.

3) Bring a credit card, but do not rely on it alone

You should still bring a physical credit card, but it should be treated as a backup, not your primary daily payment method. Visa and Mastercard do work in China, but current travel guidance still indicates that acceptance is much more limited than mobile wallets, especially in smaller local shops, restaurants, and neighborhood services. They are more likely to work at international hotels, airports, and some tourist-oriented or upscale establishments.

That means your best strategy is this: bring your Visa or Mastercard, then connect it to Alipay and/or WeChat Pay if your card is supported. This often gives you much better real-world usability than trying to swipe the card directly at every merchant.

4) If possible, use UnionPay for wider card acceptance

If you have access to a UnionPay card, it is generally the better card network to carry for mainland China because UnionPay is China’s domestic bank card network and is far more embedded in the local payment environment. Travel guidance for foreigners consistently treats UnionPay as the most broadly accepted card option in mainland China compared with foreign-issued Visa or Mastercard cards.

So the practical order is simple:

Best daily setup: WeChat + Alipay

Best backup card: UnionPay

Useful but more limited backup: Visa or Mastercard, ideally linked to Alipay or WeChat Pay.

5) Buy your eSIM before you fly

Internet access is another thing you should arrange before entering China. Buying an eSIM in advance is usually easier than trying to sort out connectivity after arrival, especially if you need maps, translation, ride apps, supplier chats, booking confirmations, and payment apps to work immediately once you land. A pre-purchased eSIM also helps you receive app verification codes and access your bookings more smoothly.

Several travel platforms currently offer China eSIM options:

• Klook offers Mainland China eSIM products and highlights QR-code activation plus China Unicom-backed connectivity.
• Trip.com offers China eSIM plans with multiple durations and data sizes, including day-pass and longer-validity options.
• Airalo also offers China eSIM coverage and maintains a broad international eSIM marketplace.
• Nomad offers China eSIM plans as well, with dedicated China product pages and recent guidance focused on China travel connectivity.

When choosing an eSIM, check four things first: whether your phone supports eSIM, how many days your trip will last, whether the plan is data-only or includes calls/texts, and whether you need heavier data for work, video calls, or uploading media. Airalo’s device-support page also notes that eSIM compatibility varies by phone model and region.

6) Consider filling out the China arrival card online before travel

As of late 2025, China introduced online arrival card filling for foreign nationals through the official National Immigration Administration system, app, and WeChat/Alipay mini programs. This is not the same as your visa, but it is a useful pre-arrival step that can save time during entry procedures.

7) Keep your passport, visa, and travel docs ready

Your digital setup is important, but your physical travel documents still come first. Make sure your passport is valid, your visa status is correct for your trip purpose, and your hotel, return ticket, and business invitation documents are easy to access if needed. The exact visa rules depend on your nationality and travel purpose, so this should always be checked against the relevant Chinese embassy or visa center information before departure.