Plan

Most carriers and border checks expect at least 6 months remaining validity. Confirm with your airline and the Chinese mission that covers your country.

1. Note passport expiry date
2. Check blank visa pages if a sticker visa is required
3. Renew early if you are close to the limit

Rules differ by nationality: visa-free pilots, tourist (L), business (M), work (Z), student (X), family, or 24–240h transit. Do not assume a friend’s nationality rules apply to you.

1. Find your nationality on the official visa / consular channel for your country of residence
2. Note allowed purpose (tourism vs work vs study) — purpose must match what you will actually do
3. Note maximum stay length and whether extension is possible later
4. If using transit without visa, confirm eligible airports/ports and onward ticket rules

Visa-free lists and durations change. Always re-check official sources in the week you book.

Tourism and short business visits are different from employment or full-time study. ChinaCopilot will not help you work on a tourist or visa-free stay.

1. Tourism / visiting → lodging bookings + onward travel as required
2. Business visit → invitation materials only as your consulate lists them
3. Work / study → wait for employer or school packets before flying

Illegal work on the wrong status risks detention and bans.

Your first nights drive SIM options, registration workflow, and which metro apps matter. Pick any major entry: Hong Kong (HKG) or mainland hubs (PEK/PKX, PVG/SHA, CAN, SZX, TFU, HGH, XIY, CKG, KMG, and more). Open the airports directory for official operator links. City-level checklists are deepest for Shanghai; planning logic is the same elsewhere.

1. Choose first touchdown: Hong Kong (HKG) or a major mainland entry airport (see directory)
2. Prefer a hotel for night 1 if you want automatic registration (mainland) or a simple first night
3. Note airport/terminal for SIM, Octopus (HK), or local metro/ride-hail apps
4. If HKG → mainland on the same trip, budget Customs + transfer; use the HK page for licensed money rails before you cross

Hotels and many licensed guesthouses usually file temporary residence for you at check-in. Private apartments / some short-lets often require you to visit a local police station (派出所) yourself. Booking sites below are handoffs only — still confirm who registers you.

1. Ask the host in writing: “Will you register my stay with the police?”
2. If no, budget time on day 1 for registration with passport + address proof
3. Keep the booking confirmation PDF offline

Daily life expects Alipay/WeChat QR. Foreign cards sometimes bind; sometimes they fail. Carry a small cash backup plan.

1. Confirm your card networks (Visa / Mastercard / etc.) and tell your bank you will travel
2. Read our payment guide before departure
3. Decide a cash float (e.g. enough for 2–3 days of food + transport)

You will need a working phone number for many app verifications. Airport SIMs are common; eSIM options exist but vary by passport and vendor.

1. Check if your home roaming includes data in mainland China
2. Budget buying a mainland SIM/eSIM on arrival with passport
3. Do not rely on hotel Wi‑Fi alone for payment SMS codes

Buying tickets before entry rules and lodging type are clear creates avoidable stress at the border.

1. Entry category confirmed from official sources
2. Night-1 lodging confirmed with registration plan
3. Payment + SIM backup plan written down
4. Then purchase airfare