What Do You Need to Prepare Before Coming to China?

Valid passport: valid for at least 6 months with at least 2 blank visa pages.

Visa application form: fill in and print online, upload a recent, front facing, white background, bareheaded photo.

Proof of guarantee for travelling and expenses incurred during the stay in the country: this can be a bank deposit certificate or a certificate of financial sponsor.

Proof of no possibility of unlawful stay.

A copy of the booked round-trip air ticket.

Fill in the form online through the China Visa Centre website and make an appointment for visa delivery.

Submit the application in person or by proxy at the Visa Centre after preparing all the documents.

Complete fingerprinting, on-site photo-taking and payment at the Visa Centre.

Typically, visa processing time is 5-7 business days.

Expedited service can get the visa on the third working day for an additional fee.

China is gradually shifting to a cashless society, with most merchants accepting WeChat Pay and Alipay.

It is advisable to carry some cash for emergencies, especially when using ATMs to withdraw money.

Note that the equivalent in cash not exceeding US$5,000 is to be carried.

You can choose from a wide range of payment products such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Cloud Flash Pay. These payment methods are usually done through mobile phone applications, which are convenient and fast.

Alipay and WeChat Pay support the binding of international bank cards such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Diners Club and Discover.

You can book flight tickets online through the airline's official app, applets or airport windows. Payment methods include Alipay, WeChat and UnionPay bank cards.

Tickets can be purchased on the 12306 website or app with valid documents such as permanent resident alien ID cards and passports. Payment methods include Alipay, WeChat and UnionPay bank cards.

You can choose to pay cash, apply for a bus card or use the Alipay app to ride the metro and bus. Ticketing methods include cash, WeChat and Alipay payment.

You can use Alipay, WeChat and the special app for Didi to book an online car. Support the use of foreign mobile phone numbers and bank cards to register.

You will definitely see bike sharing or electric bike sharing in most cities in China. When your destination is not suitable for bus or metro, you can try cycling.

Use WeChat, Alipay or related software to scan the QR code on the bike, confirm unlocking the car and start riding. Before riding, you can adjust the height of the seat and try the brakes of the bike to see if they work.

When staying in a hotel within China, the hotel must register your stay and report the information on the registration of foreigners' stay to the public security organs in the locality.

If you reside or stay in a residence other than a hotel, you must register with the public security organ police station in your place of residence within 24 hours of your arrival, either by yourself or by the person who stayed with you.

Staying in a hotel: If the hotel accommodation registration system is connected to the system of the public security authorities, the hotel can be asked directly to issue an accommodation registration information form.

Staying at a residence other than a hotel: Apply for a Registration Form for Temporary Accommodation of Persons from Abroad at the police station or foreigners' management service workstation belonging to the place of accommodation.

Failure to register your accommodation in accordance with the above will result in a warning and a possible fine of up to two thousand dollars.