48 countries visa-free · 240-hour transit · your own card works · no chinese phone number needed · updated oct 2026 · arrivals: you · status: on track ·   48 countries visa-free · 240-hour transit · your own card works · no chinese phone number needed · updated oct 2026 · arrivals: you · status: on track ·  
Bulletin 00 · City Board · the twelve gateway cities foreigners arrive through
uses your GPS once, in your browser only

International gateway airports, ranked by inbound arrivals — Ctrip Research Institute 2025 inbound data + MCT market review. Tap a tile to open that city: places, food and hotels, all from the shared boards.

Arrivals · Mainland China● Live
Tap any row to flip it ↓
PassengerYou
Who this is forAnyone landing in China for the first time. No VPN installed yet? Then read slowly.
Visa required?Probably not
Why50+ nationalities enter visa-free for 30 days. 55 more qualify for 240-hour transit. Check yours at Bulletin 02.
Biggest riskFirst 24 hours
The honest versionPayment freezes, hotel rejections, name mismatches, dead apps. Every one has a boring, reliable fix.
SolutionScroll down
Bulletin 01Six known issues, tap each one to reveal the fix. Four minutes, and you are past the hard part.
When do you land? → we'll show you only what matters now
Pick one — this board reorganizes itself around your answer.

Every guide is either "don't worry"
or "you'll be locked out."
Both are wrong.

Six specific things break first trips to China — payment freezes, hotel rejections, name mismatches, dead apps. Each has a tested, boring, reliable fix. Here they are.

View known issues →
Free · no signup · reads in 4 minutes · from 200+ traveler reports
Bulletin 01 · Known Issues

Six things that will break your trip

Tap any issue to reveal the fix. Sourced from r/chinatravel & r/chinalife, 2024–2026.

The fix

A ¥2,000 first transaction looks like money-laundering to their system. Make your FIRST purchase ¥10–50 at a 7-Eleven. Locked anyway? Call 95188, press 8 for English — resolved in 22–56 hours.

The fix

Usually paperwork fear, not policy — clusters at small independents. Filter "foreign guests accepted" on Trip.com when booking. Chains almost never refuse.

The fix

Ticket names must match your passport EXACTLY — middle name included. Official booking sites often reject foreign passports; book via Trip.com or Klook for a small markup instead.

The fix

Blocked on Chinese networks, and you cannot download a VPN from inside. Install and TEST a VPN before you fly — or buy a roaming eSIM, which keeps Google working.

The fix

Google's China map data is outdated and offset. Switch to Amap (高德地图) — free, English, accurate to the door. Demote Google to backup.

The fix

China is 95% cashless — street stalls included. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay BEFORE flying with your Visa/Mastercard. Keep ¥200 cash for rural areas only.

Bulletin 02 · Visa Desk

Do you even need a visa?

50+ nationalities enter visa-free for 30 days. 55 more qualify for 240-hour transit.

Immigration · Self-serviceQueue: 0 min
——
Bulletin 03 · Ground Operations

Your first 24 hours

Execute in order. Each step: under 15 minutes at the airport.

Operation: Land Safe4 Steps
Step 01 · InternetAirport SIM / eSIMroaming eSIM keeps Google alive
Step 02 · MoneyAlipay + small testbuy a ¥12 water — now China accepts you
Step 03 · TransportAmap + Didiforeign cards OK, no Chinese number needed
Step 04 · TomorrowBook the big sightsForbidden City sells out ~7 days ahead
Bulletin 04 · Equipment

Four apps. Download the right ones.

Store search results are full of fakes and clones. Match the icon below exactly.

AlipayBlue + white “支” star search: Alipay · Ant Group
WeChatTwo green speech bubbles search: WeChat · Tencent
Amap (高德地图)Blue map pin + 高德 search: Amap · Gaode Map
DiDiOrange with white D search: DiDi · Xiaoju Innovation

All four accept foreign phone numbers and international Visa/Mastercard. Install and verify with home wifi — never at the airport kiosk.

Bulletin 05 · Dining

Where to eat without pointing at pictures

275 restaurants in Shanghai & Beijing, pre-sorted for foreigners. Vouchers, budgets, safe picks.

Board status275 restaurants online
Foreigner-friendly picks100 marked
Deals available130 vouchers

◉ Tap below — no signup needed

Open the dining board →
Bulletin 06 · Hotels

100 hotels that accept foreign passports

Beijing & Shanghai, pre-vetted for international travelers. Passport-friendly, foreign cards OK.

Board status100 hotels loaded
Passport-friendlyAll pre-vetted
Cities coveredBeijing · Shanghai +5

◉ Tap below — no signup needed

Open the hotel board →
ISSUES VISA PASS BOARDS