China Trip Prep Checklist

Apply for China visa

Tourist (L) visa for most nationalities. US citizens: $140 for 10-year multi-entry. Processing takes 4-7 business days. Check if you qualify for 144-hour transit without visa (53 countries).

Book flights to Guilin (KWL)

Direct flights from Beijing (3h), Shanghai (2.5h), Guangzhou (1h), Hong Kong (1.5h). Book 3-4 weeks ahead for best prices. Consider flying into Hong Kong or Shenzhen and taking the high-speed train for cheaper fares.

Book hotels

1 night in Guilin (near the lakes), 2-3 nights in Yangshuo (countryside guesthouse or West Street). Use Trip.com or Booking.com. Book directly with countryside guesthouses on WeChat for the best rates.

Buy travel insurance

Strongly recommended. $30-60 for a week. Make sure it covers medical evacuation. China's healthcare system is excellent but cash-up-front for foreigners without insurance.

Book high-speed train tickets

If connecting from other Chinese cities. Tickets open 15 days in advance on 12306.cn. Use Trip.com for an English interface (small service fee). Guangzhou South to Guilin: 2.5h, ~170 RMB.

Get a VPN that works in China

Install and test BEFORE you leave. LetsVPN and Astrill work in 2026. Free VPNs don't work. Set up on all devices. Install a backup option — VPNs get blocked unpredictably.

Set up Alipay with foreign card

Download Alipay app. Link your foreign Visa/Mastercard. Complete identity verification (takes 1-2 days with passport scan). Test with a small transaction. Alipay is essential — most places don't take cash or foreign cards.

Buy travel eSIM or SIM

Travel eSIMs route through Hong Kong — no VPN needed for Instagram/WhatsApp. $5-15 for 7-day plans (3HK, Holafly, Airalo). Or get a local SIM at the airport (but you'll need VPN).

Download offline maps & translation

Baidu Maps offline pack for Guilin. Google Translate offline Chinese pack. Save screenshots of hotel addresses in Chinese (for taxi drivers). Download photos of dishes you want to order.

Get Chinese cash (RMB)

Order 500-1,000 RMB from your bank or exchange at airport. Many rural vendors, bamboo raft operators, and small restaurants are cash-only. ATMs at Bank of China accept foreign cards but may run out of cash on weekends.

Start packing

Use our interactive packing list generator to build a customized checklist based on your season and activities. Key items: comfortable walking shoes, rain jacket, sunscreen, toilet paper, power bank, passport photos (for visa extensions).

Learn 5 survival phrases

Ni hao (hello), Xie xie (thank you), Zhe ge (this one), Bu yao (I don't want it — most useful phrase), Mai dan (check, please). Download the phrases as audio on your phone.

Book Li River cruise ticket

Book at least 1 day ahead. Yangdi-to-Jiuma bamboo raft: ~120 RMB. Full cruise: ~360 RMB. Book through your hotel or Trip.com. Don't buy from touts at the pier — they'll upsell you.

Prepare documents

Print flight/hotel confirmations. Screenshot Alipay QR code. Save passport scan on your phone. Print visa copy. Write down your hotel address in Chinese characters. Screenshot the VPN connection method in case you need to reinstall.

Notify bank & carrier

Call your bank — tell them you're traveling to China. Many cards get auto-blocked on first China transaction. Set travel notice on your mobile carrier or confirm international roaming.

Activate data & test VPN

Turn on travel eSIM or insert local SIM. Test VPN immediately — if it doesn't work, try your backup. Download Baidu Maps if you haven't. Test Alipay with a small purchase (buy a bottle of water).

Get from airport to hotel

Guilin airport to city: taxi ~100 RMB, airport bus ~20 RMB. Don't take unlicensed taxis — use the official queue or Didi app. The 30 km drive takes about 45 minutes. Have your hotel address in Chinese ready to show the driver.

Check in & confirm bookings

Hotels in China need to register you with the police (standard procedure). Hotels that say 'foreigner-friendly' have the license for this. Confirm your Li River cruise booking and departure time. Ask hotel to write tomorrow's pier address in Chinese.

First meal: Guilin rice noodles

You made it. Walk to any rice noodle shop (they're everywhere). Point at the menu, pay 10-15 RMB, and eat your first bowl of Guilin mifen. You've earned it.