1. SIM Card & Phone Number (+86)
While eSIMs provide data to bypass the Great Firewall, you absolutely need a local Chinese phone number (+86) for daily life. Everything in China requires SMS verification: logging into free Wi-Fi at malls, registering for ride-hailing apps, and ordering food.
📱 Airport Kiosks
The easiest way to get a SIM card is upon arrival at major airports (PEK, PVG, CAN). Providers like China Mobile or China Unicom have booths. You MUST present your physical passport for real-name registration.
🌐 Nihao Mobile
A highly recommended MVNO specifically for foreigners. Their service is entirely in English, accepts foreign credit cards, and you can order it online to be delivered to your hotel.
2. Essential Survival Apps
Google Maps, Yelp, and Uber won't help you here. Here is the modern survival toolkit you need to install.
Navigation: Apple Maps & Amap (Gaode)
Apple Maps is the secret weapon for iOS users in China. It uses native Chinese map data (from Amap) but displays everything in English, making transit routing incredibly easy. If you use Android, download Amap (高德地图) or Baidu Maps (百度地图), though they lack English interfaces.
Food Delivery: Meituan (美团) & Ele.me (饿了么)
The ultimate conveniences of China. Meituan is not just for food; you can order groceries, medicine, or even electronics to your hotel room within 30 minutes. Mini-programs inside WeChat/Alipay are also available and auto-translate text if you use WeChat's built-in translation.
Translation: Pleco & Baidu Translate
Pleco is the holy grail dictionary for learning or recognizing Chinese characters. For daily use, WeChat's built-in scan-to-translate feature is magical for menus, and Baidu Translate provides the most accurate context for Chinese-to-English voice conversations.
3. Accommodation & Police Registration
⚠️ CRITICAL: The 24-Hour Registration Rule
By Chinese law, all foreigners must be registered with the local police within 24 hours of arriving at their accommodation. Failing to do so can result in hefty fines or visa complications upon exit.
Staying at a Hotel
The good news: if you stay at a standard hotel, the front desk does this automatically when they scan your passport at check-in.
Caveat: Ensure the hotel is "foreigner-friendly" (涉外酒店). While rules have relaxed, some budget or rural hotels still refuse foreigners because their system isn't hooked up to the immigration bureau. Always book through Trip.com or Booking.com and message them to confirm.
Staying at Airbnb, with Friends, or Family
If you are NOT at a hotel, you must register yourself. Many major cities (like Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen) now offer WeChat Mini-Programs to scan your passport and do this online instantly. Otherwise, your host must take you and your passport to the nearest local police station (派出所) within 24 hours.
4. Healthcare & Emergencies
Hospitals in China
If you require medical attention, you have two main options:
- Public Hospitals (VIP / International Departments): Major Tier-1 hospitals have special departments for foreigners (特需门诊). They cost more than the standard public line but are cheaper than private clinics. Doctors often speak excellent English.
- Private International Clinics: Hospitals like United Family Healthcare (和睦家) cater directly to expats. They are extremely Westernized, very expensive, and operate exactly like US/European hospitals. Ensure your travel insurance covers this.
Pharmacies
Pharmacies are everywhere (look for a green cross). For common ailments (colds, stomach issues), you can use the Meituan app to order medicine delivery to your door 24/7. Use a translation app to search for the active ingredient, as brand names differ.