Most problems after landing are decided before departure.
Check off what you’ve already done — and see what still needs your attention.
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The apps you use at home may not work the way you expect in China. Google services, WhatsApp, Uber, your usual maps, payment tools, or ride-hailing apps may be unavailable, unreliable, or simply not the right tools for local travel.
App downloads, updates, account logins, and phone verification can also become harder once you are already on the ground, especially if your internet access is not ready.
Your first hour after landing is not the time to solve these problems. It is for immigration, baggage claim, transport, and getting to your hotel.
If you wait until after arrival to set up payments, access familiar services, download maps, or learn how to get a ride, small setup gaps can quickly become stressful.
Use this checklist to find those gaps before departure — while you still have time to fix them.
Use the unchecked items to see where your China travel setup may still need work.
If one section has several unchecked items, use the guide or full kit link inside that section to fix it before departure.
Unchecked items show where your China travel setup may still have gaps.
The more items you leave unchecked, the higher the risk that something may become difficult during your trip.
Focus first on the systems you will rely on most: internet access, mobile payments, transport, essential apps, translation.
If only a few items are unchecked, review those areas before departure and make sure the key systems you will rely on in China are clear.
If several items are unchecked in one section, use the related guide before departure. Do not wait until arrival to solve setup problems.
If many items are unchecked across multiple sections, your China travel setup is likely incomplete. Start with the full Survival Kit or review the most important guides before departure.
If this checklist revealed several gaps, the China Digital Survival Kit gives you the full step-by-step preparation system in one place, instead of making you piece together scattered advice across blogs, videos, and forums.
Get the China Digital Survival KitUse the checklist to identify what is missing, then prepare your full setup before traveling to China.