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✈️

Your First 10 Minutes in China

The moment your plane lands, everything feels different. This guide walks you through exactly what to do — from the airport gate to your hotel room. No Chinese required.

⏰ Read time: 4 minutes • 📍 Works at: Beijing Capital (PEK), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), and most major airports
7
Steps to hotel
~30
Minutes total
3
Things to have ready
0
Chinese needed

⚠️ Before You Land (Still on the Plane)

1

Connect to Airport WiFi

30 seconds

As soon as you're in the terminal building, connect to the free airport WiFi. Most Chinese airports offer free WiFi — the key is knowing how to get past the login page.

How to connect:

  1. Open your phone's WiFi settings. Look for the airport's network name (e.g., "AIRPORT-FREE-WIFI", "#ChinaNet", or the airport name + "WiFi").
  2. Connect to it. A login page should pop up automatically (if it doesn't, open your browser and go to any website — it will redirect).
  3. You'll see a login form asking for your phone number (手机号) for an SMS code. Problem: you don't have a Chinese number yet.

💡 Solution: Use passport number or scan your boarding pass

Many Chinese airports now offer passport-based WiFi login. Look for a tab or button that says 护照登录 (hù zhào dēng lù = passport login) or scan your boarding pass QR code. If that doesn't work, ask someone at the airport information desk to help — they deal with this all day.

💡 Backup plan: If you bought an eSIM before arrival, you already have mobile data. Skip WiFi and use your data plan.

2

Go Through Immigration

5-15 minutes

Follow the signs for "Arrivals" (到达) and "Foreigners" (外国人 / 非中国护照). Don't go to the Chinese citizen lines — those are for Chinese passport holders only.

  • ✓ Have your passport ready with the visa page open (or the visa-free entry stamp page).
  • ✓ The immigration officer may ask: "Where are you staying?" (住在哪里？). Have your hotel name ready. Saying "Beijing" or "Shanghai" is usually enough.
  • ✓ They may ask "How long?" (待多久？). Answer in days.
  • ⚠️ Don't take photos in the immigration area. It's strictly prohibited.
  • ✓ After they stamp your passport, keep the embarkation card stub (入境卡存根) if they gave you one. Some hotels ask for it.
💡 Most major airports now have e-gates (automated immigration) for visa-free travelers. Look for the electronic passport gate signs.
3

Collect Your Luggage

10-20 minutes

Nothing special here — same as any airport. Check the big screen for your flight number, find the correct carousel, grab your bags.

⚠️ Important:

  • ✓ Make sure you grab the right bag — many black suitcases look the same.
  • ✓ If your bag is lost, go to the airline's baggage service desk before leaving the arrivals area.
  • ✓ There are free luggage carts (行李车) available in most airports.
4

Buy a SIM Card (or Activate eSIM)

5-10 minutes

After you exit customs (行李提取 → 海关), you'll enter the public arrivals hall. This is where you'll find SIM card shops.

Already have an eSIM?

If you bought an eSIM before arrival (from Airalo, Holafly, etc.), just turn it on in your phone settings. You already have data. Skip to Step 6.

Need a physical SIM?

Look for these booths in the arrivals hall. They're hard to miss:

  • 📱 China Mobile (中国移动) — green logo. Best coverage.
  • 📱 China Unicom (中国联通) — red logo. Good for data.
  • 📱 China Telecom (中国电信) — blue logo.

What to say: 我要办手机卡 (wǒ yào bàn shǒu jī kǎ = I want a SIM card) or just show them your passport and say "SIM card." They understand.

Cost: ¥100-300 (about $15-40) for a tourist plan with 10-30GB of data.

Need: Your passport original (copies not accepted).

⚠️ You can buy SIM cards at convenience stores (7-11, FamilyMart) in the city, but the airport is the easiest place. Don't overthink this.
5

Get Some Cash (Optional but Recommended)

3 minutes

China is nearly cashless, but having ¥500-1,000 ($70-140) in your pocket is a good safety net. Some taxi drivers (not DiDi) prefer cash. Street food stalls sometimes only take cash.

  • ✓ Find an ATM in the arrivals hall. Most accept Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay.
  • ✓ The ATM will ask if you want Chinese or English — choose English.
  • ✓ Withdraw ¥500-1,000. Don't take too much — you'll use digital payments for almost everything.
  • ✓ Your bank may charge a foreign transaction fee (typically 1-3%).
  • ⚠️ ATMs dispense ¥100 notes (red). Get smaller bills if possible — some small shops can't break ¥100 bills.
6

Call a DiDi to Your Hotel

5-10 minutes

DO NOT take a taxi from drivers who approach you in the arrivals hall — they often overcharge foreigners. Use DiDi (Chinese Uber) instead. It's cheaper, you see the price upfront, and you don't need to speak Chinese.

How to use DiDi from the airport:

  1. Open the DiDi app (setup guide here). Make sure it's set to English (Settings → Language → English).
  2. Enter your hotel name in the destination bar. DiDi searches in both English and Chinese, so most hotels show up.
  3. Choose "Express" (快车) — the standard option, cheapest.
  4. The app will show a pickup zone (e.g., "P2 Parking, Gate 5" / P2停车场5号门). Go to that exact spot. Follow the signs in the parking garage.
  5. Confirm the license plate number and car color when the driver arrives. Never get into a car that doesn't match.
  6. Sit back and enjoy the ride. You don't need to talk to the driver. Payment is automatic through the app.
⚠️ Airport DiDi tip: Some airports have a dedicated DiDi pickup zone with free shuttles from the terminal. Look for signs saying 网约车上车点 (wǎng yuē chē shàng chē diǎn = ride-hailing pickup point). Follow them.
7

Check Into Your Hotel

5 minutes

You made it! Here's what happens at the hotel front desk.

  • ✓ Hand over your passport. Hotels are required by law to register foreign guests with the local police within 24 hours — they do this automatically.
  • ✓ The front desk may ask for a deposit (押金). This is standard. It can be cash (¥500-1,000) or a credit card hold.
  • ✓ If you booked through Booking.com, show them your booking confirmation (digital is fine).
  • ✓ Ask for the WiFi password (WiFi密码是多少？wèi fài mì mǎ shì duō shǎo?). Most hotels give it to you on a small card.
  • ⚠️ Hotels that don't accept foreigners are rare now, but they still exist. If you're turned away, use Booking.com or our hotel guide to find one nearby that does.
✔ You're checked in! You have a Chinese SIM (or eSIM), some cash as backup, and a DiDi account. You're ready to explore. Welcome to China.

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🔗 Related Guides

🚕 DiDi Setup Guide
How to use DiDi with English interface
📲 eSIM for China
Get connected before you land
✔️ First Week Checklist
What to do in your first 72 hours

⚠️ Note

Airport layouts, SIM card prices, and WiFi login methods vary by airport and may change. The general flow (WiFi → immigration → luggage → SIM → cash → DiDi → hotel) works at all major Chinese airports.

For specific questions about your arrival airport, search online or ask in our Q&A section.