Survive & Thrive in China
Practical step-by-step guides for payments, bills, and daily life in China. No Chinese? No problem.
Coming to China?
- โข 10-item pre-arrival checklist
- โข Setup payments before landing
- โข What to prepare (VPN, SIM, etc.)
I'm in China NOW
- โข Payment failed / Can't pay
- โข Emergency contacts 110/120/119
- โข Hotlines: 95017, 95188
Read Chinese Text
- โข Upload photo of any bill/notice
- โข AI extracts Chinese text
- โข Copy to translation tools
Ask a Question
- โข Quick answers from knowledge base
- โข Type your question directly
- โข 19 comprehensive guides
๐ฅ Essential Guides (Start Here)
Pre-Arrival Checklist
Before you fly to China
Arrival Checklist
Your first week in China
WeChat Pay
Setup with foreign credit card
Alipay
Alternative payment app
SIM Card / Phone
Get Chinese phone number
eSIM for China
Digital SIM before you land
Transport / DiDi
Getting around, taxis, metro
Metro/Subway
Navigate subway systems
Police Registration
24-hour mandatory rule
Emergency Contacts
Police, ambulance, hotlines
Additional Guides
China Visa Types
Which visa do you need?
VPN for China
Install before you arrive
Electricity Bills
Read & pay utility bills
Water & Gas
Utility bill translation
Meituan Delivery
Order food like a local
Medical Emergency
Hospitals, 120, English support
Open Bank Account
Unlock unlimited payments
Renting Apartment
Find legit rentals, avoid scams
Read Chinese Text (OCR)
Free OCR tool for bills/notices
Q&A Search
Ask and get quick answers
Why This Guide?
Verified Info
Official hotlines called. Real foreigners tested.
Step-by-Step
No guessing. Exact buttons to tap.
Free Base Content
All guides free forever. Tools support our work.
The Chinability Guide
How to Survive in China (2026 Edition)
What's Inside:
- โ Pre-Arrival Checklist (10 must-dos)
- โ Arrival Checklist (Day-by-day first week)
- โ Emergency numbers & Medical guide
- โ WeChat Pay & Alipay setup
- โ Metro/Subway navigation guide
- โ Food delivery & Daily life tips
- โ Essential Chinese phrases
- โ Quick reference card + Notes pages
Perfect For:
- โข Airport arrival (no WiFi)
- โข Emergency situations
- โข Quick reference on-the-go
- โข Backup when phone dies