What this tool covers
Six preparation categories
- Documents and entry requirements
- Payment setup (Alipay, WeChat Pay, cash backup)
- Internet and essential apps
- Transport and high-speed train prep
- Packing suggestions
- Last-minute departure checks
China Travel Made Easy · Tools
China Travel Countdown Checklist
Enter the date you fly. Get everything you still need to do, sorted by deadline — what is due now, what opens this week, and which tasks have a hard cutoff you cannot work around.
No sign-up No data stored Official sources linked Works on mobile
Your countdown
Fill out the form
Set your departure date on the left and every task gets a deadline.
The deadlines behind the list
Where the timing comes from
- 90 days — passport check — China requires six months of validity, and renewal takes weeks in most countries.
- 45 days — visa route and holidays — time to apply for a visa or move dates off Golden Week.
- 15 days — train tickets — China Railway opens sales 15 days ahead including the travel day; popular trains sell out in minutes.
- 14 days — payment setup — card binding and identity checks are not always instant.
- 7 days — install everything — VPNs and Google-dependent app downloads do not work once you land.
Accuracy note
Check official sources before travel
This tool gives preparation advice based on common first-time visitor needs. Deadlines marked as buffers are recommendations, not rules. For visa, entry, payment, and railway rules, the linked official Chinese government or platform sources should be your final reference.
Real use cases
When to use this checklist
- First-time visitor flying in two weeks — Generate a prioritized preparation list covering payment, internet, and documents.
- Multi-city traveler using high-speed trains — Get reminders about 12306 account setup, passport matching, and station navigation.
- Payment not yet set up — The checklist surfaces Alipay and WeChat Pay setup as a must-do before departure.
- Saving offline backups — Reminds you to download offline maps, translation packs, and hotel confirmations.
Limitation
This is planning guidance, not official policy confirmation
The checklist adapts to common first-time visitor scenarios. Always verify visa, transit, and payment policies with official Chinese government sources before you fly.
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