What to Do on Your First Day in China

Quick answer

Your first day in China should be deliberately simple. Get connected, reach your hotel, complete check-in, test a small payment, eat something easy, and rest. Save major sightseeing for tomorrow.

Before leaving the arrival area

Check your phone connection

Confirm that your roaming, travel eSIM, or local SIM is working. Open your hotel screenshot and your mainland-compatible map. Do not leave the airport with your only address buried inside an email you cannot load. Some overseas services may be unavailable or unreliable in the Chinese mainland, which is why offline screenshots matter.

Keep your hotel address ready

Save:

• Hotel name in English and Chinese.
• Full address in Chinese.
• Hotel phone number.
• Booking confirmation.

A screenshot is ideal. You can show it to staff or a driver even if a login fails.

Choose the easiest route to your hotel

Your best route depends on the city, arrival time, luggage, and energy level. For a first arrival, convenience matters more than proving you can navigate a complicated interchange after a long flight.

The Chinese government's 2025 guide lists Alipay, WeChat, and DiDi-Greater China for ride-hailing. It also says Trip.com can be used to reserve airport shuttle services. If you use ride-hailing, follow official airport or station signs to the designated pickup area. Ignore unsolicited ride offers and use official taxi queues or the pickup location shown in your app.

Public transport can be excellent when the route is simple and you still feel alert. Keep RMB cash or a physical card as backup.

Check in and handle accommodation registration

At a hotel, present your passport or other valid travel document at reception. The hotel handles accommodation registration.

If you stay in a private home or another place that is not a hotel, you or your host must complete registration within 24 hours after arrival. The National Immigration Administration announced an online-registration pilot in March 2026 for Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Hubei, Guangxi, Chongqing, and Sichuan through official channels including the NIA platform and `NIA 12367` services. Outside the pilot areas, check the local public security registration process. Register again when your accommodation details change.

Test one small payment

Buy water, a snack, or another inexpensive item. Test Alipay or WeChat Pay without a queue behind you. If a payment fails, switch to your backup instead of troubleshooting while tired. Keep a physical card and some RMB cash for backup.

Read How to Pay in China as a Foreigner.

Eat an easy first meal

Choose somewhere forgiving: a mall restaurant, a hotel-adjacent restaurant, or a place with photos. Use a translated menu, point politely, and avoid turning your first dinner into a research expedition.

Read How to Order Food in China Without Speaking Chinese.

Do a five-minute setup for tomorrow

• Check tomorrow's weather.
• Save the route to your first attraction or station.
• Charge your phone and power bank.
• Put your passport somewhere secure.
• Confirm any timed ticket or train booking.
• Keep a little cash and your hotel address with you.

What not to schedule

• A tightly timed attraction reservation immediately after landing.
• A long cross-city journey with several transfers unless necessary.
• An early intercity train after a late-night arrival.
• A full day of sightseeing before sleep.

Related reading

• First-Time China Travel Checklist
• Apps You Need Before Visiting China
• Mandarin for Hotels, Check-In, and Phone Calls