Arrival day

First day in China, from the airport to your hotel

Q: Will my phone work as soon as I land?

Yes, if you have an eSIM bought outside China and turn it on when you land. With it, Google and WhatsApp work. On airport or hotel wifi, they do not.

Q: Should I take the metro with my bags?

You can, and it is cheap, but it is tiring after a long flight, with stairs and line changes. On day one, the express train or a taxi is usually worth it.

Your first day in China, step by step. Online arrival card, fingerprints, eSIM, Alipay, airport to city in Beijing and Shanghai, DiDi and your first meal.

Before you land

Your first day goes much better if your phone is ready. Do it at home, calmly and on wifi.

Arrival card online, on the immigration website or in Alipay
eSIM installed and switched off. Turn it on when you land
Alipay with your card added and passport verified
Your hotel address in Chinese, saved as a screenshot
Chinese downloaded in your translator app, for offline use

Get Alipay ready before you go7 steps with photos, direct download and your progress saved→

Passport control

Since November 2025 you can fill in the arrival card online, on the immigration website or in the NIA 12367 mini program in Alipay or WeChat. If not, you do it at the airport. At the desk they take fingerprints if you are aged 14 to 70. Keep your onward ticket and hotel booking handy. Then collect your bags and go through customs.

Airport to city in Beijing

Beijing has two airports, so check which one is on your booking. Both have an express train to the city and an official taxi queue.

Capital. Express train to Dongzhimen, 25 to 30 min, 25 yuan
Capital, Terminal 1. First take the free shuttle to Terminal 2 or 3
Daxing. Express train to Caoqiao, about 20 min, 35 yuan
Taxi. From Capital, 100 to 140 yuan. From Daxing, about 220

Airport to city in Shanghai

From Pudong, the Maglev reaches Longyang Road in 8 minutes for 50 yuan, or 40 if you show a same-day boarding pass. From there, take metro line 2. It runs from about 6.45 am to 9.40 pm, and you can pay by card, Alipay or cash. Trains from Beijing arrive at Hongqiao, on the other side of the city.

Taxis, DiDi and your hotel address

After a long flight with bags, the easiest option is an official taxi from the marked queue, or DiDi, which is inside Alipay and shows the price upfront. Say no to anyone offering a ride inside the terminal. Show the driver the address in Chinese, with this phrase.

请带我去这个地址。 Please take me to this address

Your first meal and the rest of the day

Keep it simple and close to the hotel. Dumplings or a bowl of noodles make a good first meal. Use a camera translator for the menu and pay with Alipay, so you know it works. If you do not want spice, say "wǒ bù chī là". There is no tipping. Then a short walk on Wangfujing or along the Bund at night, and bed at local time.

The route in this guide

10 daysThe golden triangleThe Terracotta Army between the Great Wall and the BundBeijing · Xi'an · ShanghaiFrom 830 € per person · Comfortable

Frequently asked questions

Will my phone work as soon as I land?

Yes, if you have an eSIM bought outside China and turn it on when you land. With it, Google and WhatsApp work. On airport or hotel wifi, they do not.

What if I land at night?

The Capital express runs until about 10.30 pm and the Maglev until about 9.40 pm. Later than that, take an official taxi or DiDi, or a booked transfer. From 11 pm to 5 am, Beijing taxis cost about 20% more.

Should I take the metro with my bags?

You can, and it is cheap, but it is tiring after a long flight, with stairs and line changes. On day one, the express train or a taxi is usually worth it.

What if Alipay does not work?

Try WeChat Pay, which also takes foreign cards, or pay cash. Carry about 500 yuan for the first day. Bank of China ATMs usually accept Visa and Mastercard.

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