Everything you need to set up your digital life in China. Step by step, no Chinese required.
Step-by-Step Guide
China Unicom and China Mobile offer foreigner-friendly tourist SIMs at airports. Bring your passport. China Mobile's international roaming plan covers 50+ countries. Cost: ¥50–¥150/month.
WeChat is not optional in China — it's everything. Download before arrival. Set up account linking a foreign phone number. Key features: pay, translate, maps, orders, social. Verify with a friend's account for full features.
Since 2023, foreigners can link international Visa/Mastercard to Alipay. Set up "International Card" mode. Works for most payments. For full access (taxi, convenience stores), open a local bank account (ICBC or China Merchants Bank accept foreigners).
Download your VPN before arriving in China — you can't download them from inside. Recommended: ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Astrill. Install on all devices. Keep a backup. Some work better than others depending on city and ISP.
ICBC (工商银行) is most foreigner-friendly. Bring: passport, residence permit or visa, phone number. Some branches require an appointment. Online banking takes 2-3 weeks to activate fully. China Merchants Bank has excellent mobile app.
Baidu Maps is most accurate for China. Download offline maps. AutoNavi (Amap) is recommended for foreigner-readable interface. Google Maps works but with less accuracy. Didi app for taxis (English available).
Our arrival assistant service helps you set everything up on day one.
Book Arrival Help →WeChat setup for foreigners (8 min)
Alipay with international card (6 min)
Best SIM for China 2026 (5 min)