China first trip checklist: 10 things to sort before you fly

This is my China first trip checklist: the ten things I would sort if I were packing for my first China trip all over again. It is not about being afraid. Staying safe in China is about gently removing the small problems before they happen.

It comes from my own trips filming in Shanghai. The advice is first-hand, and the emergency numbers are checked against the UK government's travel advice (official). Checked on 20 October 2026. My video of this checklist is coming to the Scratch & Roam YouTube channel.

Quick answers

What should I do before my first trip to China?

Sort ten small things: travel insurance, your hotel name and address in Chinese, the emergency numbers, your phone and data with a backup, a main and backup way to pay, copies of your documents, a plan to pause around scams, a tiny medical kit, a translation app with saved places, and a simple first day.

What are the emergency numbers in China?

Police is 110, ambulance is 120 and fire is 119, according to the UK government's China travel advice.

Why do I need a backup for my phone and data?

On my first trip my eSIM was ready but I forgot to switch it on before landing, and my only VPN needed wifi to activate again. A second VPN from our hotel concierge solved it. A backup plan means one small slip does not leave you without a map, translator or wallet.

Should I worry about scams in China?

I would not worry too much, just pause. If someone is too friendly, a taxi situation is unclear or a bill feels wrong, take a moment to think before you act.

What should I do on my first day in China?

Keep it simple: get to the hotel, check your payments and data, take a slow walk around the block, eat something easy and rest.

The 10 things, in order

1
Have travel insurance before you fly
Get it before the trip, not at the airport and not after something goes wrong. Save the policy number and the insurer's emergency number somewhere you can open without internet, for example a screenshot or a saved note. The UK government's China travel advice tells travellers to contact their travel provider and insurer if they are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad.
2
Save your hotel name and address in Chinese
Do this for every place you will stay. A taxi driver can read it in one second, and you do not have to explain anything when you land tired.
3
Learn the three emergency numbers
Police is 110, ambulance is 120 and fire is 119. You will most likely never need them, but it feels good to know them. These match the numbers on the UK government's China travel advice (official).
4
Set up your phone and data, then plan a backup
Your phone is your map, translator, wallet and train ticket in one. On my first trip my eSIM was ready, but I forgot to switch it on before we landed. I only had one VPN, and it needed wifi to activate again. Our hotel concierge saved us with a second VPN. The next time we were fully prepared. Even when you research everything, have a backup plan.
5
Set up a main way to pay, a backup and a little emergency flexibility
A payment that fails at the wrong moment can hold up a taxi, a meal or a hotel check in. Decide your main method and your backup before you leave. The setup steps are in my China travel apps guide.
6
Keep copies of your important documents where you can reach them fast
Your passport page, your visa if you need one, flights, hotels and insurance. Keep them where you can reach them quickly, not stuck in one app, one inbox or one signal.
7
Do not panic about scams, just pause
I would not worry too much, just pause. If a stranger is a little too friendly and wants to take you somewhere, pause. If a taxi situation is unclear, pause. If a bill feels wrong, pause. You do not need to distrust everyone, you just need a moment to think.
8
Pack a tiny medical kit
Stomach medicine, pain relief, allergy tablets, motion sickness tablets if you need them, a few plasters, and enough of your own prescription for the whole trip.
9
Set up a translation app and save your key places on your map
Save your hotels, the airport, the stations and the nearest metro stop before you fly. When you are tired, you do not want to improvise.
10
Keep your first day simple
Get to the hotel, check your payments and your data, take a slow walk around the block, eat something easy and rest. Most mistakes happen when we land exhausted and try to do too much.