The first days in China almost always look the same: you’ve arrived, everything around operates via smartphones, addresses are best shown in Chinese, and many daily tasks (from payments to taxis) revolve around WeChat and Alipay. If you properly handle the basic setup and documents within the first 7 days, life becomes significantly easier: fewer «quests,» more normal rhythm.<\/p>\n
Below is a practical day-by-day plan. It’s universal and suitable for both long-term tourists and those on business trips\/study\/work-related visits. In some places, I’ll note: if you’re staying in a hotel<\/strong> and if renting an apartment<\/strong> \u2014 the sequence differs slightly.<\/p>\n In China, many issues are resolved not with «paper» but by ensuring you have:<\/p>\n internet and a working phone number,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n your residential address saved in Chinese,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n payment and navigation apps set up,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n a clear way to quickly show documents and bookings.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Do this within the first hour:<\/p>\n save the hotel\/apartment address in characters<\/strong> in your notes;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n save the location in maps (pin);<\/p>\n<\/li>\n add a screenshot of the place’s name and entrance (if available).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Why it’s important: taxis\/DiDi and residential complex security understand addresses better in Chinese characters than in Latin script.<\/p>\n Options:<\/p>\n eSIM\/roaming if already activated \u2014 check for stable internet;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n if planning a local SIM \u2014 roaming for 1\u20132 days suffices to avoid rushed airport setup.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Create one note\/folder with:<\/p>\n passport and visa photos,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n accommodation booking,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n insurance,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n consulate and emergency contacts,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n residential address in Chinese.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n This isn’t paranoia \u2014 it’s about speed when you need to show something immediately.<\/p>\n Even if you’re a tourist, WeChat is useful: hotels, landlords, couriers, local contacts, services.<\/p>\n What to do:<\/p>\n Fill out your profile (name in Latin\/English, photo).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Enable notifications (to avoid missing messages).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Save important contacts: hotel\/landlord\/partner\/colleague.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n If in a business setting \u2014 prepare a short self-introduction message (2\u20134 lines) for new contacts.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n If you’ll purchase\/order through locals \u2014 WeChat is almost guaranteed, even if payment is separate.<\/p>\n In major cities, you’ll quickly notice QR payments are standard: cafes, stores, transport, services. Thus, by day 3<\/strong> (or earlier), get Alipay operational.<\/p>\n Key points:<\/p>\n Install Alipay<\/strong> and locate the QR scan\/payment function.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Prepare a «plan B»: some cash + backup card (in case payments temporarily fail).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n If regular payments (food, transport, deliveries) are needed \u2014 stable internet and a power bank are essential.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Practical tip: In China, QR codes often need quick display. Pin Alipay to your home screen and locate «Scan\/Pay» beforehand.<\/p>\n After payments, the biggest comfort upgrade is transport:<\/p>\n Install and test:<\/p>\n if you can set pickup points,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n if you can select destinations,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n if you can message drivers (e.g., «I’m at exit #2»).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Choose a working tool:<\/p>\n Apple Maps sometimes suffices,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n but local maps are often more convenient in China.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Minimum setup:<\/p>\n save your accommodation,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n save the nearest subway station,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n save 3\u20135 key destinations (office, event venue, school, major mall, nearby hospital).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Even if you mostly use taxis, learn the subway: it’s fast and predictable, especially during rush hour.<\/p>\n Key scenario differences:<\/p>\n Hotels typically handle guest registration procedures. You’ll need:<\/p>\n your passport,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n readiness to show visa\/tickets if required.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Know clearly:<\/p>\n who handles registration (often landlord\/agent, sometimes requires your presence),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n required documents (passport, rental agreement\/residence proof).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Practical rule: don’t delay<\/strong>. It’s easier to resolve early than later when work\/study\/intercity travel begins.<\/p>\n Now organize daily routines:<\/p>\n Food\/grocery delivery apps (if planning frequent use).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Camera translator \u2014 for packaging, instructions, menus.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Marketplaces (for long stays to buy household items cheaper).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Nearby «useful places» list:<\/p>\n pharmacy,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n supermarket,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n ATM\/bank,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n nearest subway station,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n parcel pickup\/courier hubs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n At this stage, the city becomes «yours»: you stop expending energy on small things.<\/p>\n By week’s end, ensure basics are covered:<\/p>\n passport\/visa copies saved in cloud,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n residential address in Chinese accessible,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n insurance assistance and emergency numbers saved.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n stable internet,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n charging plan (power bank),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n no sole reliance on one phone without backups.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n WeChat operational with no missed messages,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Alipay «on hand» with payment function located,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n DiDi and maps configured with saved locations.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n know nearest pharmacy and store,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n can order deliveries or buy basics stress-free.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Internet + address in Chinese<\/p>\n<\/li>\n WeChat (communication, contacts)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Alipay (payments)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Maps + DiDi (transport)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Residence registration (if not a hotel)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Delivery\/shopping\/translator<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Backups, contacts, emergency scenarios<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Not saving address in characters<\/strong> \u2192 taxi\/residential complex access issues.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Attempting airport setup<\/strong> \u2192 fatigue and errors. Better to complete basics over 2\u20133 days.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Delaying app setup<\/strong> \u2192 later, work\/study begins, leaving no time.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n No internet plan<\/strong> \u2192 losing access to payments, maps, messages.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The first days in China almost always look the same: you’ve arrived, everything around operates via smartphones, addresses are best shown in Chinese, and many daily tasks (from payments to taxis) revolve around WeChat and Alipay. If you properly handle the basic setup and documents within the first 7 days, life becomes significantly easier: fewer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life-china"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zhege.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zhege.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zhege.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zhege.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zhege.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3358"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/zhege.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3358\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zhege.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zhege.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zhege.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nPrinciple for the entire week: first connectivity and addresses, then payments and transport, followed by «daily life»<\/h2>\n
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\nDay 1: Arrival, internet, accommodation, basic safety<\/h2>\n
1) Reach your accommodation and save the address in Chinese<\/h3>\n
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2) Set up «on-site» internet<\/h3>\n
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3) Create a «folder» in your phone<\/h3>\n
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\nDay 2: WeChat \u2014 the primary communication tool<\/h2>\n
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\nDay 3: Payments \u2014 Alipay and basic «cashless life»<\/h2>\n
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\nDay 4: Transport and navigation \u2014 making the city «understandable»<\/h2>\n
1) DiDi (taxis)<\/h3>\n
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2) Maps<\/h3>\n
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3) Subway\/public transport<\/h3>\n
\nDay 5: If not in a hotel \u2014 residence registration and agreements<\/h2>\n
If in a hotel<\/h3>\n
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If renting (or staying with friends)<\/h3>\n
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\nDay 6: Daily infrastructure \u2014 delivery, shopping, «life at home»<\/h2>\n
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\nDay 7: Final checklist and long-term setup<\/h2>\n
Documents & access<\/h3>\n
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Connectivity<\/h3>\n
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Apps<\/h3>\n
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Daily life<\/h3>\n
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\nSequential checklist (for brevity)<\/h2>\n
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\nCommon first-week mistakes (and how to avoid them)<\/h2>\n
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