China Business Trip Checklist: Before You Fly

A little preparation makes a China business trip much smoother. Tick these off before you fly.

Entry

• Check the visa rules for your passport and trip. Some travellers qualify for visa-free entry or transit; others need a visa. The decision is made by the authorities.
• Passport valid for the whole trip, with blank pages
• If visiting the Canton Fair, your buyer badge pre-registration is done with the same passport

Phone and internet

• An eSIM or roaming plan that works in mainland China. Some international apps and websites don’t work without a suitable connection.
• WeChat installed and set up, so suppliers can message you
• Offline maps and a translation app downloaded
• Key addresses saved in Chinese characters

Money

• A payment app set up (WeChat Pay or Alipay) with a card linked. Not every international card works, so test it.
• A backup way to pay: a second card and some cash
• Your bank told about your travel dates

Getting around

• Airport pickup or a clear plan from the airport to your hotel
• A hotel close to the fair or the factories you will visit
• A car and driver for factory days, if visiting several suppliers

Meetings

• A one-page brief for each product, translated if possible
• Business cards and a short company introduction
• A meeting schedule with addresses and contact names
• A translator for technical discussions and negotiations

After the trip

• Follow up with every supplier you met within a few days
• Compare quotes on the same specification
• Order samples before any production order

Let us organise it

We arrange hotels, airport pickup, a personal translator, eSIM and WeChat setup, transport and factory visits. See Visit China.