Just Landed in China? Your First 7 Days

Mobile coverage and 5G are excellent across cities and most of the country, and prepaid SIMs are cheap, but every SIM must be registered against your passport under real-name rules, so buy from an official carrier counter rather than a street kiosk. Home broadband is fast and inexpensive, though everything routes through the Great Firewall, which is why a paid VPN matters for anything international.

Typical cost: CNY 50-100 per month for a prepaid plan with generous 5G data; unlimited-style bundles run higher. Home fibre broadband is often CNY 100-200 per month, frequently bundled with a mobile line.

China is effectively cashless: Alipay and WeChat Pay QR codes handle nearly everything, from metro fares and hospital fees to noodle stalls and market vendors. Both apps now accept foreign Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards, though a small fee may apply on transactions above roughly CNY 200, and a few merchant terminals still reject foreign-linked wallets.

Opening an account: Opening a local account (Bank of China and ICBC are the most foreigner-friendly, with China Construction Bank a common third choice) requires your passport, a China mobile number and, at most branches, a residence permit or valid work visa plus your address registration. Bring cash for the initial deposit, expect Chinese-language paperwork, and be prepared to try more than one branch, as policies vary by teller.

Cash: Cash is legally accepted and cannot be refused, but it is increasingly awkward in daily life; many vendors keep little change and some younger staff are visibly thrown by banknotes. Keep two or three hundred yuan in small notes for emergencies, cash-only stalls and paper transit tickets, but expect to pay by phone for almost everything else.

Tipping: Tipping is not customary and is often politely refused or seen as odd. Do not tip in ordinary restaurants, taxis or Didi rides. Upmarket international hotels and some high-end Western restaurants may add a 10-15 percent service charge to the bill, in which case no further tip is expected.

All foreign nationals must file a temporary residence registration recording where they are staying. If you stay in a hotel, reception does this for you automatically at check-in under the guest-registration system, and you should keep the printed slip. If you stay in a private flat, a friend's home or serviced accommodation, you must register yourself in person at the neighbourhood police station or PSB office covering your address, bringing your passport and lease. You must re-register after any change of address and after each re-entry into China, and the registration slip is later required for your residence permit and often for opening a bank account.

Deadline: Within 24 hours of arrival at your accommodation (some rural areas allow 72 hours)

Where: The local police station (paichusuo) or Public Security Bureau (PSB) exit-entry office covering your address

Big cities have vast, cheap, modern metro systems, and you can tap in with an Alipay or WeChat transport QR code or a rechargeable transit card. A single metro ride typically costs CNY 3-8 depending on distance. Didi is the dominant ride-hailing app and is far easier than hailing a taxi if you cannot speak Mandarin, since it handles the address, the route and the payment for you.

From the airport: From Beijing Capital (PEK), the Capital Airport Express metro runs to the city for around CNY 25, while a Didi or metered taxi to the centre is roughly CNY 90-130. Beijing Daxing (PKX) has a dedicated Daxing Airport Express train. From Shanghai Pudong (PVG) the Maglev reaches Longyang Road in about eight minutes for CNY 50, or Metro Line 2 runs into the city for a few yuan; a taxi to central Shanghai is roughly CNY 150-200.

Most expats rent through agents, who usually charge a fee of about one month's rent, and viewings happen fast in competitive markets. Listings are on apps such as Ziroom and Lianjia (Beike), and serviced apartments near business districts are popular with new arrivals who want a soft landing before signing a longer lease. Read the contract carefully and confirm who registers your address, as your landlord's cooperation is needed for the police registration.

Typical rent: CNY 4,000-9,000 per month for a one-bedroom in a first-tier city such as Beijing, Shanghai or Shenzhen; CNY 2,000-4,000 in many second-tier cities like Chengdu or Xi'an.

Deposit norm: Typically one to three months' rent as deposit, with rent often paid three months in advance (the 'ya-yi-fu-san', or one-deposit-three-months, pattern), which means a large upfront lump sum on signing.

Public hospitals are cheap and clinically competent but crowded, bureaucratic and rarely English-speaking, and they run on a pay-first, register-at-a-counter model. Expats commonly prefer private international clinics for English service, shorter waits and direct insurance billing, at considerably higher cost. Pharmacies are widespread and many common medicines are available without prescription.

How to access it: For routine care, book at a private international provider such as United Family Healthcare, Raffles Medical or ParkwayHealth. At public hospitals you register (guahao) at a desk or via a WeChat mini-program, pay upfront for each step, and bring your passport plus your payment app. Some public hospitals now offer VIP or international wings with English-speaking staff.

Insurance: Employers on work visas often provide private cover, and many international policies bill the big clinics directly. Otherwise buy comprehensive international private health insurance before you rely on it. Foreigners on work visas can, in principle, join the state social insurance scheme, but reimbursement rates and covered facilities are limited, so private cover remains the norm for expats.

• Present and receive business cards, gifts and payment with both hands as a sign of respect, and take a moment to read a card rather than pocketing it instantly.
• Accept tea or food when offered by a host; an outright refusal can seem cold, though a polite initial decline before accepting is normal.
• Avoid publicly criticising, correcting or embarrassing someone, as preserving 'face' (mianzi) matters enormously and disagreements are handled indirectly.
• At a meal, let the host order and seat guests, expect shared dishes on a lazy-susan, and offer to top up others' tea or drinks before your own.
• In business, seniority and hierarchy are respected; greet the most senior person first and let them lead the pace of a meeting or meal.
• Queue-jumping and pushing on crowded transport are common; stand your ground calmly and keep an arm's length rather than taking personal offence.
• Gifts are appreciated but avoid clocks, umbrellas and anything in sets of four, which carry unlucky or funereal connotations.

• Sensitive political topics (Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, Tiananmen, Hong Kong protests) are best avoided in public conversation and on social media, including WeChat, which is monitored.
• Always carry your passport; police can request it, and you legally must have registered your address.
• The number four sounds like the word for 'death' and is considered unlucky, so some buildings skip the fourth floor and gifts in fours are avoided.
• Photographing military sites, government buildings, police and some infrastructure can cause real trouble; when in doubt, do not photograph officials or facilities.
• Be careful what you post and forward online; content deemed politically sensitive can have consequences, and VPN use, while common, exists in a legal grey zone.