What to Do First After Landing in China: Your First 60 Minutes (2026)

Short answer: Most of the work happens before you fly. Fill in the free online arrival card, save the QR code, install your eSIM and set up Alipay or WeChat Pay. After landing, follow Arrivals, pick the right immigration lane, collect your bags, get online, then take the metro, airport train or a taxi. Budget 45–90 minutes from landing to the taxi rank, so “60 minutes” is a rough guide, not a promise.

Before you start

Do these at home, on Wi-Fi. They make the first hour much calmer.

• Arrival card filed before travelling to China, with the QR code saved as a screenshot. Full steps are in our arrival card guide.
• Hotel name and address saved, ideally in Chinese, copied from your booking. You’ll need it for the card, for officers, and for Didi or a taxi.
• Travel eSIM installed before you fly. See our eSIM guide.
• Alipay or WeChat Pay set up with your foreign card: Alipay guide, WeChat Pay guide.
• Didi international app downloaded and signed in before you fly (see step 8).
• Onward ticket easy to find, if you’re using visa-free transit. Not sure of your days? Use the visa-free checker.

Step by step: the first hour

1. On the plane or at the gate: open your QR code. Check the screenshot is saved. You may not have internet when you land.

2. Follow “Arrivals”. At some airports, such as Shanghai Pudong’s satellite gates, a short train takes you to the main terminal first.

3. Pick the right immigration lane.

   • Foreigners: most visitors, including those using 30-day visa-free entry.
   • 24/240-hour visa-free transit: only if you’re transiting. Have your onward ticket ready to show.

4. Show your passport and QR code, then give fingerprints. Most foreigners aged 14–70 give all ten fingerprints. Didn’t file the card? You can scan the QR code at the inspection area, use the self-service devices, or fill in a paper card. Expect a slower queue.

5. Collect your bags and walk through customs.

6. Get online. Switch off airplane mode and check your eSIM has data. Most travel eSIMs need the eSIM line selected for mobile data, and many providers also ask you to switch on data roaming for that line. Your provider’s instructions say which. Free airport Wi-Fi exists at the big airports, but it often wants a Chinese phone number or a passport scan, so don’t count on it. Your eSIM is the safer route.

7. Open Alipay (or WeChat Pay) and check it loads. Do this before you buy anything. Keep a little backup in case your first payment fails: some cash, or a second payment app. Most shops and ticket machines at big airports take QR payment, but a few small counters still prefer cash or a Chinese card. Check that the app opens and shows your payment code while you still have a signal.

8. Choose how to get to the city. Metro, airport train or taxi. Show your hotel name and address in Chinese on your phone.

   For a ride-hailing car, use the Didi app, which has an English interface. Store names vary between guides (“DiDi”, “DiDi - Greater China”, “DiDi China”), so search for “DiDi” in the App Store or Google Play and pick the one published by DiDi. “DiDi Rider” is meant for DiDi’s markets outside mainland China, so check the app works for China before you fly. Foreign phone numbers can register with it, as long as the number can receive the SMS code. Most guides say you can add an international Visa or Mastercard, or link Alipay. A backup is the Didi mini program inside Alipay, which charges rides to your Alipay account. After booking, the app shows the pickup point. Big airports have a marked ride-hailing zone, so follow the signs and match the licence plate. Google Play is not offered in mainland China, so install the app before you arrive.

Which way into the city?

Option	Good for	Check before you go
Metro	Cheap, predictable, if your hotel is near a station	Does your airport have a metro line? Opening hours?
Airport train	Fast to a central station	Route, ticket payment and last train
Taxi	Late arrivals, lots of luggage	Use the official rank. Show your address in Chinese

Examples from the four big airports. Timetables change, so check the operator’s app or site before a late arrival.

• Beijing Capital (PEK): The Airport Express runs from Terminals 2 and 3 to Dongzhimen, where you change to metro Lines 2 and 13. A one-way ticket is 25 RMB. Guides give last trains of about 22:50 from Terminal 3 and 23:10 from Terminal 2, but the times differ between sources.
• Shanghai Pudong (PVG): Metro Line 2 runs from the airport, with a last train at around 22:30. The Maglev runs to Longyang Road, where you change to Line 2, with a last service around 21:40. Extra late trains ran on some nights in summer 2025, so don’t count on them.
• Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN): Check which terminal your flight uses. As of 7 May 2026, Terminal 1 is temporarily closed; Terminal 3 connects to Metro Lines 3 or 9 via Gaozeng Station and an airport shuttle bus. Check before you go, as this may change.
• Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX): On the metro (Line 11). Last-train times vary, so check the local metro app.
• Taxis: Use the official taxi queue outside Arrivals and follow the signs. Refuse touts who approach you inside the hall. Show your address in Chinese.

If it doesn’t work

Problem	Why	Fix
No internet at the airport	eSIM not activated, or data roaming off	Check airplane mode and the eSIM settings. Your saved QR code and hotel address work offline
Can’t find your QR code	Screenshot wasn’t saved	Scan or refile at the immigration area, use the self-service devices, or fill in a paper arrival card
Wrong immigration lane	Transit and normal lanes are separate	Ask an officer. Keep your onward ticket ready for transit
Payment app won’t take your card	Card network or setup issue	Try WeChat Pay as a backup, or another card. See the payment guides above
Can’t show an address to the driver	No signal or no Chinese text	Open the saved Chinese address from your offline notes or screenshot

FAQ

How long does it take from landing to the taxi rank?

Budget 45–90 minutes. Immigration queues and baggage reclaim are the part you can’t control.

Do I have to fill in the arrival card before I fly?

It’s best to. Since 20 November 2025, foreign visitors complete it online, free, before travelling to China. If you haven’t, there are fallbacks at the airport, but the queue is slower. The official form is at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC. Ignore sites that charge a fee.

Should I buy a SIM at the airport?

We recommend installing an eSIM before you fly. A physical SIM is possible at some airports, but it usually means queuing and showing your passport for registration, so it’s the slower option.

Where do I go next?

If your trip includes other cities, see our high-speed train guide.

Still stuck?

Do it yourself with the steps above — or get help from a real person.

Sources: National Immigration Administration arrival card portal, NIA English site, Guangzhou government service site, and our arrival card guide. Visa-free rules: visa-free entry. Some links on this site are affiliate links — see our disclosure.