What should I have ready before landing?
Keep your passport, travel documents, accommodation details and onward booking information accessible. If an arrival card is required, use the free official NIA service in advance when possible. NIA says paper cards and port devices remain available if you cannot submit online before travelling. Save a copy of your hotel's Chinese name, address and telephone number independently of your mobile connection.
National Immigration Administration: official arrival-card service and counterfeit-site warning
Visa Entry guide →Where should I get help with money or connectivity?
Use the airport's official service desks and signposted providers. Shanghai's airport service centres describe help with payment setup, SIM cards, transport cards, maps and local apps. Check the services at your own arrival terminal rather than assuming every airport offers the same facilities. Resolve the essentials you need for the transfer, then finish less urgent setup at your accommodation.
Shanghai government: airport one-stop service centres
Shanghai Airport Group via Shanghai government: Pudong arrival services
How do I avoid going to the wrong place?
Confirm the airport, terminal or railway station written on your booking, then choose a transfer to the hotel's exact address. In a ride-hailing app, check the pick-up point rather than relying only on your moving map dot; airports often designate specific collection areas. Compare the vehicle details in the app before boarding, and keep the destination in Chinese for clarification.
Beijing government: taxis and ride-hailing
Essential Apps guide →What happens at hotel check-in or a private stay?
Present the travel document used for your booking and confirm that the hotel completes accommodation registration. For stays in a home or other non-hotel accommodation, NIA says the traveller or host must register with local public security within 24 hours of arrival. An online registration pilot exists in specified regions; ask the host or local authority which channel applies to your address.
National Immigration Administration: accommodation registration and online pilot
What should I check before an onward train?
Read the exact departure station, date and train number in the confirmed booking. Carry the original passport used to buy the ticket; China Railway says an itinerary sheet is not a substitute travel ticket. Allow for the journey from the airport, station entry and security checks. If document reading fails, ask railway staff for the appropriate assisted check rather than missing the train while repeatedly trying a gate.
China Railway 12306: English ticketing and travel FAQ
Trains guide →Essential Apps guide →