Arriving at a Chinese airport: step by step

Arriving at a major Chinese airport follows the same order every time: arrival card, immigration, bags, customs, then getting online and into the city. Have your documents open on your phone before you leave the plane and it goes smoothly. For the whole first day, see Your first 24 hours.

What to have ready before landing in China

Have these ready before you reach immigration at a Chinese airport:

• Passport, valid for the whole trip, plus a visa if your route needs one. The visa checker tells you.
• Arrival card, done online through the official National Immigration Administration channels, or ready to fill in on arrival.
• Onward or return ticket, essential if you’re using visa-free transit.
• First hotel booking, with the address in Chinese characters.
• A charged phone with your data plan set to switch on.

See Visas and entry for the current entry routes.

Step by step: immigration at a Chinese airport

1. Arrival card. If you didn’t fill it in online, complete it in the hall by QR code, at a kiosk or on paper. The official arrival card is free.
2. Choose your lane. Join the foreigners’ lane, or the transit lane if you’re using visa-free transit.
3. Fingerprints. Most visitors aged 14 to 70 give fingerprints at a self-service machine or at the desk. Follow the English prompts.
4. The desk. Hand over your passport. The officer may ask your purpose, length of stay, first hotel and onward plans. Answer simply.
5. Entry stamp. Check it before you walk away.

Check before you go: Arrival card channels, visa-free lists and transit rules change. Check nia.gov.cn and Visas and entry before you fly.

Baggage and customs at a Chinese airport

1. Collect your bags at the carousel shown on the screens.
2. Choose a customs channel: green if you have nothing to declare, red if you do, such as large amounts of cash.
3. Put your bags through the scanner if asked.

Getting online at a Chinese airport

1. Turn off airplane mode and check that your travel eSIM or roaming connects.
2. If it doesn’t, check data roaming is on for that line and restart the phone.
3. To buy a Chinese SIM, go to the China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom counters in arrivals with your passport.
4. Open Alipay and WeChat to confirm they load.

The SIM chooser and eSIM vs Chinese SIM vs roaming help you decide.

Getting cash at a Chinese airport

Big Chinese airports have ATMs in arrivals from banks such as Bank of China and ICBC. Pick one with your card’s network logo, choose English, and take out a modest amount. Expect 100-yuan notes. See Paying in China for fees and fallbacks.

Getting from a Chinese airport into the city

• Metro or airport express: most big airports link to the city metro, and several have express lines, such as Shanghai Pudong’s Maglev and the Beijing Daxing airport express. Pay with an Alipay or WeChat transit code or at the ticket machine.
• Taxi: follow the Taxi signs to the official queue and show your hotel address in Chinese. Ignore drivers offering rides inside the hall.
• Didi: order from the marked ride-hailing pickup area. See How to use Didi.

If arrival at a Chinese airport goes wrong

• Questioned at immigration: stay calm, show your onward ticket and hotel booking, and answer consistently.
• Bag missing: report it at the airline’s baggage desk before leaving the hall.
• No data: use airport Wi-Fi as a backup, or buy a SIM at the carrier counters.
• ATM rejects your card: try another bank’s machine, then use the exchange counter.
• Lost: airport information desks usually have English-speaking staff. Immigration questions go to the 12367 hotline.