We make China travel simple for every visitor
ChinaReady helps international travelers prepare for China travel — visa rules, the best VPN for China, eSIM, and payment setup, all before you land.
Our mission
No tourist should arrive in China unprepared
China’s digital world works differently — payments, navigation, and staying connected all need setup before you arrive. ChinaReady is the one platform that walks you through it.
The problem we solve
China travel has a preparation gap
Every year, travelers arrive in China facing the same avoidable problems — scattered across outdated blog posts and forum threads. These three come up most.
Payment barriers
Foreign cards rarely work in China. Set up WeChat Pay or Alipay before you go, or you won't be able to pay for food, transport, or hotels.
Blocked apps
Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram are blocked in China. You need a VPN for China installed before arrival — app stores are inaccessible once you land.
Navigation confusion
Google Maps doesn't work in China. Travelers need Amap or Baidu Maps instead — but most don't know this until they're already there.
How ChinaReady works
One platform. Every step covered.
A structured checklist with live tools built in — so you know exactly what to do, and when to do it, before you board.
Structured checklist
One checklist covering payments, connectivity, navigation, and visa requirements — so nothing's missed before departure.
Live tools built in
Built-in visa eligibility checker, 240-hour transit visa calculator, and eSIM vs VPN recommender — no outside research needed.
Always up to date
China's visa and travel rules change often. We keep every guide verified against current policy.
What we cover
Every category of China travel preparation
Five categories covering every setup task that matters for a China trip. Each links to a full guide.
Digital payments
WeChat Pay, Alipay, and card-linking options for every traveler.
Read the full payments guide →VPN & internet
The best VPN for China, eSIM options, and setup steps to do before you land.
Read the full VPN guide →Maps & transport
Amap, Baidu Maps, DiDi, and high-speed rail booking — China's local alternatives.
Read the full travel checklist →Visa & entry rules
Visa-free eligibility, transit visa rules, and required documents for US citizens and 100+ other nationalities.
Read the full visa-free guide →Language tools
Translation apps and essential Mandarin phrases for travelers.
See the China eSIM guide →What we stand for
Our principles
ChinaReady’s guides and checklist data are researched and maintained by a team with direct, ongoing experience living in and traveling through China — not assembled from secondhand blog posts. Every policy claim is checked against the relevant official source (China’s National Immigration Administration, individual payment providers, and telecom regulators) before publication.
Accuracy above all
We verify everything. Wrong advice has real consequences for travelers.
Complete transparency
We tell you the inconvenient parts too — no glossing over the hard stuff.
Designed for every traveler
First-timer, business traveler, or expat — guidance adapts to you.
Always current
China's policies move fast. We monitor changes continuously.
Our journey
How ChinaReady was built
The problem identified
Identified the gap — no single resource existed for China travel prep.
First version launched
Launched as a web checklist for payments, connectivity, and navigation.
Mobile app & live tools
Mobile app launched with live visa and eSIM tools across 40+ countries.
Expanding coverage
Expanding for China's 2026 visa-free policy and new eSIM options.
By the numbers
ChinaReady at a glance
Frequently asked
Questions about ChinaReady
Start preparing today
Ready for your China trip?
Get visa, VPN, and payment setup sorted before you land in China.