What Is ChinaReady?

ChinaReady is a travel preparation app built specifically for foreign tourists visiting China. It solves a single, well-defined problem: most people don't realise how much preparation China requires until they've already landed — Alipay not set up, VPN not installed, visa policy misunderstood, maps not working.

ChinaReady consolidates every piece of pre-trip preparation into one place, and stays useful after you land with offline quick-fix guides and in-trip tools.

Core Features

1. Personalised Pre-Departure Checklist

ChinaReady doesn't give you a generic list of 30 tasks. It starts with a short questionnaire:

Your passport nationality (determines visa and entry requirements)
Trip duration and destination cities
What you've already sorted

From those answers, the app filters out irrelevant steps, highlights what you're actually missing, and prioritises tasks by urgency — so you know what to do first and what can wait until the week before departure.

Readiness Score is the visual version of this checklist: a percentage that moves from 0% toward 100% as you complete each module. You can see at a glance exactly how prepared you are and which gaps remain.

2. Visa and Entry Module

China's entry policy changes regularly — new visa-free countries are added, transit rules get updated, and documentation requirements shift. ChinaReady tracks these changes so you always see current information:

Visa-free eligibility check: Enter your passport nationality and instantly confirm whether you qualify for 30-day visa-free entry or the 240-hour transit policy
Visa application guidance: For countries that require a visa, the app provides the required document checklist, embassy contact details, and a realistic timeline
Entry document checklist: Passport validity (6 months beyond your stay), return or onward ticket, hotel confirmation, and other details border officers commonly check

3. Payments Setup Module

Over 90% of daily transactions in China happen through mobile payment. Cash is widely refused, and international cards are rarely accepted at standalone card terminals in smaller establishments. ChinaReady walks you through:

Alipay and WeChat Pay setup: Step-by-step from app download to linking your foreign Visa or Mastercard — with screenshots at each stage
Spending limit overview: What the daily and monthly limits are at each verification level, and how to increase them
Scenario guide: Which app works better at metro stations, in taxis, for delivery, at tourist attractions
Personal QR code explained: What happens when a small vendor uses a personal collection code (个人收款码) instead of a business terminal — payment process is identical from your side, funds go into the merchant's WeChat Wallet balance (零钱)

4. Internet and VPN Module

The Great Firewall blocks Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail, and most Western apps and news sites. You must install a VPN before you board — it cannot be downloaded once you're in China.

ChinaReady helps you:

VPN recommendations: Based on real user reports from traveller communities, not affiliate deals — currently recommending Astrill, Let's VPN, and Shadowfly as the most consistently reliable options for China in 2026
International eSIM option: An alternative to VPN — an eSIM from Airalo, Nomad, or Holafly routes your data through a foreign network, bypassing the firewall entirely without needing a VPN app
Offline map setup: Guidance on downloading Amap (高德地图) with offline city packs — so navigation works even without a data connection

5. Transport and Navigation Module

Didi registration: China's ride-hailing app (equivalent to Uber) — register and link your card before departure so it works the moment you land
High-speed rail booking: How to use Trip.com (English interface, international cards) to book Chinese high-speed rail tickets, avoiding the complexity of the 12306 platform
City metro: Payment setup for metro systems in major cities, most of which now accept Alipay or WeChat Pay directly at the gates

6. Offline Emergency Guides

This is one of the features that most distinguishes ChinaReady from a travel blog.

The most stressful moments in China happen when your internet isn't working — VPN dropped, SIM not connecting, payment failing — and the guides you need are on websites you can't reach.

ChinaReady caches emergency guides locally on your device so they're accessible without any internet connection:

Step-by-step troubleshooting for payment failures
VPN reconnection flow (server switch → protocol switch → IP reset)
Emergency phone numbers: Police (110), Ambulance (120), Tourism complaints (12301)
Embassy contact details sorted by nationality

7. In-Trip Travel Tools

Once you've landed, ChinaReady switches from a preparation tool to a travel companion:

Menu Translator Point your camera at a Chinese menu and the app identifies dishes, describes the main ingredients, and flags common allergens. Useful for anyone with dietary restrictions or who simply wants to know what they're ordering before committing.

City Traveller Insights Structured tips from real travellers, organised by city — which attractions have the worst queues, which metro lines are most confusing for first-timers, which convenience stores accept Alipay, what locals actually think tourists should do. This information doesn't exist in official guides; ChinaReady surfaces it from community experience.

Safety Tips Current advisories for your location, recently reported issues from other travellers in the same city, and a clear emergency response flow for common situations.

Who Is ChinaReady For?

Traveller type	Primary value
First-time China visitors	Complete preparation — nothing falls through the gaps
Short-stay business travellers	Fast-track payments, connectivity, and entry checks
Repeat visitors	Track policy changes between trips — confirm what's new
Group and family travel	Coordinate readiness across multiple travellers

What's Available Right Now

The app is live now — you can:

Browse the full guide library (visa, payments, VPN, food, accommodation, timing)
Preview the app's interface and feature design
Download on App Store or Google Play

Download on the App Store — free.