Your first 24 hours in Guangzhou

Before you fly

1. Save your hotel’s full Chinese name, address, number and booking offline. Get written confirmation that it can check you in with a foreign passport.
2. Set up a payment app and keep a physical card as backup. Check how your bank will send verification messages while you are abroad.
3. Keep your passport, charger and flight details within reach.

At arrivals

1. Try your mobile connection before walking away from the airport help desks. A data-only travel SIM may not receive local calls or SMS.
2. If you need payment or phone help, ask for the airport’s Foreign Nationals Service Centre / 外籍人士便利化服务中心. Guangzhou’s official guide describes round-the-clock help with payment, communications and transport.
3. Check your terminal, then choose transport to your exact hotel branch. For a taxi, follow the official queue signs and show the Chinese address.

At your accommodation

Hotel: show your original passport and ask reception to complete registration. Private home: ask the host to help file the stay; a booking app does not do this for you.

Before sleeping, charge your phone and save tomorrow’s route. If you have a train, check the departure station and the original passport used to book.