First 72 Hours After Landing in Shanghai: The Complete Settling-In Guide for Foreigners (2026)
You just landed at Shanghai Pudong Airport. Your phone shows no signal, Google Maps won't load, and you can't even buy a bottle of water because nobody takes cash. Sound familiar? Don't panic — this guide walks you through everything you need to do in your first 72 hours to go from "completely lost" to "fully functional."
This isn't a sightseeing itinerary. This is the practical, step-by-step checklist that every foreigner needs but nobody gives you. We've broken it down into three phases, each with the exact tools and bilingual templates you'll need.
In this guide
Phase 1: Airport → Hotel (Hour 0-3)
1. Get a SIM card at the airport
This is your #1 priority. Without a working phone, you can't do anything else on this list. Head to the China Unicom or China Mobile counter in the arrivals hall — they're open 24/7. Bring your passport.
For a short stay (under 2 weeks), ask for a tourist SIM with 10-30GB data. It'll cost 100-200 RMB. For longer stays, get a monthly prepaid plan — China Unicom's "Nationwide Data King" plan offers 10GB + 500 minutes for about 69 RMB/month.
Not sure which SIM to get? Our interactive SIM Card Selector asks you 4 questions and recommends the best option for your situation.
Show this to the staff:
"我想买一张预付费SIM卡，需要包含流量套餐。我有护照可以实名登记。"
(I'd like to buy a prepaid SIM card with a data plan. I have my passport for registration.)
2. Get cash (just a little)
China is 95% cashless, but you'll need some RMB for the first few hours before your mobile payments are set up. Withdraw 500-1000 RMB from an ATM in the arrivals hall — look for Bank of China, ICBC, or any machine with a Visa/Mastercard logo.
3. Get to your hotel
Three options, ranked by convenience:
Maglev + Metro (cheapest, ~50 RMB) — Take the Maglev train from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road station, then transfer to Metro Line 2. Takes about 60-90 minutes to central Shanghai.
Taxi (easiest, ~150-250 RMB to central Shanghai) — Join the official taxi queue outside arrivals. Show the driver your hotel address in Chinese.
Airport bus (middle ground, ~20-30 RMB) — Several routes to different parts of Shanghai. Check which route stops near your hotel.
Show this to the taxi driver:
"请送我去 [酒店名称 + 地址]。谢谢！"
(Please take me to [hotel name + address]. Thank you!)
Use our Address Translator to save your hotel address in Chinese for easy access.
Phase 2: Get Connected & Set Up Payments (Hour 3-12)
You're at your hotel now with a working SIM card. Time to set up the apps that make daily life in China possible. This is the most important phase — without mobile payments, you literally cannot function in modern China.
4. Register WeChat
WeChat is not just a messaging app — it's the app for everything in China. You'll use it to chat, pay, book restaurants, call taxis, and even unlock shared bikes. Download it and register with your new Chinese phone number (+86).
5. Set up Alipay and link your card
Alipay is your primary payment tool. Download it, register with your Chinese number, complete passport verification, then go to "Me → Bank Cards" and add your Visa or Mastercard. Transactions under 200 RMB are fee-free.
For a detailed walkthrough, check our Payment Setup Guide.
6. Test your payment
Go to the nearest convenience store (FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, or Lawson — they're everywhere) and buy something small using Alipay or WeChat Pay. This confirms everything works before you rely on it for bigger purchases.
7. Download essential apps
With your SIM card and payment set up, download these apps while you have hotel WiFi:
DiDi — Ride-hailing (China's Uber). Register with your Chinese number.
Amap (高德地图) — Navigation. Works much better than Google Maps in China.
Meituan or Ele.me — Food delivery. Life-changing when you can't read a restaurant menu yet.
Metro app — Download your city's metro app for QR code entry (no need to buy tickets).
See our full list in the Essential Apps Guide.
Phase 3: Official Registration & Daily Life (Day 2-3)
8. Police registration (within 24 hours)
This is a legal requirement. If you're staying at a hotel, they handle it automatically at check-in. If you're staying at an apartment or friend's place, you or your host must register at the local police station (派出所) within 24 hours of arrival. Bring your passport and the landlord/host's ID.
Don't skip this. Police registration is legally required and enforced. You'll need the registration slip for visa extensions, bank account opening, and other official processes. Hotels do it automatically, but private accommodation requires a manual visit to the police station.
Need help at the police station? Use our bilingual templates — just show the Chinese text to the officer.
9. Get a transport card
Shanghai's metro is excellent and covers the entire city. The easiest way to ride is to set up the transit QR code in Alipay: open Alipay → search "乘车码" (transit code) → follow the setup. You can also use Apple Pay with a Shanghai Transport Card if you have an iPhone.
Full details in our Transport Guide.
10. Learn to order food
Food delivery is a way of life in China. Open Meituan or Ele.me, set your delivery address, and browse. Most restaurants have photos of every dish, so you don't need to read Chinese. Payment goes through Alipay automatically.
If you prefer eating out, our restaurant bilingual templates will help you order without speaking Chinese.
Complete Checklist
Your first 72 hours — at a glance
Hour 0-1: Get SIM card at airport
Hour 0-1: Withdraw some cash (500-1000 RMB)
Hour 1-3: Get to hotel (taxi/metro/bus)
Hour 3-4: Register WeChat with Chinese number
Hour 4-5: Set up Alipay + link foreign card
Hour 5-6: Test payment at convenience store
Hour 6-8: Download essential apps (DiDi, Amap, Meituan)
Day 2: Police registration (if not at hotel)
Day 2: Set up Alipay transit QR code
Day 2-3: Explore neighborhood, order food delivery
Want a trackable version with progress saving? Use our interactive 72-Hour Task Flow — it saves your progress and guides you step by step.
Interactive Tools to Help You
LandingIn offers free interactive tools built specifically for this process:
Visa Checker
Check if you need a visa for China
SIM Card Selector
Find the best SIM plan for your needs
72-Hour Task Flow
Trackable settling-in checklist
Bilingual Templates
Copy-paste Chinese phrases for any situation
Address Translator
Save addresses in Chinese for taxi drivers
Emergency Card
Generate a bilingual emergency contact card
Landing in China can feel overwhelming, but once you've completed these steps, you'll be amazed at how smoothly everything works. The combination of mobile payments, excellent public transport, and food delivery apps makes daily life incredibly convenient — arguably more so than most Western cities.
Bookmark LandingIn for more bilingual guides and interactive tools to help you navigate life in China. We add new guides regularly.
Found this helpful?
Share this guide with anyone planning to visit China. And if you want a trackable version of this checklist, try our interactive 72-Hour Task Flow.