Step-by-step runbook for life in China
Plain English ยท Real fixes ยท Free & non-commercial
When payment fails, apps break, or kids need help โ open a short checklist, not a travel brochure.
Paper backup: 72h pack ยท Print hub ยท Tools: Search ยท MRZ ยท Phrase card ยท Dose
Accuracy note
Critical payment, visa, power-bank, and holiday steps are currently desktop-reviewed, not yet logged from a fresh field trip. After your next journey, help us: field-test pack.
Start with Choose your path, then System Setup (phone, payments, landing).
Open Parenting first, then print the Emergency contacts card.
Scroll the Full guide library โ 49 guides with reading times.
Tip: Found a wrong number or broken step? Report on GitHub or email feedback.
Next busy periods: Mid-Autumn (Sep 25โ27, 2026) and National Day (Oct 1โ7, 2026) โ book HSR early.
Use the interactive list (saves progress on this device):
SOP = standard operating procedure (a clear step-by-step checklist)
| Guide | What You'll Learn | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ซ The Landing Protocol | Immigration, Connectivity, and the first 30m heat-test | 10 min |
| ๐ฑ Mobile Number & Activation | Getting a Chinese phone, eSIM options, carrier comparison | 10 min |
| ๐ Pharmacy & Medications | Buying medicine, drug names in Chinese, OTC guidelines | 12 min |
| ๐ VPN & Payments | VPN setup, Alipay, WeChat Pay configuration | 15 min |
| ๐จ Hotel Check-in & Registration | Passport verification, 24-hour police registration workflow | 10 min |
| ๐ฃ๏ธ Translation Tools & Language Barrier | Offline dictionaries, real-time translation, and emergency phrases | 12 min |
| ๐ Power Banks | Safe power banks, charging rules, outlet types | 8 min |
| ๐ก SIM Card Comparison | Comparing plans, pricing, coverage | 10 min |
| ๐ Visa & Entry | 2026 ๅ ็ญพ policies and digital cards | 12 min |
| ๐ณ Alipay & WeChat Pay (Foreign Visitors) | International card binding, common errors, QR payment setup | 12 min |
| ๐ฐ Money Runtime | ATM cash, pre-auth freezes, Tour Pass vs full account, fapiao invoices | 12 min |
| ๐ Stay Beyond Hotel | Homestay registration, refused check-in, short-term rental Plan B | 12 min |
| ๐ฑ China App Stack | Install order, WeChat/Alipay hygiene, phone-number lockouts | 10 min |
| โ๏ธ Long-stay Risk Boundaries | Status, banking, and work red lines for multi-month stays | 12 min |
| Guide | What You'll Learn | Time |
|---|---|---|
| โ๏ธ Domestic Transit SOP | International to Domestic transfers and luggage loops | 10 min |
| ๐ Train Tickets (12306) | Booking system, fixing name issues, booking tips | 10 min |
| ๐ Taxis & Payment | Didi app, fare negotiation, payment methods | 8 min |
| ๐บ๏ธ Maps & Toilets | Google Maps alternative, finding bathrooms, navigation | 7 min |
| ๐ Public Transport | Subways, buses, ferries, transit cards | 12 min |
| ๐งณ Lost or Delayed Luggage | Airport reporting, PIR forms, and baggage recovery process | 10 min |
| ๐ Car Rental & Driving | License rules, temporary permits, and chauffeur alternatives | 12 min |
| ๐๏ธ Shanghai Local Hacks | Living like a resident, stroller safety, best apps | 12 min |
| ๐ฅ๏ธ Shanghai Weather | AQI patches, typhoon SOP, seasonal gear | 10 min |
| ๐๏ธ Shanghai Attractions | 2026 top nodes, skyline hacks, and family spots | 15 min |
| ๐ฅ Shanghai Food Guide | The Dumpling Protocol, scallion-oil hacks, and authentic Benbang | 12 min |
| ๐ฅ Vegetarian & Vegan | Plant-based survival, temple food, and 2026 vegan nodes | 12 min |
| ๐ Visual Signs Guide | Recognizing metro, toilet, taxi, nursing room, and facility symbols | 8 min |
| ๐๏ธ City Delta: Beijing | Airports PEK/PKX, metro, embassies, AQI โ vs Shanghai defaults | 10 min |
| ๐๏ธ City Delta: Guangzhou & Shenzhen | Hubs, heat/rain, districts, border-adjacent awareness | 10 min |
| ๐๏ธ City Delta: Chengdu | Spice food, panda peaks, relaxed pace vs Shanghai | 10 min |
| ๐๏ธ City Delta: Hangzhou | West Lake peaks, short HSR from Shanghai | 10 min |
| ๐๏ธ City Delta: Xi'an | Heritage peaks, dry climate, tourist-scam awareness | 10 min |
| ๐๏ธ City Delta: Chongqing | Vertical city, monorail, spicy food defaults | 10 min |
| Guide | What You'll Learn | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ฅ Hospital Access | Finding hospitals, language help, insurance, costs | 15 min |
| ๐งพ Insurance & Hospital Bills | Direct bill vs pay-and-claim, claim documents, cost shock control | 12 min |
| ๐ Lost Passport | Embassy contacts, replacement process, emergency IDs | 12 min |
| ๐ฑ Lost or Stolen Phone | Remote lock, payment freeze, SIM suspension and recovery | 12 min |
| ๐ณ Lost or Stolen Bank Card | Freeze cards, secure wallets, and replacement workflow | 10 min |
| ๐ Prescription & Chronic Care | Medication refill paths and chronic-condition continuity | 15 min |
| ๐ก Network Issues | VPN backup, WeChat without WiFi, offline navigation | 8 min |
| ๐จ Safety & Scams | Avoiding tea scams, water safety, and AQI | 10 min |
| ๐ก๏ธ Shanghai Safety | Real-world security profile and social engineering defense | 12 min |
| ๐ Emergency Contacts | Printable reference card with critical numbers and phrases | 5 min |
| Guide | What You'll Learn | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ๐ฝ๏ธ Food Allergies | Restaurant communication, allergen cards, safe foods | 15 min |
| ๐ถ Diapers & Supplies | Where to buy, delivery apps, trusted brands | 10 min |
| ๐ฅ Milk Safety | Checking formula batches, safety databases | 8 min |
| ๐คฑ Nursing Rooms | Locations, facilities, cultural tips | 5 min |
| ๐ผ Baby & Toddler Guide | Technical master runbook for Shanghai & beyond | 20 min |
| Guide | What You'll Learn | Time |
|---|---|---|
| ๐งง 2026 Holiday Survival | CNY dates, Golden Week hacks, and transport 'load-tests' | 15 min |
Search inside guide bodies (Pagefind + offline JSON fallback). For failure symptoms, use the Symptom Index.
Open searchConvert passport names to SURNAME<<GIVEN for train tickets.
Runs in the browser โ nothing is uploaded.
Build a bilingual card to show staff (allergy, emergency, hotel address).
Open phrase cardWeight ร mg/kg for common OTC liquid references only โ confirm with a pharmacist or doctor.
Open dose toolBrand-agnostic global infant formula recall checker (Nestlรฉ, Danone/Aptamil, and more).
Open SafeFeedCLI helpers if you clone the repo:
python scripts/passport_mrz_converter.py "John Smith"
python scripts/digital_entry_formatter.py
Every step is open for inspection. No hidden affiliate rankings.
Apps and rules change fast โ anyone can send a correction.
Survival info for families should stay free and accessible.
In v1.16 now: full-text search, preflight/landing checklists, MRZ ยท phrase ยท dose tools, 72h print pack, and 49 guides (including multi-city deltas).
Still open: live field re-tests after a real trip, more city coverage, and traveler-requested gaps. Tell us what failed on the ground.
ChinaOps is 100% free and open-source. The best support is speaking up when something breaks.
Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0. View full license โ