First time in China, you'll definitely feel a bit nervous. You don't speak the language, can't read the writing, don't know what to order at restaurants, don't know how to pay. Don't worry—this guide covers everything.
First, get your visa. Citizens of most countries need to apply in advance, at Chinese embassies/consulates or through agencies. There's now a 144-hour transit visa-free policy—if you're transiting from a third country, you can stay visa-free in big cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.) for 6 days. Also, more and more countries now have mutual visa-free agreements with China—check if your country is on the list.
Transport: China's high-speed rail and subway are well-developed. High-speed rail tickets: 12306 APP. Subway: each city's own app. Ride-hailing: DDi, similar to Uber. Navigation: Amap or Baidu Maps, both have English interfaces. Note: Google Maps doesn't work in China.
Food and payment. To eat, just order from pictures on the menu, or follow locals to busy restaurants. Payment is the trickiest part—most places don't take cash anymore, everyone uses WeChat or Alipay. You can use your passport to open a Chinese bank account at Bank of China, then link WeChat/Alipay. Or bring a Visa/Mastercard, accepted at big malls and hotels.
Final note: China's internet is different from abroad—Google, Facebook, YouTube are all blocked. Install WeChat before you arrive, then you can contact family and friends once in China. Get all this ready, and your first trip to China will go smoothly.
