China Business Travel OS · Ultimate Entry Point

How to survive a business trip to China

The complete 2026 playbook for business travelers — from M-visa paperwork to fapiao collection on the way home. Every step links to the relevant Decisions, Problems, Comparisons, and guides on this site.

Last updated: 2026-06-17

The 7-step business-trip timeline

Each step links to the most-relevant Decisions, Problems, Comparisons, and guides on this site. Click any link for the full deep page.

1. 1.

   Sort your visa (M or L) — 4–6 weeks out

   Business visitors need an M visa (商业签证), not an L tourist visa. The M visa requires an invitation letter (邀请函) from your Chinese host company — without it, the consulate will reject the application. Processing is 4–7 business days, so start 4–6 weeks before travel. If your trip is ≤10 days and you are routing through a third country, the 240-hour transit scheme may cover you without an M visa.

   Action checklist (4 items)

   • ▢Request an invitation letter (邀请函) from your Chinese host company — it must be on company letterhead with an official seal (公章).
   • ▢Apply for an M visa at the Chinese consulate: passport, photo, invitation letter, flight + hotel bookings.
   • ▢Confirm processing time (4–7 business days standard; 2–3 day rush available at extra cost).
   • ▢Print return ticket, hotel booking, and invitation letter — carry in your carry-on for arrival immigration.
   Decision →Decision →Problem →Compare →
2. 2.

   Set up payment + fapiao workflow (2 weeks out)

   Alipay Tour Pass is the foundation, but business travelers face two extra layers: corporate card compatibility and fapiao (发票) collection for reimbursement. Alipay accepts foreign Visa/Mastercard and can generate digital fapiao on request — most Chinese vendors no longer issue paper fapiao. Tell your bank you are traveling to China before you fly to avoid automatic fraud freezes.

   Action checklist (5 items)

   • ▢Download Alipay + link your corporate Visa or Mastercard via Tour Pass. Top up ¥300+.
   • ▢Set up WeChat Pay as a backup — many banquet dinners and host gifts go through WeChat transfers.
   • ▢Notify your bank of your China travel dates to avoid an automatic fraud freeze on the first transaction.
   • ▢Learn the fapiao request phrase: "请给我开发票" (qǐng gěi wǒ kāi fāpiào). Save the digital fapiao to your email for reimbursement.
   • ▢Carry ¥500–¥1,000 cash as backup — corporate cards occasionally fail at smaller vendors.
   Decision →Decision →Problem →Problem →Problem →Compare →
3. 3.

   Install VPN + eSIM for corporate connectivity (1 week out)

   Corporate email (Gmail, Outlook 365), Slack, Zoom, and Google Drive are all blocked by the Great Firewall. You need a paid VPN installed BEFORE landing — China blocks the App Store, so you cannot reliably download one from inside. Pair it with a tourist eSIM for data; most foreign carrier roaming plans either lack China data agreements or are prohibitively expensive.

   Action checklist (5 items)

   • ▢Buy and install a paid VPN (Astrill StealthVPN is the most reliable in 2026; LetsVPN and NordVPN are backups).
   • ▢Test the VPN on home WiFi — confirm Gmail, Slack, Zoom, and Google Drive all load.
   • ▢Buy a tourist eSIM from Airalo / Holafly / Nomad (5–20 GB, $9–32). Activate before landing.
   • ▢Download the Chinese offline pack for your translation app (~300 MB) for menus and taxi conversations.
   • ▢Notify IT that your corporate laptop may be subject to deep-packet-inspection on hotel WiFi — use the VPN for all work traffic.
   Decision →Decision →Decision →Problem →Problem →Problem →Problem →Compare →
4. 4.

   Airport → CBD / hotel (arrival day)

   Major airports (Beijing PEK/PKX, Shanghai PVG/SHA, Guangzhou CAN) connect to the business districts via metro, Maglev (Shanghai), express train (Beijing), or airport bus. Avoid taxi touts — use the official taxi queue or DiDi in-app. If your hotel cannot register foreign passports, you will be turned away at check-in: book 4-star-and-up or internationally branded hotels only.

   Action checklist (4 items)

   • ▢Confirm your hotel is foreigner-licensed (Trip.com flags this; internationally branded hotels always qualify).
   • ▢Save your hotel address in Chinese characters to show the taxi driver or DiDi destination field.
   • ▢At the airport, head to the official taxi queue or open DiDi (mini-program inside Alipay works with your foreign card).
   • ▢Expect a refundable incidentals hold (¥200–¥1,000/night) at check-in — use a credit card, not debit, so it does not freeze your cash.
   Problem →Problem →Problem →
5. 5.

   Move around: DiDi English + metro

   DiDi is the only viable ride app in mainland China (Uber exited in 2016). The standalone DiDi app is Chinese-only — use the English DiDi mini-program inside Alipay or WeChat, which accepts your linked foreign card. The metro is excellent for CBD travel (¥3–9/ride, English signage, 5:30am–11pm). For intercity business travel, HSR beats flying under 1,000 km.

   Action checklist (4 items)

   • ▢Open the DiDi mini-program inside Alipay (English UI, no separate app, works with your foreign card).
   • ▢For intercity meetings, book HSR on Trip.com (English, accepts foreign cards) 13–15 days ahead for trunk routes.
   • ▢Buy a metro day pass or use Alipay transit QR for daily CBD travel.
   • ▢Carry your passport — HSR and some metro stations require passport scan at the gate.
   Decision →Decision →Decision →Problem →Problem →Problem →
6. 6.

   Business etiquette essentials

   Business cards (名片) are exchanged with BOTH hands, with the Chinese text facing the recipient, and you should read the card you receive before pocketing it. Banquet seating follows hierarchy — wait to be shown your seat. Baijiu (白酒) toasting is a relationship-building ritual: your host will refill your glass, you should reciprocate, and "ganbei" (干杯) means "empty the glass." Bring a small gift from your home country (wrapped); refuse a gift once or twice before accepting, also with both hands.

   Action checklist (6 items)

   • ▢Bring 30+ business cards — preferably bilingual (English front, Simplified Chinese back).
   • ▢Exchange cards with both hands, presenting yours Chinese-side-up; study the card you receive for 3–5 seconds before placing it on the table (not in your pocket).
   • ▢At a banquet, wait to be seated — the seat facing the entrance is reserved for the most senior guest.
   • ▢Toast seniors individually with "ganbei" (干杯); hold your glass lower than theirs when clinking. Pace yourself — baijiu is 40–60% ABV.
   • ▢Bring a wrapped gift (chocolate, wine, or a branded item from your home region). Avoid clocks, sharp objects, or anything in sets of four (homophone for "death").
   • ▢Do NOT tip — it is refused or causes confusion in mainland China.
   Decision →
7. 7.

   Return: fapiao collection + tax refund

   Before you fly out, collect every fapiao (发票) for reimbursement — most hotels and restaurants now issue digital fapiao via WeChat or email, so request it at the point of payment, not later. If you have time at the airport and spent ¥500+ on qualifying goods, the 11% VAT refund applies to foreign passport holders who stayed <183 days.

   Action checklist (4 items)

   • ▢At every hotel, restaurant, and vendor: request "请给我开发票" (please issue a fapiao) at payment — digital fapiao by email or WeChat is now the standard.
   • ▢Verify each fapiao has the correct company name and tax ID for your reimbursement claim.
   • ▢At the airport departures hall (if time allows): visit the Tax Free counter with passport, receipts, Tax Free Shopping Form, and unopened goods for an 11% VAT refund.
   • ▢Notify your bank you are leaving China to avoid a post-trip fraud freeze on legitimate transactions.
   Problem →Problem →Compare →

Browse the full knowledge base

The 7 steps above link into our 4 content types. Browse the full set: