Contents

• 1. Pre-Departure Checklist
• 1.1 Essential Documents
• 1.2 Financial Preparations
• 1.3 Technology Preparations
• 2. Arrival and Landing
• 2.1 Arrival Card
• 2.2 Airport Pickup & SIM card set up
• 2.3 Police Registration for Foreigners 入境后24小时境外人员住宿登记
• Beijing 北京
• Shanghai 上海
• Guangzhou 广州
• Xi’an 西安
• Other Cities 其他城市
• 3. Settling In (First Week)
• 3.1 Adjusting to the Time Zone (First 3 Days)
• 3.2 Establishing a Daily Routine
• 3.3 Cultural Adaptation Tips
• 4. Essential Apps in China
• 4.1 Communication Apps & Payment Methods
• 4.2 Navigation Apps
• 4.3 Transportation Apps
• 4.4 Food Delivery & Online Shopping
• 5. Emergency Contacts
• 6. Useful Phrases in Chinese

1. Pre-Departure Checklist

1.1 Essential Documents

• Passport (Keep it safe; losing it can be very troublesome to replace)
• Employment contract and invitation letter
• Travel insurance documents

1.2 Financial Preparations

• Download and set up Alipay before arrival and link your international credit card (Visa/Mastercard) to Alipay

render.alipay.com

render.alipay.com

• Carry a small amount of Chinese RMB (¥500) in cash for immediate expenses
• As of @August 25, 2025 , the Chinese currency exchange rates are approximately 1 EUR = 8.4 CNY and 1 USD = 7.2 CNY.

1.3 Technology Preparations

SakuraCat

sakura-cat1.com

Download essential Chinese apps before arrival (listed later in this file).

Consider purchasing a VPN service (to access blocked international sites). We recommend you to download an affordable one here on the left ⬅️ (costing only $1/month)

2. Arrival and Landing

2.1 Arrival Card

On the airplane before landing in China, you will receive an Arrival Card to complete. This card collects your basic personal information, travel details, and residence in China. If you want to review the form in advance, you can check it here:

外国人入境卡

www.singlewindow.sh.cn

Fill in the form truthfully, and you will submit it to border control officers upon arrival.

2.2 Airport Pickup & SIM card set up

Normally, the host family will come to the airport to pick you up. Please closely follow up on WeChat one or two days before landing for updated information and messages.

After you land, connect to the airport WiFi so you can immediately send a short message to your coordinator and the family - just to let us know you have arrived safely, as we will also be waiting and concerned at that time.

At the exit of the international arrivals area, you will usually find counters selling SIM cards. With your passport and around 200 RMB (either cash or Alipay), you can easily set up a local SIM card. The staff there speak fluent English and will recommend the most suitable plan for your needs. Some of them may also help you download a VPN so that you can quickly have internet access in China.

2.3 Police Registration for Foreigners 入境后24小时境外人员住宿登记

According to Chinese law, all foreigners must register their accommodation with the local police station within 24 hoursof arrival. 根据中国法律，所有境外人员在抵达后的 24小时内 必须到所在地派出所完成住宿登记。

Required documents: passport, and usually the housing ownership certificate (or rental contract) of the accommodation. 所需材料：护照，以及通常需要提供的房产证明或租赁合同。

Beijing 北京

Search the WeChat mini-program “北京公安出入境”, then go to 资讯指南 → 网上住宿登记办理 to complete the registration online.

微信小程序搜索 “北京公安出入境”，进入「资讯指南」-「网上住宿登记办理」即可线上办理。

Shanghai 上海

Guangzhou 广州

Through this website:

广州市公安局境外人员网上服务系统

or look up “广州微警务“ and find 出入境 session.

Xi’an 西安

Copy and search the mini-program “西安出入境”, scroll down to select Accommodation registration for overseas personnel.

微信小程序搜索 “西安出入境”，下滑选择「境外人员住宿登记」。

Other Cities 其他城市

For other locations, search on WeChat using “city name + police” to find the relevant registration channel. 其他城市可在微信搜索 “城市名 + 公安/出入境” 进行检索，进入相应的线上登记渠道。

3. Settling In (First Week)

3.1 Adjusting to the Time Zone (First 3 Days)

• Avoid sleeping too much during the daytime and adjust to China's time zone as soon as possible. Engage in light outdoor activities to help your body adapt

3.2 Establishing a Daily Routine

• Adapt to a regular schedule within a week and clarify your work responsibilities
• Communicate with the host family or coordinator if you have any uncertainties

3.3 Cultural Adaptation Tips

• Observe family customs and routines before making suggestions
• Learn basic household vocabulary relevant to childcare
• Ask about dietary preferences and restrictions for the children
• Understand local parenting styles and expectations

4. Essential Apps in China

Smartphone apps are essential for daily life in China. Below are the must-have apps and their main functions:

4.1 Communication Apps & Payment Methods

🔹WeChat (微信)

The main social app in China, similar to WhatsApp. Used for messaging, voice/video calls, and social networking.

WeChat - Free messaging and calling app

Available for all kinds of platforms; enjoy group chat; support voice,photo,video and text messages.

www.wechat.com

This app does almost everything, it is the Chinese WhatsApp, Facebook, can send your exact location or activate the GPS to appears in someone else device in real time (very useful when you are meeting someone because here it is very crowded and huge)

You can also connect your bank account and make any payment in almost every place, even sometimes for some street food (but take your wallet with you anyways) and much more

🔹 Alipay (支付宝)

For cashless payments, transfers, bills, shopping.

render.alipay.com

render.alipay.com

Register with your phone, link an international card (Visa/Mastercard) or later a local debit card. Pocket money can also be received via Alipay.

🔹 Local Debit Card

Having a local debit card offers extra convenience for financial transactions during your stay.

How to obtain a Chinese bank debit card

CityNewsService

www.citynewsservice.cn

It is an optional step and entirely your responsibility to obtain local debit card. For a comprehensive guide on how to acquire a local debit card, please refer to our detailed resource here:

Please consult with your coordinator before visiting a bank.

4.2 Navigation Apps

🔹Amap (高德地图) Most detailed map app for driving, public transport, walking.

Amapint.com

Official Website of Amap - Download Amap from here. Amap provides nationwide map services, location search, multi-mode navigation (driving, public transportation, walking), and cross-platform car-hailing. Amap is your reliable companion for seamless journeys and daily convenience.

www.amapint.com

🔹 Apple Maps (For iPhone users) Provides basic navigation in China, though less detailed than Amap

Maps

Maps is packed with smart features that make getting to and getting the most out of your destination fast and easy.

www.apple.com

4.3 Transportation Apps

🔹 DiDi (滴滴出行): China's version of Uber, used for taxis, carpooling, private cars, and shared bikes.

滴滴出行app-官方正版软件2025最新版本免费下载-应用宝官网

滴滴App7.0全新升级，出国打车用滴滴！作为一站式出行与生活服务平台，滴滴现覆盖网约车、出租车、两轮车、顺风车、拼车、包车、订火车票、代驾、送货、快送、搬家、充电加油等多元化服务，并新增以下亮点服务：【滴滴会员】滴滴会员全新升级，三大权益体系重磅上线，尊享出行与生活的多重礼遇。出行权益：涵盖快速应答、免费升舱、极速赔付及青桔免费骑，让出行更高效舒适；尊享权益：涵盖高铁贵宾厅、机场休息室、悦享...

sj.qq.com

🔹 Hello Bike (哈啰单车): A bike-sharing service for short-distance travel. Scan the QR code on the bike to unlock it. You can have access to this APP via Alipay.

哈啰

国内专业的本地出行及生活服务平台，致力于应用数字技术的红利，为人们提供更便捷的出行以及更好的普惠生活服务。

www.hello-inc.com

4.4 Food Delivery & Online Shopping

🔹 Meituan Waimai (美团外卖) & Ele.me (饿了么) Popular food delivery platforms in China for ordering meals and groceries. Usually arrive within 1 hour.

美团外卖 - 外卖网|外卖订餐|快餐外卖|网站订餐外卖

美团外卖专业品质外卖网，饿了订外卖就上美团外卖。美团外卖覆盖全国各城市优质外卖商家、快餐和特色美食，拥有优秀的外卖网上订餐平台和外卖送餐团队，提供24小时叫外卖、外卖网上订餐服务。

waimai.meituan.com

饿了么

“饿了么”2008年创立于上海，是中国领先的本地生活平台。截至目前，饿了么在线外卖交易平台已覆盖全国2000个城市，加盟餐厅130万家，用户量达2.6亿

www.ele.me

🔹 淘宝 (Taobao) The largest online shopping platform in China, similar to Amazon

手机淘宝

淘宝网-亚洲最大、最安全的网上交易平台，提供各类服饰、美容、家居、数码、话费/点卡充值……2亿优质特价商品，同时提供担保交易(先收货后付款)、先行赔付、假一赔三、七天无理由退换货、数码免费维修等安全交易保障服务，让你全面安心享受网上购物乐趣。

mpage.taobao.com

🔹 Jingdong (Jd.com)

Jingdong, AKA jd.com, is similar to Taobao, but with faster logistics. Ideal for electronics, home appliances, and groceries. The APP has English version. The brand has recently launched its food delivery service as well.

京东(JD.COM)-正品低价、品质保障、配送及时、轻松购物！

京东JD.COM-专业的综合网上购物商城，为您提供正品低价的购物选择、优质便捷的服务体验。商品来自全球数十万品牌商家，囊括家电、手机、电脑、服装、居家、母婴、美妆、个护、食品、生鲜等丰富品类，满足各种购物需求。

www.jd.com

🔹 Other useful apps

• For restaurant reviews: Dianping and Bon App

【大众点评】客户端官方下载中心_大众点评APP最新版免费下载 - 大众点评网

扫描二维码下载“大众点评”客户端，支持iPhone、iPad、Android手机、 Android平板等平台。提供美食餐厅、酒店旅游、电影票、家居装修、美容美发、运动健身等各类生活服务，通过海量真实消费评论的聚合，帮您选到满意商家。

h5.dianping.com

Bon App

www.bonapp.net

• Xiaohongshu/RedNote (小红书): A female-friendly community, similar to Instagram

Download REDnote App - Smart Note-Taking Companion

Download REDnote App for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Experience seamless note-taking with real-time sync, secure storage, and offline access.

rednoteapp.io

5. Emergency Contacts

Police: 110

Fire: 119

Ambulance: 120

Your country's embassy or consulate in China

6. Useful Phrases in Chinese

Bella Vista is a boutique au pair agency that helps Chinese families connect with warm, open-minded au pairs from around the world. We focus on long-term emotional support, mutual cultural respect, and a placement experience that feels more like a relationship than a transaction.

Contact Us

微信 WeChat: +86 152 9119 7590

Email: info@bellavistaga.com

网站 Website: bellavistaga.com

地址 Address: No. 2168 Jinmao 1st Road, Chanba Ecological District, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China