Survival Guide
Your First Hour in Qingdao
You just landed at Qingdao Liuting International Airport. What now? Here is exactly what happens, step by step, with all the things nobody tells you beforehand.
Immigration (10-30 min)
Queue at the Foreigners channel. Have these ready:
- Passport with valid Chinese visa (or 144-hour transit eligibility)
- Completed Arrival Card (handed out on the plane, fill it with a pen BEFORE landing)
- Hotel booking confirmation (they rarely ask but have it on your phone)
- Return/onward flight ticket (they frequently ask for this)
Tip: Write your hotel name and address in Chinese on a note. The officer may ask where you are staying.
Baggage Claim (10-20 min)
Standard. Screens show flight numbers. Trolleys are free. There is a currency exchange counter near baggage claim but the rates are terrible; wait until you get to the city.
Get a SIM Card (5 min) OR Use Your eSIM
After customs, before you exit into the arrivals hall, there is a China Unicom kiosk on your left.
- China Unicom ¥100 package: 20GB data + local number, valid 30 days
- You need your passport to register (mandatory in China)
- The staff at the airport kiosk speak basic English
- If you already activated an eSIM (Airalo/Nomad), skip this step
Do this NOW. Once you leave the airport, getting a SIM as a foreigner is much harder (store visits, language barrier, passport registration takes 30+ min).
Set Up Alipay (5 min, do this at the airport WiFi)
Connect to the free airport WiFi (no phone verification needed for this one). Open Alipay:
- Tap Me Icon > Settings > Account & Security
- Verify identity with passport photo (takes 2-3 min)
- Go to Pay > Add Card > Link your Visa/Mastercard
- Test: try scanning a QR code or sending 1 yuan to yourself
If Alipay verification fails (it sometimes does for new accounts), use cash for the first day and try again on hotel WiFi.
Get to Your Hotel (40-60 min)
Three options. Use this exact order:
Didi (Chinese Uber)
Open Alipay > Didi mini-app > enter hotel address. ¥100-150, 45 min to city. Pay automatically via Alipay. No cash. No language barrier.
Metro Line 8
Follow signs downstairs. Trains every 8 min. ¥7, 40 min to Qingdao North Station. Buy ticket at machine (English available). Runs 06:00-22:30.
Street Taxis at Arrivals
Drivers will approach you before you reach the official taxi queue. They charge 2-3x the normal rate to tourists. Insist on Didi instead.
Hotel Check-In
All Chinese hotels are required by law to register foreign guests with the police. This is normal.
- Hand over your passport (they will scan and photocopy it)
- They may ask for your visa and entry stamp
- Ask for the hotel WiFi password (you will need your phone number to log in)
- Ask for the hotel address card in Chinese (for showing Didi drivers later)
The police registration is automatic. You do not need to visit a police station. The hotel does it.