Keep a Small Offline Kit

Save the items you would otherwise have to ask for

• The hotel’s Chinese name, full address, reception number, and a screenshot of its correct map pin.
• Issued train or flight details, with the exact station or airport and travel date.
• Attraction reservation references and the correct entrance instructions.
• A brief Chinese phrase card for directions and any essential dietary requirement.
• Insurance assistance and emergency contacts; secure document copies kept separately from the original.

Test the kit with the connection off

Open the files with connectivity disabled. If a ticket image or map disappears, save a genuine local copy rather than a link. A downloaded confirmation does not replace an original passport or a service’s required check-in process; it gives you the information to ask for help when the app cannot open.

Give a traveling companion their own copies of the key details and agree on a meeting point. A hotel reception or a named station entrance works better than “outside.” Replace outdated confirmations after a booking change so two different departure times do not remain in the same folder.

Know the help numbers, and keep the address readable

In mainland China, 110 is for police, 119 for fire, and 120 for medical emergencies. Provide the exact location and ask nearby staff to help communicate if needed. These are emergency services, not a substitute for an insurer’s assistance line or a routine travel-information desk.

A short printed card with the hotel and an emergency contact can still be used if the phone itself fails. Store private document copies securely rather than exposing them in an unlocked photo album. The goal is a few pieces of usable information, not a paper duplicate of every application.