GUIDES / THE COMPLETE GUIDE

RACING IN CHINA
AS A FOREIGNER.

The complete guide: visa, payments, registration, bib pickup, race morning and everything in between.

01

Visa

Many nationalities can now enter China visa-free for short stays. There is also a 240-hour visa-free transit for 57 countries when you fly onward to a third country. Rules change — always check the National Immigration Administration site en.nia.gov.cn before booking. We check your case for you.

02

Paying

Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards. Cash is rarely used — from taxis to street food, everything runs on your phone. We help you set it up before you land.

03

Internet & phone

Get an eSIM or a local SIM. Many Western apps are blocked in mainland China, so install and set up what you need before arriving.

04

Race registration

Sign-up pages are often in Chinese only. Expect to enter ID or passport details, and a medical certificate is often required for marathons. We help you through it.

05

Bib pickup

Usually in person at the expo 1–3 days before the race, with your passport. Some races allow an authorised agent to collect for you — we arrange it.

06

Getting to the start

Road closures, early starts and very few taxis on race morning. Don’t leave it to chance — we book a driver for you.

07

Bikes & gear

Shipping a bike inside China takes local know-how. So does finding your gels, spares or mandatory gear. We ship your bike and buy what you need locally.

08

Food & recovery

Plan your pre-race meals near your hotel, and know what you can eat the night before. We point you to the right places and help you order.

09

Emergencies

Hospitals, pharmacies and translation when it matters. During your stay you have our local contact, answering 24/7.

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Race guides

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WE HANDLE THE REST.

Bib pickup, transfers, hotels, bikes and 24/7 local help. One fee: $100 / €100 per athlete, per race.

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