Setting Up Life in Chengdu — SIM Card, Bank, WeChat & More

📖 10 min read · July 29, 2026

You've found your apartment and signed the lease. Now comes the less exciting but essential part: getting your daily life set up in Chengdu. SIM card, bank account, WeChat Pay, utility bills — it can feel like a maze if you don't know the order to do things in.

This guide walks you through everything, step by step, so you don't waste time running in circles.

1. Get a Chinese Phone Number (SIM Card)

Almost everything in China requires a phone number — WeChat, bank accounts, utility registration, even ordering food. Get this done first.

Which carrier to pick

Carrier	Notes
China Mobile (中国移动)	Best coverage in smaller cities. Chengdu coverage is solid.
China Unicom (中国联通)	Popular with expats. Faster data in cities. Slightly cheaper.
China Telecom (中国电信)	Good coverage. Competitive data plans.

All three are fine in Chengdu. Many expats go with China Unicom — their English service is decent and data speeds are good.

What to bring

Passport (required)
Visa / Residence Permit (must be valid)

Where to go

You can't buy a SIM at the airport anymore. Head to any official carrier store (营业厅). There are plenty around the city — search for "China Unicom 营业厅" on your map app. Plan for about 30-45 minutes.

Plans & pricing

Plan	Monthly Price	Data	Minutes
Basic	¥30-50	10-20GB	100-300 min
Standard	¥59-99	30-60GB	500+ min
Premium	¥129+	100GB+	1000+ min

Most plans auto-renew monthly. You can set up auto-pay via WeChat or Alipay later.

💡 Tip: Don't lose your SIM card package — it has your phone number and account info. Take a photo of it.

2. Register at Your Local Police Station

By Chinese law, you must register your address within 24 hours of moving in. Your landlord should help with this.

Go to the local police station (派出所) in your district
Bring: Passport, Lease agreement, Landlord's ID copy (房东身份证复印件), and Property ownership document (房产证)
They'll issue a Temporary Residence Registration Form (临时住宿登记表)

💡 Tip: Some police stations are stricter than others. If your landlord has done this before, ask them to go with you. It takes about 20 minutes.

This form is essential — you'll need it for opening a bank account, extending your visa, and sometimes even getting a SIM card.

3. Open a Chinese Bank Account

You need a Chinese bank account to pay rent (many landlords don't take international transfers), receive payments, and use WeChat Pay / Alipay fully.

Best banks for expats in Chengdu

Bank	Why
Bank of China (中国银行)	Best for international transfers. English app available.
China Merchants Bank (招商银行)	Great mobile app (English available). Easy to use.
ICBC (工商银行)	Most branches. Can be slow but reliable.

What to bring

Passport
Visa / Residence Permit
Temporary Residence Registration Form (关键！)
Phone number (the SIM you just got)
¥100-500 initial deposit (cash)

💡 Tip: Go to a main branch (支行), not a small sub-branch. Main branches have staff who have handled foreigner accounts before and the process is much smoother. Expect 30-60 minutes.

4. Set Up WeChat Pay & Alipay

Cash is rarely used in Chengdu. You'll pay for everything from groceries to rent via WeChat or Alipay.

WeChat Pay

Open WeChat → Me → Services — tap on the cards icon to add a bank card
Enter your Chinese bank card details
Verify via SMS (you'll receive a text to your Chinese number)
Done. You can now send money, pay at stores, and top up your phone.

Alipay

Download Alipay (it has English mode — go to Settings → General → Region)
Register with your Chinese phone number
Add your bank card under My → Bank Cards

💡 Tip: Link the same bank card to both apps. WeChat Pay is more commonly used in Chengdu for daily purchases. Alipay is better for larger payments and some utility services.

5. Set Up Utilities (Water, Electricity, Gas)

How utilities are paid depends on your building, but here's the typical process:

Check with your landlord

Ask if utilities are included in your rent (包干价) or paid separately
If separate, ask for the account numbers (户号) for water (水), electricity (电), and gas (气)
Many newer buildings require you to top up via WeChat/Alipay

How to pay

Utility	How to pay
Electricity (电费)	WeChat → Me → Services → Utilities (生活缴费) → Electricity. Enter your account number.
Water (水费)	Same path, select "Water". Some buildings bill through property management.
Gas (燃气费)	Same path, select "Gas". Some older buildings need in-person top-up at gas company.
Property management (物业费)	Billed monthly or quarterly by your building's management office.

💡 Tip: Set up auto-pay in WeChat for electricity and water at least — you really don't want the power to go out mid-shower.

6. Internet at Home

If your apartment doesn't already have internet (many rentals do), you'll need to set it up:

The same three carriers (China Mobile, Unicom, Telecom) offer home broadband
Prices: ¥30-100/month depending on speed (100-1000Mbps)
Installation usually within 24-48 hours after applying
Bring your passport and lease agreement to a carrier store

💡 Tip: If your landlord already has internet set up, just ask them for the WiFi password. If you need your own line, Unicom offers good value bundles (broadband + mobile data in one plan).

7. Other Apps Worth Downloading

App	What for
Didi (滴滴出行)	Ride-hailing. Like Uber. Way more convenient than flagging taxis on the street.
Meituan (美团)	Food delivery, movie tickets, grocery delivery. A lifesaver.
Gaode Maps (高德地图)	Better than Google Maps in China. Accurate walking/driving/public transit directions.
Xiecheng / Ctrip (携程)	Train and flight booking, hotel reservations.

Need help with any of this? BambooHouse can assist with utility setup, bank appointments, and more. Contact us →