Apply for a passport. A Chinese passport is an important document for a Chinese citizen to enter into or depart from a foreign country and to prove his or her nationality and identity there. Before departing from China, a Chinese citizen shall, according to his or her reason for exit, separately apply to the local public security organ or foreign affairs department for a passport of the corresponding type. Each country has different requirements for the validity term of a passport held by a foreigner, which is one year or more in general.
Apply for a visa. Except for circumstances where visa-free or visa on arrival is allowed in accordance with the provisions of any bilateral agreement or those prescribed unilaterally by the destination country, or where a visa needs to be applied for in a third country, a Chinese citizen shall, before departing from China, apply for the relevant visa and have it granted by the embassy or consulate of the destination country in China. In some countries, it is prescribed that a transit visa must still be granted in advance despite not having to leave the airport to transfer to another plane. Visit the official website of the embassies and consulates of the destination countries in China and http://cs.mfa.gov.cn to learn of the visa requirements, and apply for a visa and have it granted in advance according to your travel itinerary.
Complete authentication. Under general conditions, if various domestic certificates and certification documents must be used overseas, the notarial deeds and other certification documents shall first be obtained from a domestic notary public office, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade ("CCPIT"), and the entry-exit inspection and quarantine bureau, and the consulate authentication shall also be obtained from the foreign affairs department so as to obtain the authentication from the embassy or consulate of the destination country in China. Before departing from China, be sure to undergo all formalities for notarizing and authenticating relevant official documents.
Take care regarding epidemic prevention. Learn of the epidemic prevention requirements in certain countries, and obtain vaccination accordingly. If necessary, you need to obtain in advance the Health Certificate for International Traveler and the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis.
Get duplicates ready. For emergency needs, before departing from China you are advised to duplicate the passport (the data page and the note page of the passport, the visa, and the entry-exit records), and the notarized and authenticated legal documents. If necessary, you may undergo the formalities for notarizing and authenticating that the photocopies of important documents are consistent with the original ones.
Prepare emergency materials. You are advised to take with you the foreign invitation letter and the basic information such as the name, address, and contact means of the inviter. (In some countries, it is prescribed that you must always carry such materials.) For emergency needs, you are advised to visit http://cs.mfa.gov.cn and make record of the information regarding the address and contact means of the Chinese embassy and consulate in the destination country or region.