SHORT ANSWER
China has no freelancer visa — the legal vehicle for a self-employed person is a WFOE (1 shareholder is allowed), which then sponsors your work permit and residence permit. Shorter stays: 30-day unilateral visa-free for 50+ nationalities, 240-hour transit-free for scouting trips. Full onboarding: bank cards, Alipay/WeChat Pay, housing, schools, healthcare.
The 2026 practical stack: (1) Entry — unilateral visa-free (30 days, 50+ nationalities) for exploration; 240-hour transit-free for multi-city supplier trips; M business visa for repeat visits during setup. (2) Legal stay — three honest routes: employment via your own WFOE (the standard for independents), employment via a Chinese employer, or study. Representative offices do not sponsor work permits for revenue roles. (3) Money — foreign cards now tap-ride metro in Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou/Chengdu; bind Alipay/WeChat Pay to foreign cards on arrival; open local accounts after the residence permit. (4) Life — housing via registered-lease for residence-permit address proof, international and bilingual schools in tier-1 cities, healthcare via international clinics + local insurance. (5) Compliance — address registration at the local police station within 24h of moving in; annual residence-permit renewal with the work permit. We run the full checklist so nothing lapses silently.
General information only — not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Rules change; verify with official sources (SAMR, STA, SAFE, MOFCOM, NIA) and licensed advisors before acting.