📖 What's covered — 22 sections
Where are you traveling from?
We'll customize ATM, banking, and SIM advice for your country.
When are you going?
We'll tell you how many days you have to prepare.
Visa-Free Transit Eligibility
China now offers 240-hour visa-free transit for 54 countries.
Payment Setup
This is the #1 pain point. 95% of China transactions are mobile.
Alipay (支付宝) — Recommended First
1.43 billion users. Accepted almost everywhere. Easiest setup for foreigners.
- 1
Download Alipay
Search 'Alipay' on App Store / Google Play. The international version works.
- 2
Register with your phone number
Use your home country phone number (e.g. +61 for AU). No Chinese number needed.
- 3
Link your credit/debit card
Visa, Mastercard, Amex, JCB supported. Go to 'Me' → 'Bank Cards' → 'Add Card'.
- 4
Complete identity verification
Upload a photo of your passport information page. May need a selfie. Approval takes minutes to 1 day.
- 5
Test a payment
Try scanning any Alipay QR code (even in screenshots online) to confirm setup. You'll see the payment screen.
WeChat Pay (微信支付) — Important Backup
Essential for Didi (taxi), restaurants, and when Alipay QR codes aren't available.
- 1
Download WeChat
Search 'WeChat' on App Store / Google Play.
- 2
Register an account
Use your home phone number. You'll need another WeChat user to verify you (ask a friend, or try without).
- 3
Enable WeChat Pay
Go to 'Me' → 'Services' → 'Wallet' → link an international card.
- 4
Link your card
Mastercard often works better than Visa on WeChat. If one card fails, try another.
- 5
Verify identity
Upload passport photo. Some cards may need additional verification steps.
Know Your Limits
Purchases under ¥200 have no foreign card surcharge. Above = 3% fee.
VPN & Internet Access
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, Gmail — all blocked in China.
Recommended VPN Providers
Most reliable in China. Obfuscation built in.
Expat favorite. StealthVPN protocol works well.
Good. Use obfuscated servers. May need manual config.
Budget option. Camouflage mode. Less reliable.
Stealth mode available. Smaller server network.
What's Blocked in China
Navigation & Maps
Google Maps has WRONG coordinates in China. You need local map apps.
Best accuracy in China. English search available. Download offline maps before you go.
Very accurate. Mostly Chinese UI but can search in English.
Mostly works in China. Better than Google Maps but less accurate than local apps. iPhone only.
⚠️ DOES NOT WORK properly in China. Coordinates are wrong. Do NOT rely on it.
ATM & Cash Preparation
Your country uses 4-digit PINs. Chinese ATMs require 6 digits.
ATM Tips
- •Look for ATMs at Bank of China, ICBC, or China Construction Bank — most reliable for foreign cards
- •Airport ATMs work but have worse exchange rates
- •Daily withdrawal limit is typically ¥10,000-20,000 (~$1,400-2,800 USD)
- •Bring some CNY cash as backup (¥500-1,000). Order from your bank before departure.
- •Notify your bank of travel dates to avoid card blocks
Essential Apps to Download
Download ALL of these before you fly. Some may be unavailable in China.
Payments, transit tickets, food ordering
Payments, messaging, mini programs, taxi
Ride-hailing (China's Uber). Can use via WeChat mini program
Navigation with accurate China coordinates
Book high-speed rail tickets
Hotels, flights, trains — foreigner-friendly interface
Food delivery, restaurant deals, local services
Google Translate (download Chinese offline pack before you go!)
SIM Card & Mobile Data
You need internet access for payments, maps, and everything else.
Option 1: eSIM (Recommended)
Buy before departure. No physical SIM swap needed. Works immediately on landing.
- • Airalo — from ~$5 for 1GB/7 days. Easy setup.
- • Holafly — unlimited data plans. ~$19 for 5 days.
- • Nomad — good China coverage. ~$8 for 1GB.
Option 2: Physical SIM Card
Buy at the airport on arrival (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom).
- • Requires passport and in-person registration
- • Gives you a Chinese phone number (useful for full Alipay/WeChat features)
- • ~¥100-200 for tourist SIM with 10-20GB data
Option 3: International Roaming
Most expensive. Check your carrier's China roaming rates.
Survival Chinese Phrases
Tap each phrase to reveal the Chinese — practice before you go!
Getting Around in China
Subway, trains, taxis — all have payment quirks for foreigners.
🚇 Metro / Subway
- • Ticket machines accept Alipay/WeChat QR codes (sometimes unreliable for foreign cards)
- • Backup: buy single-journey tokens from staffed windows with cash
- • Beijing and Shanghai now accept contactless Visa/Mastercard at some gates
- • Download the city's metro app for route planning (Beijing Subway, Metro大都会 for Shanghai)
🚕 Taxis & Ride-Hailing
- • Didi (滴滴) is China's Uber. Use the standalone app or WeChat mini program
- • Has English interface mode — switch in Settings
- • Always use Didi over street hails (fixed pricing, GPS tracked, safer)
- • Street taxis accept cash but may try to negotiate inflated prices with foreigners
- • Show your destination in Chinese characters — drivers rarely speak English
🚄 High-Speed Rail
- • Book via 12306 app (official) or Trip.com (English-friendly)
- • Register with your passport number — must match the name exactly
- • Use passport to scan through automated gates (most major stations support this)
- • Arrive 30+ minutes early — stations have airport-style security screening
- • First class (一等座) is ~1.5x economy and very comfortable
Ordering Food
Many restaurants use scan-to-order. Here's how to navigate it.
The QR-Code Ordering Flow
- 1.Scan the QR code on your table with WeChat or Alipay
- 2.This opens a mini program — the menu is usually in Chinese with photos
- 3.Select items, quantity, then confirm order
- 4.Pay via the same app — food arrives at your table
Useful Food Characters to Recognize
Common Scams & Safety Tips
China is generally very safe, but tourists can be targeted.
The Tea Ceremony Scam
How it works: Friendly students invite you for 'tea' or 'art exhibition'. Bill arrives: ¥2,000+ per person.
How to avoid: Never follow strangers to a specific tea house or restaurant they suggest. Politely decline.
Fake Taxi Meters
How it works: Unlicensed taxis at airports/stations with rigged or no meters. Price 3-10x normal.
How to avoid: Always use Didi. If you must use a street taxi, insist on the meter (打表 dǎ biǎo).
QR Code Replacement
How it works: Scammers paste their own QR code over a legitimate merchant's code.
How to avoid: When paying, verify the merchant name shown on screen matches the store. Pay small amounts first.
Black Market Money Exchange
How it works: People offering 'better rates' on the street. Counterfeit bills or short-changing.
How to avoid: Only use bank ATMs or official exchange counters. Never exchange with strangers.
Inflated Tourist Prices
How it works: No menu prices, then presented with a huge bill. Or items added you didn't order.
How to avoid: Always check prices before ordering. Use the QR menu (prices are fixed). Take photos of menus.
City Quick Guides
Tap a city for specific tips.
Beijing 北京▾
- •Use Line 1 and Line 2 subway for main sights (Forbidden City, Tiananmen)
- •Great Wall: Mutianyu section is less crowded, book cable car via WeChat
- •Airport Express connects PEK T3 to Dongzhimen (subway Line 2) in 25 min
- •Beijing subway now accepts contactless Visa/Mastercard at most gates
- •Download 'Beijing Subway' app for route planning
Shanghai 上海▾
- •Maglev train: Pudong Airport → Longyang Road (7 min, ¥50). Pay via Alipay QR
- •Metro大都会 app for subway passes — works better than foreign cards
- •The Bund, Nanjing Road, French Concession all walkable from central metro stops
- •24-hour tourist help desk at Pudong Airport T2 can help set up Alipay/WeChat
- •Taxis to/from airports cost ¥150-250. Use Didi for fixed pricing
Guangzhou 广州▾
- •Canton Fair periods (Apr & Oct): hotels and transport are extremely busy
- •Metro is excellent — covers most tourist areas. Line 3 connects to Baiyun Airport
- •Dim sum capital: Dian Du De (点都德) is local favorite, QR ordering available
- •Shenzhen is only 30 min by high-speed rail — easy day trip
Chengdu 成都▾
- •Giant Panda Base: book tickets on WeChat mini program (limited daily entries)
- •Metro Line 10 connects Shuangliu Airport to city center
- •Hotpot is extremely spicy — say '微辣' (wēi là) for mild or '鸳鸯锅' (yuānyāng guō) for half-and-half pot
- •Kuanzhai Alley and Jinli Street are tourist-friendly with English signage
Xi'an 西安▾
- •Terracotta Warriors: 1 hour from city. Book via Trip.com or hire a Didi for the day
- •Muslim Quarter: cash is more accepted here than other areas. Great street food
- •City Wall bike rental accepts Alipay — ¥45 for 100 min
- •Metro Line 4 connects North Station (high-speed rail) to city center
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common worries.
Can I survive with just cash in China?▾
Is it safe to link my credit card to Alipay/WeChat?▾
Do I need a Chinese phone number?▾
Will my VPN always work?▾
Can I use Apple Pay / Google Pay?▾
What about the digital yuan (e-CNY)?▾
How do I tip in China?▾
Emergency Numbers & Contacts
Save these before you land.
What's Different in China
Things that surprise first-time visitors — so they don't surprise you.
Interactive Trip Budget Calculator
Slide to estimate your total trip cost.
💡 Mid-Range breakdown per day
Quick Currency Converter
See what things cost in your currency.
Quick look — common costs:
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