Estimated reading time: 6 minutes Quick Answer Install these five apps before your flight: These five apps alone will make travelling around China much easier. At a Glance App What It’s For Essential? Alipay Mobile payments ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ WeChat Messaging & backup payments ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Didi Taxi booking ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Trip.com Hotels, trains & flights ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Translate Translation ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Google Maps (offline) Reference only ⭐⭐⭐ Apple Maps Navigation ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amap (Gaode Maps) Local navigation...
eSIM, SIM Card or Roaming? A First-Time Visitor’s Guide (2026) Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Quick Answer For most first-time visitors, a travel eSIM is the easiest option. It works as soon as you land, usually lets you access Google, Gmail and WhatsApp without extra setup, and doesn’t require a Chinese phone number. Our recommendation: At a Glance Best overall choice Travel eSIM Easy to set up ✅ Yes Can usually access...
A First-Time Visitor’s Step-by-Step Guide (2026) Estimated reading time: 5 minutes Quick Answer Yes. Foreign visitors can use both Alipay and WeChat Pay in China. Before your trip: If you do this before you fly, paying in China is usually quick and hassle-free. At a Glance Best app for first-time visitors Alipay Should you install WeChat too? ✅ Yes Chinese bank account needed? ❌ No Foreign Visa & Mastercard accepted? ✅ Yes...
A First-Timer’s Guide to Paying in China with a Foreign Credit Card You have just arrived in China. You walk into a convenience store, place a bottle of water on the counter and reach for your wallet. The cashier does not point towards a card terminal. Instead, she points towards a square black-and-white code. In Chinese, it is called: 二维码 — Èrwéimǎ — QR code She may even say: 扫一扫 — Sǎo...
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