My Guide after Experiencing China Prep Headaches

Everyone says it's troublesome to setup for China but after going through it once, it really pays off to be well prepared.

Here is my guide of essential apps and their setup requirements. Also, scroll further down ⬇️⬇️ for a guide to setting up of China Local Number for the apps that require it.

✖️Apps that DON'T require China Number✖️

Wechat (Need to do identity verification):

• Communication: mainly with the locals because we would still have access to whatsapp/telegram.

• Payment: Use the search function to find "Wechat Pay" and add it if it's not automatically on the app for you. I linked my YouTrip to this.

• Reservation: For certain attractions, paid or free, require reservation in advance before allowing entrance

• Join Membership/Subscribe to Channel: To gain immediate discounts at stores like 52Toys etc.

‼️There is 3% fee if you transact above 200rmb using linked international cards (Same for Alipay)

Alipay (Need to do identity verification):

• Transport Card: Remember to set up each QR code for each city you are going. Just change the location in Alipay to access it in advance. It's linked to your payment method

• Payment: Almost every store uses Alipay/Wechat Pay so you are good without cash. I linked my YouTrip and also had my chinese friend transfer me some RMB (I would say it's safer as this will 100% go through)

‼️Sometimes your linked card may not go through when they scan your payment QR, you can try to scan them instead. Vice versa.

Amaps/高德地图:

❌ UPDATE 21/10/24: It's been brought to my attention that now need to sign in with china number to use the saving destinations feature. Otherwise you can use it for directions still.❌

• Directions: Works amazing but it's mostly in chinese. It's easy to recognise the walking route and the train/bus line cause its numbers though.

• Saving Destinations: It makes directing to the attractions faster cause I can pre-save landmarks in sequence and also store them in separate folders for separate days/cities

Trip.com:

• Bookings for accomodation

• Bookings for high speed

• Bookings for attractions

I heard Klook is bad for China bookings but I haven't taken the risk.

Xiao Hong Shu/小红书:

• The OG, China's Lemon8

• Guides/Tips/Everything: What better resource than learning other people's experience right? You can get a lot of details on most of your FAQs or attractions there.

LetsVPN/快连:

• If you have an esim/CM Link local number, VPN is not required

• But if you are connecting your hotel wifi or any local wifi, you need it to access whatsapp, telegram, instagram etc.

✔️Apps that require China Number✔️

Remember to change your number on wechat/alipay if you are using china number!

Didi:

• China's Grab: but like faster, cheaper and good

‼️ You can call for Didi in Alipay/ Wechat, without a china number. It's only a problem if the driver wants to call you.

• Use the "Discount Express" if you want a confirmed price (excl. toll fees)

• I would say the usual car is good for 2 large luggages or 1 large and 2 medium size ones.

Meituan/美团:

• Food/ Item Delivery: we use it for supper everyday so worth and so fast. They can even send to your hotel's doorstep

• Vouchers: A lot of eateries/restaurants have vouchers on meituan that will allow you to get more for less. (Could be like set meals or just paying lesser for a certain amount of voucher money) You can pay for the voucher then have the waiters scan your voucher. There's usually no limit in stacking but you should always read the T&Cs

饿了么/ E Le Me:

• Heard this is also a food delivery service from chinese but I did not manage to try.

Dazhongdianping/大众点评:

• Food recommendations: You can use it to locate 4-5 star eateries around you. It includes the estimated cost per pax, distance, opening hours, some menu items, and reviews etc.

• Vouchers: Similar to Meituan

• Reviews for Freebies: Usually it's just a drink or like some postcards etc so up to you. They could also ask you to do on Meituan/Xiaohongshu.

Railway12306/ 中国铁路 (Need to do identity verification for all passengers):

• I bought my high speed railway tickets from here because it can be cheaper and we get to seat together (which may not be the case for Trip.com).

‼️If I rmb correctly, you can only purchase for 5 people maximum per transaction.

• They (like Trip.com) auto notifies my phone on all essential details on the day of my departure.

携程旅行 (China's Trip.com)

• My chinese friends use it but I have not tried

• Basically same as Trip.com

Baidu/百度:

• To do web search but you don't really need it if you still have access to Safari/Google.

📞China Local Number📞

You can get an esim from Shopee which is good enough, but a China Number opens up a lot more options (2 out of 5 of us got local number).

We got ours from CM Link, which you can apply online. They have a physical branch in Bishan if you are worried. (Swipe to pic 4-5)

❌A commenter below mentioned you are now required to have the sim card for at least a month before applying for china number❌

1. Apply for local number (It's a monthly subscription, but you can just email in to cancel anytime, just time your purchase) - read the data coverage for mainland China

‼️ Make sure to select International Roaming

2. Once your sim card arrives, activate the card

3. Log in to add on the 1-Card-Multi-Number service and Mainland China Number

4. Remember to terminate on time to avoid any unnecessary charges‼️

#chinatravel #chinanumber #payment #communication #apps #Essential