welcome to china
travelling in china is incredibly convenient once you know how everything works, but travelling here can look a little different from what you may be used to.
from mobile payments and transportation to internet access and translation, a little preparation before you land will make all the difference. please read through this page and complete the essential set up before you fly!
warning: we can’t help you get on instagram/gmail if you don’t download the apps before LANDING in china!
warning: do NOT skip this page even if you have been to china. a lot has changed since 2020!!!
download before you fly | ESSENTIALS
your essential apps directory is here! make sure you have the following apps downloaded and set up before your trip. you will NEED these apps for paying, communicating, commuting/ “ubering”, ordering food, and getting around (no, they are not nice to haves, if you don’t have them, you WILL be stranded).
ALIPAY 支付宝
your most important app in china. you will NEED this to pay for anything. even global hotel chains, upscale restaurants often do not accept credit card or cash, and so you need to have the app set up before your trip. keep scrolling for more details.
WECHAT 微信 | our equivalent apps: instagram, whatsapp, uber, paypal, e-transfer, shop, individual shop apps all in one
wechat is china’s everything app - messaging, group chats, sharing moments, payments, mini programs, and more. most importantly for you on the trip, this is one of the easiest ways to communicate while you are in china (without needing to rely on vpn) and you likely need one or more of the mini programs for commute (calling a cab/“uber”) or getting discounts when you are shopping.
MEITUAN 美团 | our equivalent apps: uber, uber eats, yelp, open table
this is the number 1 app locals use in china. use it to order food, call a ride, discover restaurants and businesses, access services, and borrow portable chargers through the day. the downside is the app is only available in chinese, so if you only understand english, use wechat/didi for calling rides, and ask someone to help you order take out!
DIDI 滴滴 | our equivalent apps: uber, lyft, taxicabs
didi is another ride-hailing option and may be the easiest option for international visitors who need an english interface. this app is designed to be tourist-friendly.
LETS VPN
this is the vpn we personally use in china every visit and have had the most reliable experience with, but my honest recommendation is do your own research and download a BUNCH in case one does not work. it is important that you download, subscribe, and set it up before landing in mainland. accessing vpn websites and apps can sometimes be difficult once you are in the country. you should take this seriously if you plan to use instagram, google (gmail, search engine, translate), chatgpt, whatsapp, or any “western” platform. please note tiktok tends to not work in china no matter which vpn you purchase.
GOOGLE TRANSLATE / BAIDU TRANSLATE
you will need it if you do not speak any chinese. english is not widely spoken in everyday situations in china, so having a translation app on your phone will make everything much easier (menus/signs etc.). download simplified chinese for offline use before your trip and remember, it will only work if you have vpn because it is under google, which is blocked in china.
before you cross the firewall
this needs to be emphasized again…
mainland china’s internet works very differently and it can be very inconvenient because most of the apps and websites you normally use at home will NOT be directly accessible on local internet connections.
if you want continued access to services such as instagram, facebook, whatsapp, gmail and google, chatgpt, you need to account for your connectivity before you arrive in china.
my recommendation is download lets vpn and at least 2-3 more vpn apps, and subscribe to at least one before arrival. it has not been the case for me personally, but there has been reports that people are unable to purchase a subscription, or download a vpn app after entering china. you want to be prepared, so if one app does not work, you have a back up option.
your phone is your lifeline
in china, if you lose your phone, you are seriously f*cked.
do NOT travel around shanghai (or anywhere in china) WITHOUT mobile data.
your phone is how you will pay, call a car, navigate, translate, communicate… reliable data is essential and a non-negotiable. 9/10 places will not accept cash or card, LESS than 1% chance you can hail a taxicab on the street, so to get to places, pay for food or shop, you need data to access alipay, wechat, meituan, or didi.
there are two options:
option 1 eSIM: set up an international eSIM before departure for the easiest arrival experience
option 2 chinese SIM: you can also purchase a physical SIM after arriving in china, including at pvg. local plans are oftentimes less expensive and offer generous amounts of data. you will need your passport when purchasing & registering a local SIM
a quick summary of what each app is for.
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leave the wallet. bring your phone.
china is largely cashless, but it is also almost card-less.
mobile payments through alipay and wechat pay are the norm for everyday purchases, from restaurants and convenience stores to transportation and shopping.
alipay: most tourist friendly and should be your primary payment method. you need to verify your account with your passport, then link 1-2 credit cards. to pay, most merchants will scan your alipay qr code.
wechat pay: my personal favourite, but can be hard to set up with foreign passports. it is the same set-up process and payment method.
cash & cards: keep it as a back up, but don’t make it plan A. this unfortunately includes upscale hotels and restaurants. i would not recommend converting too much, if any, cash - most places do not accept cash and it becomes useless.
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there are 2 methods:
ride-hailing: meituan, didi, wechat - it will show you options from a variety of ride-hailing providers (including taxicabs)
metro: fast, inexpensive, and EXTENSIVE. simply scan on wechat or alipay!
download as needed | GOOD TO HAVE
unlike the essentials, you will be fine without these optional apps, but they can make your travel more seamless and comfortable. here is the list for overachievers!
BAIDU MAPS 百度地图 | our equivalent apps: google maps, waze
for navigation, whether it be for citywalks, subway or sky train rides. i would not rely on google maps for china, but if your vpn is connected, it gets the job done! baidu maps has much more comprehensive local information, though the interface is primarily chinese.
DIANPING 大众点评 | our equivalent apps: open table, yelp, google reviews
for finding places: restaurants, cafes, spas, attractions, excursions, reviews - essentially your local discovery tool.
DEEPSEEK 深度求索 | our equivalent apps: chatgpt
deepseek is your china-friendly AI assistant. it can be useful if you have questions on-the-go, for fast translation (menus, signs, ordering), or in ways you would use chatgpt on the daily/on vacations. of course it understands and can communicate fluently in english, and is a good option to have in case your vpn glitches and you cannot access chatgpt.