The China Travel Survival Handbook
China has a distinct, highly integrated digital consumer ecosystem. Traditional Western travel defaults (physical credit cards, Google Maps, Uber) do not apply. Master these four foundations before departure.
Mobile Payments: TenPayGo, Alipay & Weixin Pay
Compare TenPayGo, Alipay and Weixin Pay for QR payments in China, check fees in the app, and keep cash and a second payment option as backup.
Connectivity: Roaming eSIMs & Apps
Why overseas roaming eSIMs beat domestic SIMs and VPNs. Navigating with Apple Maps in English, using Didi mini-program for rides, and translating signs with WeChat.
High-Speed Rail & Station Navigation
Booking bullet trains on the official 12306 English app vs Trip.com. Step-by-step station boarding through the Manual Gate (人工通道) with physical passport inspection.
Lodging & Police Registration
Avoid getting turned away at hotel check-in. Filtering hotels with foreigner receiving credentials on Trip.com, and navigating the 24-hour PSB online registration for Airbnb/homestays.