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Travelling in China feels much easier than it did a few years ago

BroadbentAnne — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:32:12 +0000

I worked in China for about two years before moving back to the US This year I returned with my family for a summer vacation and one thing that surprised me was how much easier traveling around felt compared with a few years ago

When I lived there China was already very app based but doing things without knowing much Chinese could still be frustrating Back then I had to spend a lot of time taking screenshots and opening translation apps just to figure out which button to press

This time I found that many apps have become much more foreigner friendly thanks to AI Some apps and WeChat Mini Programs now have built in translation which made things like ordering food buying attraction tickets and booking local services much easier

The translation is not always perfect and sometimes the results are just confusing but it is usually good enough to complete the task

Paying was also much more straightforward I linked my foreign credit card to WeChat Pay and used QR codes for most daily purchases I still carried some cash and a physical card as backups but I barely needed them A friend also told me that PayPal can now be connected in some cases although I was not able to set it up because I could not receive the verification message after arriving in China

Overall it feels like WeChat is gradually adding more payment options for foreign visitors

Mobile data was another thing that made my trip much easier In the past I had to search for the best VPN options before traveling to China Now with eSIMs I can access Facebook YouTube Instagram and other services without much trouble

A few things I would suggest for first time visitors

Set up mobile data before your trip An eSIM or VPN solution is important if you do not want to lose connection with family and friends back home

A car seat is not required in China when traveling with kids However if you have safety concerns you can bring one or buy one locally

Download the main apps you may need and set up payment methods before arriving

Keep your passport with you because you may need it for trains hotels and some attractions

Give yourself extra time for check in and ticket verification because foreign passports can sometimes take longer to process

China is still a place where a little preparation goes a long way especially if you do not speak Chinese But compared with my previous experience this trip felt much smoother more convenient and much less stressful

15 Days Alone in China: My Honest Thoughts as a Solo Traveler

WalkerAlexandre — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 22:26:01 +0000

Ive just returned from a 15 day trip to China and wanted to share my experience and some things I wish I had known before going

I spent five days in Beijing five in Shanghai and five in Chongqing traveling completely on my own without any guided tours Looking back there were a few attractions where a tour probably would have made things easier but overall traveling independently was very manageable

This isnt meant to compare cities but rather to give a general overview from the perspective of a solo male traveler

Overall this was without exaggeration one of the best trips of my life China has become one of my favorite places in Asia and Ive been fortunate enough to visit many countries in the region I loved the history the culture the food the transportation and how incredibly convenient daily life is for travelers

The biggest surprise was just how digital everything is China is even more mobile oriented than I expected I exchanged cash before arriving and carried it with me throughout the trip but I never spent a single bill Everything from restaurants transportation attractions convenience stores shared bikes taxis and even small street vendors was paid through Alipay or WeChat Your phone becomes your wallet your map your translator your ticket and your travel planner all at once Because of that I highly recommend bringing a good power bank since youll probably use your phone constantly

The three apps I found absolutely essential were Alipay WeChat and Tripcom Together they handled almost everything including hotels high speed trains attraction tickets payments DiDi rides and much more I also found AMap much more accurate than Google Maps and Google Translate was extremely useful whenever I couldnt communicate

As for the people I found them to be very reserved Almost nobody I met spoke English even at airports and major transportation hubs I didnt find people rude at all but they were generally very practical and direct rather than openly friendly Once I accepted that cultural difference it stopped bothering me

The public transportation system deserves its own mention It is probably the best Ive ever used The subway systems are clean efficient inexpensive and incredibly easy to navigate High speed trains were punctual comfortable and made traveling between cities effortless Honestly I think Chinas transportation system is among the best in the world

The cities themselves were unbelievably clean Probably the cleanest large cities Ive ever visited Streets parks metro stations and public spaces were all very well maintained One thing that also surprised me was that during fifteen days I didnt see a single homeless person I honestly dont know whether they are simply less visible or if I just never happened to encounter any

Chinese architecture was another highlight Ancient palaces temples museums and even ordinary neighborhoods looked completely different from anything Im used to seeing It made every city feel unique

There were of course a few things I didnt enjoy Smoking was by far my biggest complaint People smoke almost everywhere including outdoor public areas and sometimes near restaurants or transportation which became tiring after a while Public restrooms can also be difficult to find and many do not provide toilet paper so carrying tissues or wet wipes is a very good idea Security checks are common when entering metro stations train stations and airports which eventually becomes routine but can slow things down especially if youre carrying a power bank

Walking around busy cities can also take some getting used to because scooters and electric bikes often use sidewalks If youre not paying attention they can appear very quickly from behind

As for the food I really enjoyed it although I quickly learned that asking for no spice often still means a little spice And yes this might be unpopular but I personally didnt enjoy Luckin Coffee

One thing I also noticed was that despite visiting major tourist cities I saw relatively few foreign tourists Even in winter everything was busy lively and full of people

If youre thinking about visiting China my advice is simple Download Alipay WeChat and Tripcom before you arrive set everything up in advance bring a power bank keep your passport with you and dont worry too much about carrying cash because you probably wont use it

Everyones experience is different but mine was overwhelmingly positive I cant wait to return one day and spend more time exploring the countryside mountains and smaller cities

Please remember this is only my personal experience If yours was different thats completely fine Travel is subjective and no two people will experience a country in exactly the same way

Just got back from a 3-week trip in China and wanted to share some real “on-the-ground” tips based on my experience. Hope this helps anyone planning a visit!

Mayer Paul — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 21:42:14 +0000

I recently returned from an extremely enjoyable 3-week trip around China, and I wanted to share my full experience because I know many people preparing for a trip to China have similar questions and concerns. My route was: Beijing → Shijiazhuang (for a friend’s wedding) → Xi’an → Chengdu → Kunming → Xiamen → Shanghai → back to Beijing. I had read a lot of posts before leaving, and many were very helpful, so I hope my experience can help others planning a trip to China, travel to China, or join China tours in the future.

Before leaving, I set up both WeChat Pay and Alipay. I’m glad I did, because within 48 hours my WeChat account was blocked. This apparently happens quite often to travelers. The notification said I was blocked for “sending repeated greetings,” which made no sense, and although there is an option to unblock, two of my Chinese friends tried to verify me and still couldn’t unblock the account. Fortunately, Alipay worked flawlessly throughout my entire trip. I linked it to my Wise Visa card and had no problems scanning or being scanned. I also linked other cards, but since Wise worked consistently and felt safer as a prepaid top-up card, I used it for everything.

At hotels, my Wise Visa was accepted without any issue. Some places took deposit holds, but those were straightforward. As for cash, I know many people claim cash is dead in China, but that wasn’t my experience at all. I used cash at small shops, restaurants, tourist attractions, and taxis. Sometimes staff were surprised because it’s rare these days, but nobody refused it, and I always received change without difficulty. To be fair, I stayed mostly on the main tourist trail, which probably helped.

For transportation, I used trip.com for all my train bookings, and it was excellent. The app stores your passport details, and once your passport number is registered for one booking, it links automatically for all future bookings. At stations, just go to the manned desk, let them scan your passport, and you’re through. Chinese high-speed trains are fast, reliable, comfortable, and efficient. The atmosphere can be lively, but overall, the experience was great.

Metro systems in every city were easy to navigate. Everything is clearly labeled in both English and Chinese, and ticket machines accept both cash and QR payments. Interchanges are well marked, and the whole system is impressively intuitive. For buses, I only took a couple in Xiamen and paid by putting a one-yuan coin into the slot—simple and straightforward.

Taxis were easy to find and reliable, but I recommend using designated taxi stands, especially at stations, because I did see a few suspicious-looking touts. I always screenshot the hotel name and address in Chinese, which made communication simple. I paid in cash most of the time, and drivers always gave change. Many taxis accept QR payments, though more often WeChat Pay than Alipay. Since my WeChat was blocked, I avoided that option. As for Didi, which is China’s equivalent of Uber, my friend booked rides for me because my WeChat wasn’t working, but the service itself was cheap and dependable.

For mobile data, my friend lent me a Chinese SIM card, but I actually ended up using my AirAlo eSIM most of the time because it seemed to have an automatic VPN built in. It occasionally dropped for a few minutes, so I kept the Chinese SIM active as backup when making Alipay payments. Still, overall the eSIM was convenient for accessing Google services, Facebook, and other blocked apps. I tried using my actual VPN (Surfshark) once with hotel Wi-Fi, but it didn’t connect well, so I relied mostly on the eSIM.

For navigation, I used Apple Maps on my iPhone and found it surprisingly accurate, including public transport directions. For offline backup, I downloaded maps.me, which works once you manually download each city map—slightly inconvenient, but it does the job.

I booked only one official tour, a Great Wall trip through Klook, and it was extremely well run. However, booking attractions independently can be tricky. Many places require reservations in advance, often through WeChat mini-programs or QR code registration pages. My Chinese friend helped with this by submitting my name and passport number. Everything in China is linked to your passport, so keep it accessible and safe—it is your lifeline.

Public toilets in China are everywhere and free, which is a blessing, but many are squat toilets and don’t provide toilet paper. Always bring tissues or wet wipes. After a few days of spicy food in Chengdu, you'll be glad you did. Crowds are constant—if you dislike large crowds or chaotic queuing, prepare yourself. The best strategy is to visit major attractions right when they open. I reached Mutianyu Great Wall at opening time and enjoyed the first 20 minutes nearly alone, which was an unforgettable experience.

As for how people treated me, aside from one bored policeman in Beijing asking to examine every stamp in my passport, I encountered nothing negative. Quite the opposite—many families smiled, took interest in me, asked for photos, or practiced a bit of English. Customer service staff were patient and helpful despite the language gap. I felt far more welcomed than in some European countries. Even the immigration officer in Beijing was friendlier than the one I met at JFK.

A memorable moment happened on my last day. I miscalculated how much cash I needed for the taxi to the airport. When I arrived, I was short about 50 RMB, and Alipay suddenly decided not to work. The police approached, and I feared it might become a serious problem, but instead, the officer took out his own WeChat Pay and covered the difference. I later withdrew cash, found him, repaid him, and he simply shook my hand and wished me a safe flight. It was an unexpectedly warm experience. For context, I am a 39-year-old white British man, so others may have different experiences, but mine was overwhelmingly positive.

Overall, the trip far exceeded my expectations. China was much easier to navigate than I anticipated, incredibly modern, full of kind people, and endlessly fascinating. My biggest advice: absolutely set up both WeChat Pay and Alipay, and make sure Alipay works with your foreign card before arriving. Beyond that, relax and enjoy—it’s absolutely worth it, and I’m already planning my next visit.

RE: People who have travelled to China, what is your "WTF China" story?

JenkinsD — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:53:55 +0000

The first time I was in Beijing, back in 2010, I went to a restaurant with a local friend who invited me, so I didn’t even check if I had enough cash. The place was huge and pretty upscale—not some small family spot in a hutong.
When we finished, the bill came to about 350 RMB if I remember correctly, but apparently my friend only had around 180 on her. I was thinking, “Oh no, what now?” but she stayed calm and just said, “Um, well, dunno,” which didn’t exactly reassure me.
She tried calling a friend who lived nearby but couldn’t reach her. I could chip in about 50 RMB, and that was it. Then she talked with the waitress for a bit, handed over all the cash we had, and we just left. I was totally confused.
Later I asked what happened, and she said she could just come back and pay the rest another day. I was stunned — in China, I’d expected people to be way more competitive and trying to rip you off if you weren’t careful. And here we were, basically getting off the hook like that!
The funniest part was when I asked if the waitress got her details or something, and she said, “Yeah, she got my last name”—just the last name, in a country where it feels like there are only about ten surnames and they all sound pretty similar: Gong, Dong, Li, Zhang…
I’m sorry it’s not a more dramatic story, but this moment stuck with me because it felt so out of place.

RE: People who have travelled to China, what is your "WTF China" story?

BrumerPaul — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:29:57 +0000

I was working in Shanghai when my colleagues told me we’d have to work through the weekend to make up for the two days off at New Year’s.
I thought they were joking — I laughed.
They weren’t. They were dead serious.

RE: What on earth do I need to know about traveling to China?

BrumerPaul — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:29:28 +0000

I used to travel to China pretty often for both work and vacations, but I took a break between early 2015 and mid-2017 after changing jobs. When I left, cash was still king — but when I came back, WeChat Pay and Alipay had completely taken over, and I was totally thrown off.
Back then, foreign cards weren’t supported at all, so the only way I could use mobile payments was by giving a wad of RMB to a friend, who then “gifted” it back to me through WeChat. Super confusing at the time, but it worked.

What on earth do I need to know about traveling to China?

AmonCristina — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 22:28:15 +0000

I’m heading to China on a business trip at the end of next week. I don’t know anyone personally who’s been, so I’m a bit in the dark. Is there anything important I should know, bring, or avoid bringing? Any advice would be super appreciated!

RE: People who have travelled to China, what is your "WTF China" story?

WinnikMitchell — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:20:46 +0000

We got enough food to have a filling breakfast for four adults with plenty left over for ten yuan, or $1.67
I ate an entire pigeon, including its brain. I had cow lung, brain, heart, kidney... Weirdest dish I think was frog stir fry. This wasn't frog legs, this was just frogs cut in half and stir fried with a lot of szechuan seasoning. I also had silkworm cocoons, just living silkworms in the process of metamorphosis that you fry in some sesame oil. They tasted like prebuttered lobster honestly.
To answer the question, the sheer variety of meats was my wtf China moment

RE: People who have travelled to China, what is your "WTF China" story?

StephanDouglas — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:17:44 +0000

Donations handed to beggars or homeless individuals are sometimes collected by criminal organizations.

People who have travelled to China, what is your "WTF China" story?

KloppenborgJohn — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:16:02 +0000

Plz share your story.