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