Before my trip to China, I spent a lot of time researching. Here’s what actually helped, tested firsthand.

Internet Without VPN

The biggest surprise: the Great Firewall doesn’t apply to foreign SIMs. I bought a roaming eSIM before the trip (data only, no phone number), and everything just worked — Google, YouTube, Instagram, WhatsApp. No VPN hassle at all. 5G/4G coverage, though speeds weren’t always great.

I used Trip.com (a Chinese service) for booking flights, hotels, and attraction tickets — and that’s where I got my eSIM too.

A note on ChatGPT: it doesn’t work in China due to geo-restrictions. Even with a foreign SIM — you’ll need a VPN. This was annoying for me since I kept asking it dumb questions like “how do you eat hot pot properly” 😅

Paying for Things

I was nervous about payments — heard stories about China being cash-only or only accepting UnionPay cards. Reality was much simpler.

Visa/Mastercard works in more places than you’d think:

• You can tap your card or Apple Pay at metro turnstiles
• McDonald’s, Starbucks, and other international chains accept cards
• Airports and hotels — no problem
• DiDi (taxi app) lets you link your card directly

But for everything else — you’ll need Alipay or WeChat Pay. Small shops, street food, local cafes, convenience stores — it’s all QR codes. Cards don’t exist in that world.

Good news: both apps work for foreigners. You can link your Visa/Mastercard and pay via QR codes everywhere. I’d recommend setting this up before you fly — upload your passport for verification, link your card. Takes a few minutes, and you’ll have full app functionality from day one.

There are two ways to pay: scan the vendor’s QR code, or show your own QR code (vendor scans it or you hold your phone screen up to their scanner). I never figured out what determines which method or what difference it makes, but both work the same.

One thing I wasn’t sure about: whether a Chinese phone number is required. It’s not. I registered with my regular number and had zero issues.

Apps Worth Installing

DiDi is essentially Uber for China. Link your card, call a ride, done.

Amap for navigation. Great for routes. Though, English search there is terrible. You pretty much have to type place names in Chinese. No opening hours, no website links in listings. My workflow: find places in Google Maps, then switch to Amap to actually get there.

Trip.com for booking. Trains, flights, attractions — all in one place, all payable with your card.