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Traveling in China as a tourist
Before our first trip to China, we spent far too much time reading articles about apps.
Some made it sound like traveling around China would be impossible without downloading twenty different apps, setting up a VPN, opening a Chinese bank account and obtaining a degree in computer science.
The reality was much simpler.
China turned out to be one of the easiest countries we’ve travelled around, but it does work differently from most places. Google services aren’t widely supported, cash is becoming increasingly rare (we never used or even saw cash at all during our stay) and nearly all everyday tasks are handled through local apps.
The good news is that if you install a handful of apps before you arrive, you’ll be absolutely fine.
These are the apps we found most useful during our travels through China.
Get an eSIM Before You Arrive
Before we even talk about apps, let’s talk about internet access.
Our biggest piece of advice is to sort out your mobile data plan before you land in China.
Livia used an eSIM purchased from Trip.com and had very few issues throughout our trip. Alternatively, if you’re coming from a country with affordable roaming charges, that can work just as well. Sam used his AIS physical SIMcard from Thailand (with roaming) and found it very reliable.
One major advantage of using a foreign SIM or eSIM is that many international services continue to work normally. Throughout our trip we could still access Gmail, Google Search, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook using mobile data.
The only real problem came when connecting to hotel WiFi, where access to some services became much less reliable, even impossible.
If you rely heavily on Google services, having your own mobile data can make life much easier, ut backing up photos on wifi probably won’t be possible
Android vs iPhone in China
One thing that genuinely surprised us was how different the experience was between Android and iPhone.
Livia used an iPhone and had very few problems. Apple Maps worked well, her photo library continued syncing normally and most of her everyday apps behaved exactly as expected.
Sam’s Android phone was a different story.
Because Android relies heavily on Google’s ecosystem, many built-in services struggled. Google Maps wasn’t particularly reliable, Google Photos didn’t sync at all, Google Docs and Google Calendar were inconsistent and uploading photos became frustrating if not impossible.
Oddly enough, Gmail continued to work perfectly well using my physical Thailand AIS SIMcard.
This isn’t really a China problem. It’s more of a Google problem. Once we started using local apps such as WeChat, Alipay, DiDi and Amap, everything became much easier.
That said, if you’re deeply invested in Google’s ecosystem, expect a few more headaches on Android than you would on an iPhone.
Most stores are happy to help you order and pay through your app if you need help.
WeChat and Alipay: The Two Apps You Need
If there’s one thing you should do before arriving in China, it’s setting up WeChat and Alipay.
China is almost entirely cashless.
We arrived in China without any cash, only the apps listed here with our temporary virtual creditcards loaded (more about that later) almost everyone preferred QR code payments.
- Street food vendors.
- Coffee shops.
- Train stations.
- Restaurants.
- Convenience stores.
- Even tiny market stalls.
Everyone seemed to accept WeChat Pay or Alipay.
Alipay
Of the two apps, we found Alipay significantly easier to set up.
Within a few minutes we had linked our card and were ready to start making payments.
Most shops display an Alipay QR code at the checkout. Simply scan the code, confirm the amount and pay.
Easy.
WeChat took a bit more effort.
The setup process felt less intuitive and we encountered a few more verification steps before everything was working properly.
However, once it was set up, it quickly became one of our most-used apps in China.
The biggest advantage wasn’t actually the payments.
It was everything else.
WeChat includes mini-apps, transportation services, messaging features and, most importantly for travellers, built-in translation tools.
We regularly used the translation functions for menus, signs and conversations. It became one of those apps we found ourselves opening multiple times every day.
Meeting up with friends is a breeze with WeChat
Which One Should You Use?
Our recommendation is simple.
Set up both.
Alipay was easier to get started with, while WeChat offered more useful features once we were traveling around the country.
Together they handled virtually every payment we made during our trip.
Amap: (Forget about Google Maps)
Before arriving in China, Sam assumed we’d simply use Google Maps, that lasted about five minutes.
While Google Maps occasionally worked, we found locations inaccurate and directions unreliable.
Instead, download Amap (Gaode Maps).
This is what most locals use, and it provides excellent navigation, public transport information, walking directions and business listings.
Once we switched to Amap, getting around became dramatically easier.
Apple Maps
If you’re traveling with an iPhone, Apple Maps was also surprisingly good.
Livia used it regularly throughout the trip and often preferred it over Amap for everyday navigation.
Either option is significantly better than relying on Google Maps.
DiDi: China’s Version of Uber
One of our biggest concerns before visiting China was transport.
How were we supposed to explain where we wanted to go if we didn’t speak Mandarin?
As it turns out, we didn’t need to, DiDi completely solved the problem.
Think of it as China’s version of Uber.
The easiest way to use it is through WeChat Mini App, which means there’s no need to download another app.
Simply enter your destination, choose your vehicle and confirm the booking.
That’s it.
Instead of trying to communicate addresses or directions, everything is handled through the app.
In many ways, we actually found DiDi easier to use than Uber.
Taxis in China are so luxurious
Trip.com for Trains, Hotels and Experiences
China’s high-speed rail network is incredible. It’s also enormous.
For booking train tickets, we found Trip.com to be by far the easiest platform available in English. We used it throughout our trip to book trains between cities and found it reliable, straightforward and much easier to navigate than trying to use local booking systems.
We also booked most of our accommodation through Trip.com. Because the platform originated in China, it often has a much wider selection of hotels than international booking websites. We consistently found more options, better prices and occasionally a few extra perks that weren’t available elsewhere.
What surprised us most was how useful Trip.com became for booking attractions and experiences as well. We used it to book our visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which saved us the hassle of navigating Chinese-language booking systems. Throughout China, many attractions, day tours and activities can be booked directly through the app, often with English descriptions and straightforward payment options.
If you’re travelling independently through China, Trip.com is one of the most useful apps you can install. By the end of our trip, we were using it for trains, hotels and experiences almost daily.
Booking trains and hotels become so easy
Do You Need a VPN in China?
Maybe, but most likely not.
Using our Livia’s eSIM, and Sam’s foreign Physical Thailand SIMcard we were able to access our email, all apple apps, some google apps and most international services without needing a VPN.
If you’re planning to rely heavily on hotel WiFi, just forget about it, VPN or not , you won’t be able to connect.
If you followed this guide, you will be using mobile data through a foreign SIM or eSIM, so you will find you rarely need one.
The Biggest Surprise About Visiting China
The biggest surprise wasn’t WeChat. It wasn’t Alipay. And it certainly wasn’t the high-speed trains.
It was how quickly everything became normal.
Before arriving, QR code payments, local apps and digital wallets all sounded slightly intimidating.
Within two or three days, however, they had become second nature.
By the end of the trip we were paying for meals, booking taxis, buying train tickets and navigating cities almost entirely through our phones.
In fact, returning home and pulling out a physical bank card again felt strangely old-fashioned.
Bomb shelter hotpot in Chongqing (spot the Beijing bikini in the backgound)
Final Tips Before You Fly
Get a virtual CreditCard
We strongly suggest using a virtual Creditcard that you can delete after you visit to China. We use Wise and the app allows creation of unlimited virtual cards you can assign to different services. There’s no need to carry your wallet, and less risk of your card being compromised. Your virtual card has different details to your physical card, and can be frozen after each purchase. That means it’s a safe, smart and simple way to spend no matter where in the world you are.
Do it before you arrive
Before boarding your flight to China, make sure you’ve:
- Installed WeChat
- Installed Alipay
- Linked your virtual payment cards
- Downloaded Amap
- Installed Trip.com
- Purchased and activated your eSIM
- Tested everything before departure
Trust us, doing this at home is much easier than trying to figure it out after a long-haul flight.
Once you’ve got these apps sorted, traveling around China becomes incredibly straightforward. We arrived expecting a steep learning curve and left wondering what all the fuss was about.
Livia is always happy shopping!