China: a Visitor's Survival Guide
AUTHOR EXPERIENCE
Before our recent visit to China we were concerned about three things: paying for things, getting online and navigating independently. In practice, once Alipay, an eSIM and a maps app were set up, travelling around China proved far easier than expected.
Updated: 2026
First hand experience
Perspective: Independent Traveller
payments:
Ali Pay
back up payment method:
WeChat Pay
connectivity:
China eSIM
Backup connectivity
VPN
navigation:
Amap
ride-hailing:
DiDi
Before you fly
Set up a few essential apps and services before departure to avoid frustration after you land.
Paying for things
Alipay / WeChat Pay, linking foreign cards and navigating China’s cashless economy.
Getting online
Stay connected with eSIMs, VPNs and practical ways to work around the Great Firewall.
Must-Have Apps
The essential apps for payments, transport, translation and everyday travel in China.
Getting Around
Maps, ride-hailing, metro systems and high-speed rail for travelling independently.
Practical Notes
Additional tips on cash, tax refunds, registration and power adapters.
Start Here
1. Before you fly: Checklist
Do these at home, on your own app store and home internet, before you board:
☐ Install Alipay (the international version) and complete passport verification
☐ Link your foreign Visa, Mastercard or Amex card to Alipay
☐ Install WeChat and set up WeChat Pay as a backup
☐ Buy and install a China eSIM (set to activate on arrival)
☐ Install a reputable VPN as a backup for getting online
☐ Install a maps app that works in China (Amap/Gaode or Baidu), or download offline maps
☐ Make sure you have a working home phone number that can receive SMS codes
☐ Carry a little RMB cash as a fallback
That’s the whole survival kit. Everything else is detail.
2. Paying for things
China is effectively a cashless society — QR-code payments are used for everything from street stalls and taxis to temples and metro gates. The good news for visitors is that this is now genuinely easy.
Since late 2023, both Alipay and WeChat Pay officially accept international Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards. You link your existing bank card inside the app, verify your identity with your passport and a selfie, and then pay exactly as locals do — by scanning a code or showing yours. Setup takes ten to fifteen minutes.
A few things worth knowing:
- Set up and verify before you arrive. This is the one step people get wrong. Do it at home, on your own app store — downloads and verification are unreliable inside China.
- Alipay first, WeChat second. For most first-time visitors Alipay is the easier of the two to set up with a foreign card; keep WeChat Pay as a backup, as a few merchants lean on it.
- You don’t need a Chinese bank account or phone number — a foreign card and a home mobile number that can receive an SMS code are enough.
- Spending limits. International cards typically have a daily limit of around ¥6,500 (roughly US$900) through the apps, which covers most day-to-day spending; put larger purchases and hotels on your card directly.
- Cash is a backup, not a plan. It’s legal, but many vendors genuinely can’t make change, so carry a little for emergencies rather than relying on it.
3. Getting online (the Great Firewall)
China blocks most of the services you use daily — Google (including Gmail and Maps), WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube among them. To stay connected, you need to prepare before you land. There are two approaches, and the smart move is to have both.
A China eSIM — the primary solution. This is increasingly the easiest answer. Providers such as Holafly, Airalo and Nomad sell “mainland China” data plans that route your connection through Hong Kong or Singapore, which means you bypass the firewall automatically — your familiar apps simply work the moment you land, with no fiddling. Download and install the eSIM profile before you fly.
A VPN — your backup. A reputable VPN, installed and tested before you arrive (app stores are unreliable inside China), is the traditional method and a sensible fallback if your eSIM has problems. Even many locals quietly rely on one.
Between an eSIM and a VPN as backup, you’ll stay connected to everything you need — and to your maps, which matters more than you’d think.
4. Must-Have Apps
If you install nothing else, install these:
- Alipay — payments, plus DiDi and metro within it (your single most important app)
- WeChat — messaging and backup payments
- A China eSIM app — for getting online (plus a VPN as backup)
- Amap (Gaode) or Baidu Maps — navigation
- DiDi — ride-hailing
- A translation app – Google Translate (with VPN/eSIM) or Baidu Translate
5. Getting around
Maps. Google Maps doesn’t work reliably in China. Locals use Amap (Gaode Maps) or Baidu Maps for real-time navigation, metro and bus routes — Amap has the more usable English support of the two. With an eSIM routing around the firewall, Google Maps may work, but a local app is the dependable choice.
Ride-hailing. DiDi is China’s Uber, and the simplest way to get a taxi without speaking Mandarin — you can run it in English (often via a mini-program inside Alipay), enter your destination, and pay automatically. No haggling, no language barrier.
Public transport. City metros and buses accept Alipay/WeChat QR codes directly, so you rarely need separate tickets or cards. For travel between cities, China’s superb high-speed rail can be booked through Trip.com or within Alipay; book a day or two ahead for popular routes.
Translation. Google Translate works with your eSIM or VPN; Baidu Translate works natively, and Alipay includes a handy translate mini-program. The camera-translate function — pointing your phone at a menu or sign — is the one you’ll use most.
6. A few other practical notes
- Cash and ATMs. ATMs do accept foreign cards — tell your bank you’re travelling first. Exchange any cash at banks rather than the airport for better rates.
- Tax refunds. Spend over ¥500 at a store displaying a “Tax-Free” sign, keep the receipts, and get the forms stamped at customs before departure.
- Registration. Hotels register foreign guests with the local police automatically. If you stay in private accommodation, you’re expected to register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival.
- Power. China uses 220V; sockets commonly take Type A and Type I plugs, so bring a universal adapter.
A final word
China rewards preparation more than almost any destination — but the preparation is genuinely quick. Spend half an hour at home setting up Alipay, an eSIM, a VPN and a maps app, carry a little cash, and you arrive ready to pay, navigate and stay connected from the moment you land. Done in advance, the “Great Firewall” and the cashless economy stop being obstacles and become part of what makes China such a smooth place to travel.
You may also like
Visiting China: the full country guide, including visa-free entry
Visiting China: when to go, regions and highlights
China Travel Logistics: FAQs
Can foreigners use Alipay and WeChat Pay in China?
Yes. Since late 2023 both apps accept international Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards. Link your card and verify your passport in the app before you arrive, and you can pay by QR code just as locals do. Alipay is usually the easier of the two to set up.
Do I need a Chinese bank account or phone number to pay in China?
No. A foreign credit or debit card and a working home mobile number that can receive an SMS code are enough to set up Alipay or WeChat Pay. You don't need a Chinese bank account or SIM card.
Will Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work in China?
Not by default — they're blocked by the "Great Firewall." The easiest fix is a China eSIM that routes your data through Hong Kong or Singapore, so your usual apps work automatically. Install a VPN before you fly as a backup, since app stores are unreliable inside China.
How do I get around China without Google Maps?
Use a local maps app — Amap (Gaode) or Baidu — which locals rely on for navigation and transport. For taxis, DiDi works in English and pays through Alipay, while metros and buses accept Alipay and WeChat QR codes directly.
Is cash still accepted in China?
Legally yes, but practically it's difficult — many vendors can't make change, and mobile payment dominates everywhere. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay as your main method and carry only a little cash as a backup.
What should I set up before flying to China?
Before you leave home: install and verify Alipay (and link your card), install WeChat as a backup, buy a China eSIM, install a VPN as a fallback, add a local maps app such as Amap, and make sure your phone can receive SMS codes. Setting up at home is the key step, as it's far harder once you're behind the firewall.