As I only went to China for a short stopover, I wasn´t bothered to much on getting prepared. But thanks to some great advice of a friend I did do a few things. Looking back now, I am really happy I did so, as without having them my life would have been a lot harder.
So here my recommendations:
– install Alipay or WeChat https://global.alipay.com
– install Amaps https://www.amap.com
– get an eSIM for China and HongKong for example: https://esim.holafly.com
To be able to pay in China you will need to install Alipay or WeChat. Both of them will do. If you check online, you will find that they actually recommend to install both. I decided to only install one, as I would´t be in China for long. Alipay was perfectly fine for me. As an alternative I was told, cash would work too, but that it sometimes would be hard for people to give you back the change.
Only to get away from the Airport early in the morning, I needed my Alipay App to pay for the Subway. It really made my life a lot easier. The same for all the little shops and places where I would have a drink or so. It was either scanning there QR-Code or letting them scan my code. Very easy and definitely something you need while travelling China. The App itself offers far more. You can order food, taxis or whatever you need. Of course there is an English version except from the Chinese one.
Also a very helpful tool is installing Amap Global as Google maps won´t work while relying on WIFI and internet access through the Chinese network. Finding places with Amap makes it easier. Also for the Chinese if they want to help you getting from A to B as the map works both ways with Chinese and other languages.
Travelling in the past before the internet era, was very much about orientation yourself through buildings, nature, signs and go on so. As I am “old-school” and like to offline most of the time, I only use Amap if necessary. It was interested that the day of arrival while using the app, it took me 10 minutes longer to get to the place I was going to! Two days later, when I already knew more or less, where I was going only by orientating myself due to buildings etc…. I was much faster. Little streets weren´t apparently not reconized as such on the Amap App!
I got myself at home before flying out an eSIM card from Holafly. There are plenty of different companies who offer good eSIM cards. Important is to take one including HongKong if you want your WhatsApp, Facebook etc. to still work. As the Chinese Government will block some pages, just counting on WLAN/WIFI of having a Chinese eSIM wouldn´t be enough for you. As HongKong is a different story… having an eSIM card including HongKong you will have excess to these pages.
