Getting by in China
Where China trips you up
Payments, visa-free transit, real-name booking and cash work the same everywhere. Each answer leads with a verdict, then its sources and the date we last checked.
Payment
- Yes
Can I link my foreign card to Alipay and WeChat Pay?
Yes. Both take Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and Diners, your bank may still refuse. Amex: WeChat yes, Alipay partly.Before you leaveAlipayWeChat Pay - Depends
What are the fees and limits on a foreign card in Alipay / WeChat Pay?
Free up to ¥200, then 3%. Official cap US$5,000 per payment; WeChat's help page says ¥6,500, and your card may be lower.Before you leaveAlipayWeChat Pay - Depends
Do I still need cash in China, and how do I get it?
Bring a few hundred yuan in small notes. Refusing cash is illegal since Feb 2026, but a stall still can't change a ¥100.On arrival - Depends
Where might Alipay or WeChat Pay fail with a linked foreign card?
Merchant QR codes usually work. Paying a person, red packets, top-ups and some mini-programs or transit codes don't.While you're thereAlipayWeChat PayNihao China - Depends
How does the departure tax refund work, and where can I claim it?
Spend ¥200 in one refund shop in a day and leave within 90 days: about 11% back, at the port or right in the store.While you're there
Connectivity
- Depends
Do I have to install my China travel eSIM before I leave home?
Install it before you leave. Inside the mainland it depends on phone and vendor: sites often blocked, some phones can't.Before you leaveAiraloNomadHolafly - Depends
Will Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work on a travel eSIM in China?
Depends how the plan routes traffic: a travel eSIM bought abroad usually works, hotel Wi-Fi and a local SIM don't.Before you leaveAiraloNomadHolafly - Depends
Can I just roam with my home carrier in China?
Travellers say Google and WhatsApp work on roaming, but no carrier promises it and US$12 a day adds up. Ask yours.Before you leave - Depends
Do I need a VPN in China, and which ones still work?
Needed for hotel Wi-Fi, a local SIM or a long stay. Install two at home; none is guaranteed and 2026 has been rough.Before you leaveAstrillSurfsharkProton VPN - Depends
Should I buy a local SIM at the airport instead of a travel eSIM?
Only if you need a +86 number for Chinese apps. Passport at a carrier's own store, and the internet is filtered.On arrival
Transport
- Depends
Do I qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit, and which airports and ports can I enter through?
57 nationalities, with an onward ticket. The main airports in our eight cities qualify; Shenzhen's land crossings don't.Before you leaveNIA 12367 - Yes
Can I use DiDi without a Chinese phone number?
Yes. The mainland DiDi app accepts a foreign number and card, or call a ride from the DiDi mini-app inside Alipay.Before you leaveDiDiAlipay - Yes
How do I take a high-speed train in China with a foreign passport?
Book with your passport on Railway 12306. Bring that same passport and use the staffed gate when directed.Before you leaveRailway 12306 - Depends
How do I pay for and ride the metro in China?
Buy a single ticket or use an Alipay metro code. Overseas cards work at some gates, including Beijing.On arrivalAlipay - Depends
What is the easiest way from a Chinese airport into the city?
Compare rail and airport bus with your destination. For a car, use the signed taxi queue or the app's pickup zone.On arrivalDiDiAlipay
Booking
- Depends
Do Shanghai museums still need a reservation, and can I book on a foreign passport?
Big museums are walk-in again. Where you still book, official channels take passports; WeChat-only venues are the catch.Before you leave - Depends
Can I use a foreign passport when a sight requires “real-name booking”?
Most big sites accept a passport through official channels. Some make you swap at a window; some only mention ID cards.Before you leaveWeChatTrip.com
Gear
- Depends
Can I bring my power bank on flights inside China?
Domestic flights require a clear 3C mark, which most foreign banks lack. International legs: under 100 Wh, checks vary.Before you leave
Sights
- Depends
When do the Bund and Lujiazui lights come on, and when do they go off?
Every night, no official timetable. Roughly 19:00-23:00 in summer, 18:00-22:00 in winter, later on holidays.While you're there - Depends
Can I walk into Shanghai's lane-house neighbourhoods, and how do I not be a nuisance?
Yes, where the gate is open. It is someone's front yard, not a sight: camera down, voice low, out before dark.While you're there - No
Can I hire a guide inside Shanghai's museums, or buy a third-party 'with guide' ticket?
Not inside. The three big sites ban paid outside guides; use their free scheduled tours and audio guides instead.While you're there - Depends
Which Shanghai dishes hide lard or dried shrimp if I'm vegetarian, avoid pork or have a shellfish allergy?
Lard and dried shrimp never make it onto the menu. Ask two questions before you order; plain-looking is no guarantee.While you're there