Money & payments
Set up payments the night before. Then learn what is (and is not) expected at the table.
How to Set Up Alipay and WeChat Pay in China With a Foreign Card
You do not need a Chinese bank account for everyday QR payments. Set both apps up at home, link a Visa or Mastercard, and know the 3% fee on single payments over ¥200. Step-by-step, from official visitor guidance.
China essentials · ToolsThe Night-Before Payment and App Checklist for China
A tick-as-you-go list: Alipay, WeChat Pay, your bank, Amap, a data plan, a Chinese address card, and a tiny test payment. Do this at home, while SMS still works.
China · MoneyTipping and Bargaining in China: You Usually Do Not Tip, and You Only Bargain Where It Is Expected
Tipping is not a standard part of dining or taxis in mainland China. Bargaining belongs in markets, not in supermarkets or metro stations. A clear, no-nonsense guide.
China essentials · MoneyCash versus Cards in China: What Leftover Cash Is Still For
Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card will cover most of a tourist day. You still want a little cash and a backup ATM card. Approximate only; we do not invent an ATM-fee table.
Before you go
Visa-free rules, hotel registration, packing, and the weather — what to settle before you fly.
03Connectivity & apps
eSIM, roaming, maps and translation — which apps work, and which usually do not.
04Getting around
Metro, DiDi, high-speed rail, airports and neighbourhoods — how to move, and where to base yourself.
05Eat
Cuisines, how to order, and eating with restrictions — dishes with their Chinese names, no paid rankings.
06See & do
Parks, museums, day trips and nightlife — honest looks, not brochure photography.
07Itineraries
First days, three-day plans, and side trips to Guangzhou, Macau or the coast.
08Budget
Approximate daily costs, in 2026 bands, to be tightened after we pay them ourselves.
09Honest tips & scams
Etiquette, the scams that actually happen, travelling solo or with children, and accessibility.
10Safety & emergencies
110, 119, 120, 122, hospitals, and what to do if a passport goes missing.