2024-12-07
The complex matrix rules of who can pay from what, where, to whom
and for how much, keep changing, use this article as a guide.
Equipment needed
-Primary phone: Need cell phone with eSIM capability. Dial
*#06#, eSIM capable phone will show a 32-digit long EID number.
If your phone is eSIM capable, install Airalo app and
purchase an Airalo China data-only eSIM before travel. See this
link.
You need mobile/cellular data constantly for shopping, restaurant,
ride hailing, paying for taxi, taking metro ride, buying food,
using voice/camera for translation, using maps, etc.
-Auxiliary phone that has 4G LTE Band3 1800 MHz (or 5G Band
78 for newer phones, e.g. Pixel 5a). An old phone (with 4G LTE)
will generally suffice.
Order a prepaid physical SIM card from https://www.3gsolutions.com.cn/
with local (Chinese) phone number. 3G Solutions accepts PayPal
only. A 30 Day SIM card with a Chinese phone number and 100 texts
costs $33.50
The auxiliary phone is used to receive SMS/texts on a
Chinese phone number. SMS is often needed for booking tourist
attractions, ordering food, using free WiFi on high speed trains,
etc. Major international airports in China has upgraded their
authentication system so that they can send SMS to a "overseas"
number (not just China) to authenticate user, or use a passport
scanner at kiosk.
Download and install 7 essential apps on your primary phone
Alipay - register using passport and link a Credit Card. WeChat - register using passport and link a Credit Card. DiDi Ride Hailing in China - Register using your mobile
phone number and link a credit card just like Uber.
At home, using a browser, go to https://www.12306.cn/en to
create an account using your email and passport information.
Gmail is blocked in China, therefore it is better to use
outlook.com or other non-blocked email address. If necessary,
Gmail can be used because outbound Gmail sent by major entity like
China Railway can bypass the firewall. Individual Gmail cannot
bypass unless you play the cat and mouse game of using VPN. 12306 China Rail app. Trip.com: The Swiss army knife for travel bookings in
China. Translator: Apple Translate (iPhone), Google Translate
(Android) or Microsoft Translator (iOS and Android). Mobile map: Gaode Map 高德地图 (best) if you can handle some
Chinese pinyin. Next, Apple Map but the quality of data on Apple
Map is mediocre. Google Map is blocked (unless you use Airalo eSIM
or other firewall bypass VPN) but even than, Google has left China
for over 14 years, the content on Google Map is badly out dated.
What are these apps for
Alipay - mobile payments in China. Optional "real name
registration" using passport data and selfies will increase the
spending ceiling. WeChat - chat (like WhatsApp) and mobile payments in
China. Optional "real name registration" using passport data and
selfies will increase spending ceiling. DiDi - ride hailing (Uber's equivalent in China). 12306 - book China Railway's high speed train tickets for
inter-city travels, e.g. Fuxing CR400AF traveling between Beijing
and Shanghai can cruise at 350 km/h. You can also use trip.com to
book ticket. Trip.com - English-friendly online tour company that can
book hotels, flights, trains, attractions. Translator - its use is obvious: you can speak, text or use
the camera for bidirectional translations. Mobile map - handy for keeping track or knowing your
location while traveling.
Optional - add fund to your WeChat/Alipay wallet/balance
If you have relatives or trusted friends from China, they can
transfer money to your AliPay/WeChat Wallet in person using QR
Code.
WeChat can transfer money between "WeChat friends" using Chats,
"+" button, "Transfer". The personal-wallet to personal-wallet
transfer is allowed between friends up to some limits.
Mobile payments using balance from personal-wallet avoid credit
card's foreign transaction fee and unfavorable bank exchange rate.
It waives the 3% service fee charged by WeChat/Alipay using credit
card over 300 ¥. Total savings could be about 8%.
If you don't have rich relatives hence your wallet is zero, your
Alipay/WeChat can draw funds from your linked credit card to pay
merchants in China.
Most foreign tourists (shown on YouTube) use this payment method
for convenience.
There are two modes of mobile payment
(1) You scan me
(2) I scan you.
Observe what others do. There are YouTube videos on how to
use mobile payments in China.
Mobile payment (Visa/MasterCard linked) may not be
universally accepted in China.
Some rural merchants still can't accept
WeChat/Alipay-Visa/MasterCard payment scheme. These issues are
more pronounced in areas with few tourists. However, increased
tourism from Hong Kong and Taiwan to these areas could accelerate
wider acceptance of WeChat/Alipay-Visa/MasterCard payment scheme.
Carry adequate cash in case
the mobile payment scheme fails.
How to
Book domestic flights
use trip.com
Book high speed trains tickets use trip.com or
12306, booking opens 14 days in advance of travel. Popular
routes fill up quickly so plan ahead to avoid disappointment.
After the ticket is booked, you receive a QR Code, on the
day of your travel, arrive at the correct station very early.
Shenzhen has 5 stations, Shanghai has 4 stations, Beijing has 5
stations, etc. Find the "passport holders"
line and have your passport verified by a staff. Your train ticket
is linked to your passport.
Metro rides WeChat - "Me", "Pay and Services', "Travel Service", select
city from drop down (use Pinyin, e.g. Beijing), tap green icon
that looks like "G", next you are in "Service Provider" page,
select city from drop down (again), a QR code appears (if this is
the first time you are in that city, "Go to activate", select
payment method). Present the QR code to the metro
turnstile scanner to enter and exit. Alipay - At the top left corner of main screen, select city
you are in. Type "metro" in the search box. Tap the subway icon
(if this is the first time you are in that city, tap the Get Now
icon), a QR code appears. Present the QR code to the metro
turnstile scanner to enter and exit.
You can use cash (yes, cash) to buy metro ticket from
ticketing machines. These machines accept small denominations. You
may even find a ticket booth with a human inside.
Taxi
Taxi are found at airports and train stations. They accept cash
but generally do not have cash for any change. Use your Alipay or
WeChat to scan the taxi's payment QR Code. You cannot flag
a taxi, as many that appear vacant are actually pre-booked via
DiDi. I tested WeChat payment by scanning a taxi's QR Code and
paid using linked Visa card.
Ride hailing
Outside of airports and train stations, DiDi is probably
the only way to hail a ride. When the ride shows up, the driver needs
the last 4 digits of your phone number (the phone number you used
to register the DiDi app) before he allows you to enter his
vehicle. For example, if the last 4 digits of your phone number is
2347, use a translator app to talk to the DiDi driver.
Hotels
If you book a hotel using trip.com and prepay using Credit
Card on file, you can avoid the payment hassle at check out.
Hotels in China may accept Visa or MasterCard, if not, try Alipay,
select "Pay using Credit Card" option. It is helpful to visualize
Alipay is a credit card with a QR code instead of
magstripe/EMV/NFC. You can also use WeChat Pay but most foreigners
found Alipay is a bit more English friendly.
Restaurants On restaurant table, there is a QR code, open WeChat or AliPay
and scan the QR code to launch the menu. Select dishes and
pay using WeChat or Alipay, the food will be delivered to you by a
server or a robot.
Gift shops and Food stands Typically there is a QR code posted on the stand. Use WeChat
Pay or Alipay and scan the QR code, type in the amount to
pay the merchant, the merchant will receive a confirmation on
their mobile phone and give you the items or food.
Tourist attractions, theme parks, entertainment
You can use trip.com or a Mini-app inside
WeChat/Alipay to pre-book attractions. Major attractions during
peak seasons require 1 to 7 days advance mobile booking. Many
attractions do not sell tickets at the entrance. The entrance is
used to check passport and scan the QR code of pre-book
tickets.
Modern China has transformed from a cash society to a cashless
and QR code centric society.
Carry adequate cash in case
the mobile payment scheme fails.
Note:
Merchants are required by law to accept RMB cash, but many don't
have any cash to give you change. Many will simply refuse service
or refuse selling you goods if you use cash.