Connectivity & apps
Install what you need at home. Hotel Wi-Fi is not a plan.
Staying Connected in China: eSIM, Roaming, and Which Apps Actually Work
On mainland networks and hotel Wi-Fi, many familiar Google and social apps are restricted. An international roaming eSIM often reaches them on cellular data — hotel Wi-Fi usually does not. How to plan, without a product pitch.
China essentials · InternetMaps and Translation in China: Why Amap Beats Google Maps
Google Maps is a poor primary map inside China, even when it opens. Install Amap (高德地图), save Chinese addresses, and pack an offline translation pack. How to set it up, and how to show a driver the characters.
China essentials · ConnectivityA Chinese SIM, or an eSIM? An Honest Comparison for Visitors
A practical comparison of buying a Chinese SIM after you land versus installing an eSIM before you fly. Passport registration, what actually works, and no product ranking.
China essentials · ConnectivityWeChat Mini-Programs Foreigners Can Actually Use — and the Many That Will Say No
After WeChat and WeChat Pay are set up, some mini-programs work for a foreign passport holder. Many still demand a Chinese national ID and fail. Honest limits, not a ranked app store.
China essentials · ConnectivityCan You Use Google, WhatsApp and Instagram in China? Usually Not — Here Is the Practical Picture
On a mainland China connection, Google, WhatsApp and Instagram often do not work as usual. An eSIM is a data plan, not a loophole. What to use instead, and what this site will not recommend.
China essentials · AppsCan Foreigners Use DiDi, Meituan, Dianping and Taobao? DiDi Often; the Others, Don’t Count On It
DiDi often works once WeChat Pay or Alipay is set up. Meituan, Dianping and Taobao typically want a Chinese number and often a mainland ID. We will not invent a tourist workaround.
Before you go
Visa-free rules, hotel registration, packing, and the weather — what to settle before you fly.
02Money & payments
Alipay, WeChat Pay, cash, fees, tipping and bargaining — how money actually moves.
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.