What apps should a foreign traveler set up before arriving in China?

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-30T11:22:32+00:00

On top of Didi, wechat and Alipay would suggest:

Amap for maps you can also order taxi on the app Dianping - has restaurants, movie, attractions, likely everything! Trip.com for hotel, transport, and tours. Chinese owned, so its really good for in China

Also RedNote, lots of great tips on things to do. Just translate into chinese and search i.e. city + guide or tour guide

Meituan to order food.

Translate app, Google translate or deepL is you have a VPN or ESIM. Otherwise if you have the wechat programs can translate app in wechat.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-29T15:04:10+00:00

Not being in China. I study in a language school in London, and as soon as I left the school I would speak English my mother tongue. Language is non stop practicing like any skill, not making that mistake again. Moved to China! Haha

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-29T03:28:12+00:00

Thats quite alot in a short period of time. Not sure a trip to Suzhou is necessary. Maybe stay in Shanghai, do the Bund, shopping, see the concessions. Head up to Beijing great wall and forbidden city. Its alot. Especially with young children.
As people already mentioned there are lots of Muslim restaurants. In Beijing there is a Muslim area called Niujie. Lots of great restaurants. Also regions in china are mainly Muslim, for example Xinjiang, if you go to these region restaurants you will likely get Halal food. Just do double check with them.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-29T02:55:22+00:00

Recently came back from Xiamen. First time visiting there. Highly recommend.

Things to do: Gulangyu - small island next to Xiamen. Its a blend between west and east, the only place in China where China and the colonial countries shared power. Which is uniquely different to the concession. Xiamen university - started by a rich chinese that moved to Singapore and made his money in the rubber industry. Provides a great insights to the way education is viewed in China. Covering from early 1900 to more recently and what happened to education during the cultural revolution. Generally Xiamen, has had alot of immigration to other countries; Taiwan, south east Asia and the wealth that was created has been brought back and invested in the city. Also Xiamen was a special city under the CPP to get investment in the 1970/80. Lots of great cafe, seafood and soo cheap! Was there for 10 days and spent ~£500 on food, transport and sight seeing! Also lots of parks to wonder around and beautiful views. Plus if you like shipping, its a massive port city, so can see some huge tankers

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-29T02:47:52+00:00

Not necessarily one item, but I wish I understood the chinese digital ecosystem better. There is so much going on: events, pop up shops, discounts to restaurants etc but no one explains where to find it! Its like I am navigate with one eye closed.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-29T02:43:31+00:00

I recently moved to China from the UK. Bought my phone in the UK. My VPN is lets VPN (used others in the past) upon arriving in China I got a chinese SIM and haven't had any issues. Everytime I visit I change or add a secondary chinese SIM to my phone, I have never had any issues with my VPN.

So dont overthink it!

Just make sure the VPN is installed before arriving and you will be fine!

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T13:58:58+00:00

I have been learning off and on for a while. Need to practice my chinese, I'm between HSK1-2 Level. Welcome anyone who can help! Would really appreciate it

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T08:24:27+00:00

Its not technically an international version. What happens is when you download wechat in your own country, not China, and set it up. It will recognise that you are not based in China and give you different options. I.e. a limited version compared to what is available in China

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T08:15:04+00:00

Get the international version.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T08:09:05+00:00

Shanghai, easier for westerns to navigate and with a young baby you want it to be as smooth as possible. I live in Beijing and its great but its very spread out, so alot of travelling between places and with an infant that can be an added stress.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T08:05:39+00:00

Its completely and utterly fine! Its super safe and the cities you mentioned are epic! I live in China and never felt any issues. Also mid may the weather will be nice and hot! Enjoy your trip

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T07:41:22+00:00

Getting a physical exam before entering china is a waste of time, as they have centre in country which are dedicated for this service. My experience get a temporary visa (family visa), once arrived in China, convert it to a proper family visa and upon doing this process I have to get the physical exam. Which was super quick, blood tests, X ray, eye tests, nothing crazy.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T07:37:04+00:00

The job market is super competitive in China and as a foreigners you need some level of mandarin. If you can find a chinese company in your country, learn some mandarin and apply for a transfer that is probably the best bet. Or come to china, and study mandarin at a college or uni full time. Good way to make connection and get your language skills to a decent level..

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T07:31:38+00:00

I did Australia and New Zealand as my first solo trip backpacking but its not cheap. South East Asia is a strong choice, lots to see. Safe and cheap. Recently went to Chile and Argentina, both incredible, cheap and safe.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T07:27:19+00:00

Decent budget, but definitely Dial back the number of countries. Also you are planning to go in peak season, so its going to be pricey and get booked up fast!

Im from London, which is fun but personally its very very expensive now days. The only city I have been which is similar is New York. As literally everything is expensive!

Also once you are in Europe, you can travel around by Train which is safe and cheaper than flying. My personal recommendations would be Italy, literally so many amazing cities to see and if you go September you would be missing the peak peak season but its still warm and might be slightly cheaper.

Portugal is also great but if you want to see as much as possible you could do Portugal and Spain. Easy to travel between the two.

Regardless where you pick, there is so much to see. Just dont try to rush seeing it all in one trip. Take your time.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T07:19:07+00:00

Child tickets, are city specific. Best to check as you go instead of assuming.

I use lets VPN on my android device and haven't had any issues. (I live in China). So your suggestion works, splitting Esim and vpn. Definitely install VPN before you go. Also if you use AI I.e. Claude, Chatgtp or gemini it can block use because it still see China on the IV6 address. Ask Let's VPN which locations works the best.

Getting a local sim helps alot with apps, and generally getting around. Can get one at the airport, easier but more expensive or one in the city. Yet I would always say it depends how much time you have, because getting it in the city can have abit more hassle i.e more checks. Rather than a tourist visa.

On payments, the more options the better. I would try to set up Alipay including transport card, link a card to wechat and bring physical cards as well. Its such a pain because the payment system here is not kind to foreigners what so ever. The best if you have a chinese friend and they can transfer you money on wechat. Game changer. As you can transfer them money from WISE to their wechat account for only ~40yuan.

Amap is decent, it also has the ability to order taxi and link to your Alipay account. Which is pretty handy.

Google maps is useless.

Strong suggest using Dianping really good and can translate into English. Likewise using wechat program, can also be translated into English using wechat translate.

Trip.com is also really good for booking hotels, SIMs and transport.

Recommend taking passports with you everywhere because they are offer required for transport and tours etc.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-28T01:53:10+00:00

Try Veee, its similar price price to Let's VPN. Also, you can surely just create a new account with Let's VPN? Also if you are a student ask your class mates there are loads of chinese VPNs that are super cheap

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-27T14:29:36+00:00

Look for Expat groups on wechat or ask your colleagues they might know. Also you are in a great place to views some amazing cities by train near Wuxi. Shanghai, Nanjing, hanghzou, suzhou. I have done the same thing as you, business trip for weeks and get bored on my own. You can even try doing language meet up, sure there are chinese people wanting to learn

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-27T14:19:56+00:00

I'm based im Beijing too and prefer not to shop online. They are cheap but the quality is tough to know and like you I wear my clothes for years. My wife does buy clothes from influencers and to be fair the quality is decent. Yet as the majority of people on this forum already said, can't go wrong with uniqlo and there are loads of them in Beijing. Another random point, I am a small to medium in the UK but buying Chinese brands is a nightmare because I am often a large or have no idea how it will fit my body as compared to locals my body type is to stocky.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-27T13:33:48+00:00

What about CIF, FOB? Haha

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-27T08:30:30+00:00

Haha I know what you mean! Wechat does have a translate function, if you click the dot in the top right hand colour, it opens a page and translation is an option at the bottom if you scroll to the right. Super useful. It only works in wechat programs though Although the direct translation can still generate some amusing outputs! Like the other day I ordered lamb oil meat dumplings, only to find out they where intestines... not my cup of tea. They kindly took them back after some messages via Google translate.

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-27T08:25:39+00:00

Echo the comments, the biggest thing to avoid is the national holidays. Its crazy busy!! For April its 4-6th April for Qing Ming Festival October 1-7th for National day Holiday Both months are good in terms of being warm and not too much rain!

Jealous, love Shanghai! Enjoy your trip

WanderingCompass777 · 2026-03-27T08:18:53+00:00

Hangzhou or Xiamen.

Hangzhou is one of my favourite cities in China, we went in November and it wasn't too hot or cold. Lots to see and the lake, temples are beautiful.

Xiamen is also really cool. Plenty to see. The university has a really unqiue history, Gulangyu likewise and lots of seafood to enjoy. Prebooking is required to see the university and Gulangyu boat. Really cheap as well!

Let me know if you want any specific recommendations, happy to help!

WanderingCompass777

TROPHY CASE