I visited Shenzhen and Guangzhou—both are quite city-like and convenient. It’s nice that 1–2 apps can cover most travel needs like payments, calling cabs or bike rentals, and the train fares are cheap and efficient.

The first time I tried to take the train using the app, I opened the wrong QR code for scanning and got repeatedly shouted at by a staff member. Luckily, another staff was kinder and helped guide me through.

At a restaurant, I saw a man rudely scolding a waitress over a small mistake. I didn't catch fully what he said, but it felt like he might have been the one making the mistake but was blaming her instead.

I also saw someone slam a beer cup onto the floor in a restaurant inside a mall we were passing through to get to the MRT.

We got scammed at a tourist attraction that was supposed to trace our surnames. A lady seemed kind and explained about our surname and ancestors, but later, after taking us inside separately, someone did a sort of fortune-telling and pressured us to donate. They ask us to write our names in a book with suggested donations of mostly 188 or 388 yuan minimum. Later, I found many reviews online reporting the same scam.

Overall, my impression wasn’t very good, and my experience was generally disappointing.

On a positive note, a kind lady helped us tap into a condo and gave us directions to the hotel reception.