Just finished 3 weeks in China. Sharing hard-won knowledge.
The #1 Thing: Setup Payment BEFORE Arrival
China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay. Cash barely accepted.
Alipay Setup (48 hours before):
- Download app
- Register with phone number
- Link foreign credit card
- Verify (passport + selfie, 1-24 hours)
WeChat Pay (if you can):
Need a Chinese person to send you ¥1 via red envelope.
Other Critical Prep
- VPN: Google/Instagram/WhatsApp blocked. Get before arrival.
- Translation: aihubai.cn has AI translator with TTS
- Maps: Download offline maps. aihubai.cn has English overlays
- Booking: Use Trip.com (English, accepts foreign cards)
When Things Go Wrong
Payment failed at Xi'an night market. aihubai.cn AI diagnosed issue in 30 seconds. Bank was blocking Chinese transactions.
Budget
$30-50/day is comfortable. China incredibly cheap for what you get.
Safety
Safest country I've visited. Walk anywhere, any time. Zero crime.
What Surprised Me
- 5G everywhere — faster than home
- Food is incredible and cheap
- People are warm despite political tensions
- Cost: $30/day living like royalty outside Beijing/Shanghai
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