gogo-china

Get set up in 3 steps

Land in China ready to go

Do these in order — each step needs the one before it. Your ticks are saved on this device.

0 of 3 steps

Step 0 — Install everything at home

Do this before you fly — Google Play and most VPN websites don’t work in mainland China.

  • Keep your home SIM active for SMS codes — Alipay, banks and WeChat often text a code the first time you log in.

Draft — verification pending

Step 1 — Get online

Must be done first — every other step needs data.

Must — pick one

  • Travel eSIM (e.g. Airalo, Holafly, Trip.com eSIM)Check current options

    Mobile data that exits via Hong Kong or Singapore, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram just work — no VPN needed.

    💡 Check your phone is eSIM-capable and carrier-unlocked. Install before you fly; switch it on when you land.

    Website

  • VPN (e.g. ExpressVPN, Astrill)Check current options

    Needed if you use hotel Wi-Fi or a Chinese SIM and still want Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube.

    💡 VPN websites are blocked in China — subscribe and download at home. VPNs are not always stable; keep a second one as backup.

  • iMessage and FaceTime usually work without a VPN. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube and most Western news sites do not.

Draft — verification pending

Step 2 — Set up payments

China runs on QR codes. Cash works but many small places prefer not to deal with change.

Must have

  • Alipay 支付宝

    Your main wallet. Also a “super app” with taxis (DiDi), shared bikes, metro QR codes and menu translation built in.

    💡 Link a Visa or Mastercard, complete passport verification and do a small test payment before you fly. Payments over ¥200 may carry a 3% fee for foreign cards.

    App StoreGoogle Play

  • WeChat (incl. WeChat Pay) 微信

    Messaging + payments. People will ask for your WeChat, and some museums and sights can only be booked via WeChat mini-programs.

    💡 New accounts sometimes need an existing user to scan a code to verify you — ask a friend or your hotel.

    App StoreGoogle Play

Optional

  • Visitor wallets (UnionPay “Nihao China”, WeChat “TenPay Go”)Check current options

    Newer wallets aimed at foreign visitors — handy as a backup if Alipay or WeChat Pay won’t accept your card.

    💡 Check current availability for your card and country before relying on these.

  • Keep some cash anyway — rural areas, older vendors and taxis at night occasionally ask for it.

Draft — verification pending

Step 3 — Get around

Maps, taxis, metro and train tickets.

Must have

  • Amap (English version) 高德地图

    The most accurate navigation in China, with walking, metro and bus directions. Google Maps is unreliable here.

    💡 Search in Chinese for best results — copy the Chinese name from our place pages.

    App StoreGoogle Play

  • DiDi 滴滴出行

    Ride-hailing with an English interface; also available as a mini-program inside Alipay.

    💡 When the car arrives, the driver will ask for the last four digits of your phone number to confirm.

    App StoreGoogle Play

  • Metro QR code (inside Alipay / WeChat)

    Tap-in by QR code on the metro in most big cities — no separate app needed.

    💡 Enter and exit with the SAME app. Switching between Alipay and WeChat mid-journey causes a failed exit.

  • Trip.com

    Book high-speed trains, flights, hotels and attraction tickets in English with a foreign card.

    💡 Train tickets carry a small service fee; worth it for the English interface.

    App StoreGoogle Play

Recommended

  • China Railway 12306 铁路12306

    The official train ticket app: English interface, no service fee.

    💡 Registration needs your passport and can take a day to verify — do it before you travel.

    App Store

  • Shared bikes (Hello Bike etc., inside Alipay)

    Scan a bike with Alipay — no separate download.

iPhone backup

  • Apple Maps

    Works in China with no VPN (it uses Amap data). Familiar interface, English labels.

Draft — verification pending

Bonus: really useful on the road

Not required, but you’ll be glad you have them.

Recommended

  • Apple Translate / Google Translate

    Photo-translate menus and signs; conversation mode for shops and taxis.

    💡 Download the offline Chinese pack before you go. Alipay’s scan-to-order menus also translate.

Optional

  • Dianping 大众点评

    China’s Yelp: find where locals actually eat, see dish photos, take a queue number.

  • Meituan 美团

    Food delivery and pharmacy delivery.

    💡 Some features need a Chinese phone number — the mini-program inside Alipay or WeChat is an easier route.

  • RedNote (Xiaohongshu) 小红书

    Restaurant, café and photo-spot inspiration — search in Chinese for the best results.

  • Air-quality app

    Useful in northern cities in winter to check real-time air quality.

Draft — verification pending