Ⅰ Visa | Policy
Do you need a visa for China?
Learn about the latest policy now.
Ⅲ Travel Resources
Must-have apps in china for traveling and travel resources sharing.
Ⅱ Travel Essentials
A list of items that are easy to overlook and overlooked but you’ll definitely need while traveling in China
Ⅲ Travel Resources
Must-have apps in china for traveling and travel resources sharing.
Ⅳ Domestic Transportation
Intercity and intracity public transportation. And self-diving tour tips
Ⅴ Pay | Tax
Payment service and tax refund policy for overseas visitors.
Ⅵ Health | Safety
Medical Treatment and Purchasing Medication Call the police for help Emergency Contact Tap Water Extreme Weather Warnings Tips for Female Travelers Medical treatment flowchart International
Ⅶ Culture | Law
Laws & Regulations and a complete Guide to travel culture and etiquette in China.
Must-Have Apps in China for Traveling
Using local online apps can make your trip to China exceptionally convenient. However, downloading certain apps can present challenges related to data usage and the required identity verification for registration, increasing the difficulty of use.
Therefore, after comprehensive analysis and brainstorming, the RoamKit team has developed two plans – Basic and Advanced – based on the app usage issues you might encounter upon arriving in China.
Basic Plan
For First-Time Travelers to China
Advanced Plan
For a Deeper and More Comprehensive Experience of Popular Online Services Used by Chinese People
PS: If you have more optimized solutions than these, seriously, shoot us an email! Your ideas can really help other folks traveling to China.
01.
Stay Connected : VPN
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Why you need a VPN in China
It’s good to know that many popular western websites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and most of Google’s services are blocked by the GFW. But no worries we will teach you how to stay connected by grabbing a VPN before the trip! With that in place, it’s smooth sailing to access all those sites and share the adventure in real-time!
It is recommended to install the application and connect at least once to activate your account before entering China!
Please download and prepare at least two VPNs on your phone before departure to prevent one from suddenly stopping working.
Consider using a virtual card from Privacy.com to pay for subscriptions – it can help avoid those annoying automatic renewal charges!
Personal VPN use for privacy is legal, but using it to access blocked content has legal risks. In reality, authorities rarely enforce this for regular usage like accessing blocked apps or sites, as long as it’s not used for illegal acts.
Choosing reputable and trustworthy VPNs
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There are nearly 100 VPNs that claim to offer services within China. But we’ve done the legwork for you, chatting with locals and fellow travelers to China, and we’ve narrowed it down to a few that people seem to have good things to say about. Take a peek at the list below and see which one sounds like a good fit for what you need!
Including price, stability, advantages and disadvantages
02.
Payment App + Multiple Functions
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Alipay
Alipay is widely known as a payment application. However, beyond the conventional offline QR code payments, it is a comprehensive platform offering a variety of services including travel and lifestyle.
Convenient Use
Utilize the TourPass spending card (quick payment without real-name authentication), covering QR code payments and public transportation.
In-depth Use
Complete passport-based real-name authentication + link a credit card to unlock online booking and money transfer functionalities.
If you’re not a fan of cluttering your phone with tons of apps, getting the hang of Alipay can cover pretty much everything you need while you’re exploring China.
If you’re exploring a city on foot, Baidu Maps is your buddy. Hitting the road and driving yourself?
AutoNavi Maps (that’s Gaode Ditu) is the way to go!
Both Baidu Maps and AutoNavi Maps let you call a taxi right from the app, and then they’ll bounce you over to Alipay to pay – super handy!
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Navigation Apps
When you’re in China, it’s usually best to stick to the local navigation apps – they tend to be way more spot-on.
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Railway Booking
You can use the English version of the 12306 website or app to book train tickets. Register with your passport information, and Alipay can be used for payment.
03.
Popular Online Services Used by Chinese People
WeChat is far more than just a communication tool; its core is a digital lifestyle operating system.
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微信WeChat ＝ WhatsApp+Venmo+Facebook
- WeChat Pay has socialized cash with the “Red Envelope” (红包) feature, reshaping traditional gift-giving culture. The “Red Envelope Grab” (抢红包) during the Spring Festival has
become a national ritual. Its social circle design (Moments, WeChat Groups) deeply ties into Chinese people’s social networks, covering almost all social scenarios from family communication to workplace collaboration and community-based commercial marketing. - If Facebook ever wanted to be a “social empire,” WeChat’s
already woven all of China into a non-stop, 24/7 online world.
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滴滴 Didi ＝ Uber + Lyft + Public Transportation Planner
- For users, Didi is not just a ride-hailing app but also represents the “on-demand mobility” lifestyle of Chinese cities.
- Unlike Uber, Didi collaborates with local governments to integrate public transportation systems. In some cities, users can purchase subway tickets in one place, truly making it an entry point to the urban mobility ecosystem.
P.S.: According to user feedback, the foreign language version generally has higher prices than the Chinese version (unverified hearsay).
Didi is the super transportation hub for Chinese people, aggregating taxis, ride-hailing services, carpooling, designated drivers, and even bicycle services (Qingju Bike).
Ctrip has redefined how Chinese people explore the world.
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携程Ctrip = Expedia+Airbnb+TripAdvisor
As the largest travel platform in Asia, it serves as both a bridge for Chinese people to go global and a window for modernizing and showcasing traditional Chinese culture.
P.S.: According to feedback from Chinese internet users, there are instances of price discrimination against existing users (unverified hearsay).
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美团Meituan = DoorDash+Yelp+OpenTable
- In the realm of food delivery, the promise of 30-minute delivery is underpinned by an AI dispatch system directing millions of riders navigating through 800 million urban residents. Within its “in-store” business, users can purchase various flash sale packages.
- Uniquely local is its “community group buying” – leveraging convenience store pickup points, retired elderly women use Meituan Select to collectively purchase various daily necessities, becoming an indispensable part of urban.
Meituan is akin to the essential utilities (water, electricity, gas) for local life services, fundamentally reshaping China’s service sector.
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饿了么Ele.me = Uber Eats+Grubhub
- If Meituan is like an all-around superhero, Ele.me is the super-focused expert when you just need food. It’s all tied in with Alipay’s member system, and it’s kind of freed people up from having to cook all the time.
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QQ Music / 网易云音乐NetEase Cloud Music = Spotify + SoundCloud
- QQ Music is known for its dominance in music licensing, possessing exclusive rights to superstars such as Jay Chou and Taylor Swift.
- NetEase Cloud Music emphasizes emotional community-based operation and boasts a larger collection of niche playlists.
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淘宝Taobao = Amazon + eBay + Etsy
- If Amazon operates on a “shelf logic,” Taobao, while superficially a commodity trading platform, is essentially a carnival of Chinese consumption.
Taobao is a microcosm of China’s manufacturing and consumption revolution.
Travel Resources Sharing
01.
✈️ Flights
Wonderful flight search engine! It digs deep to find small websites and budget airlines that bigger sites often miss. If you’re looking for the best fares, Skyscanner is your golden ticket to start your search!
This gem finds incredible flight deals and sends them straight to your inbox. If you’re flexible with your dates and destinations, you’ll find amazing bargains that save you hundreds!
02.
🏨Accommodation
The ultimate site for hostel bookings! With the largest inventory, best search features, and tons of availability, Hostelworld makes it easy to find the perfect hostel wherever you’re headed.
The all-around booking champion! Constantly offering the cheapest rates with the most extensive selection of budget accommodations. After testing every booking site, this one always comes out on top for the best deals.
🏡 Accommodation Exchange
Looking for a place to stay for free? This platform connects you with people who need pet and house sitters. Take care of their home and pets, and you’ll score free accommodation in return!
