TRAVELLING SOLO IN CHINA
In March, I embarked on my first solo trip to China, visiting Chengdu. As a first-time solo traveller in China, navigating the intricacies of cashless payments and transportation can be daunting. Despite initial concerns from family and friends, my experience in Chengdu reassured me of China's safety. With the CCTV surveillance and the presence of local police (保安) who are generally approachable and helpful, solo travel in China is not only safe but also incredibly rewarding with the right preparation and knowledge. Here, I've compiled a list of essential apps to download before your trip to China to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.
ESSENTIAL APPS TO DOWNLOAD BEFORE VISITING CHINA
1. Go Cashless with WeChat Pay (微信支付)
WeChat is a must-have app when traveling in China. It’s not just for instant messaging; the in-built WeChat Pay is an incredibly versatile mobile payment platform. Here's how to set it up:
Download the app:
Find WeChat on your Apple or Google Play store and download it.
Register an account:
Provide your mobile number (yes, foreign numbers work) and complete the verification process.
Link your foreign credit card:
Navigate to the "Me" section at the bottom right of the WeChat app.
Select "Services," then "Wallet."
In the “Wallet” function, select “Bank Cards” and click on “+Add a Card”.
Fill in your bank details, including your card number and name.
You'll receive a text with a code to complete SMS verification. Finally, create a 6-digit payment password to secure your WeChat Pay account. Once your card is linked, you'll get a notification on WeChat confirming the successful binding, allowing a cumulative payment limit of RMB 3500. For higher limits and additional functions, you'll need to provide full identity information, which may take a few days to process.
Paying Using WeChat:
Payments are straightforward and can be done in two ways:
Quick Pay Under “Services,” click on “Money” at the top left of the screen to generate your QR code for the vendor to scan. Alternatively, click the small + button on the WeChat homepage and select “Money” to access the QR code.
QR Code Payments Click the + button on the WeChat homepage, select “Scan,” and scan the merchant’s QR code. Enter the amount to pay and confirm with your 6-digit payment password.
Tip: If you encounter a slow network connection, try connecting to the establishment’s Wi-Fi.
2. Cashless Payment Using Alipay (支付宝)
Alipay is another mobile payment platform.
Setting it up is similar to WeChat Pay:
Linking your foreign credit card:
Navigate to the “Account” section at the bottom right of the Alipay app.
Select “Bank Cards” and click on “+” to add your card details.
Create a 6-digit payment password for security.
Paying Using Alipay:
Scan the merchant's QR code, enter the payment amount, and confirm the transaction with your payment password.
Alternatively, let the merchant scan your payment QR code. The options for scanning the merchant’s QR code and generating the payment QR code are below the homepage’s search box in Alipay.
Note: Both WeChat Pay and Alipay accept foreign credit cards. Thankfully, both apps do not charge transaction fees for amounts below 200 RMB. For transactions over 200 RMB, a 3% fee is applied.
Tip: Always carry some cash just in case the apps don't work initially. After the successful binding of my credit cards on both WeChat and Alipay, I tried to make payments using these two platforms in my home country but were not successful, so I was not able to find out if both platforms are working properly until I was in China itself.
Contrary to what I read online about merchants being annoyed when attempting to make payment in cash, I noticed that all the merchants that I frequented in Chengdu were very accepting of cash and had change to be given, even the taxi drivers!
3. Get around with DiDi Chuxing (滴滴出行)
DiDi Chuxing is China's equivalent of Uber, offering various ride options. The app is available in both Chinese and English with a user interface very similar to Uber’s.
To get around Chengdu, I used the in-app service on WeChat and did not download the app itself.
How to Book a Ride?
Enter your pickup location and destination in either English or Chinese.
Choose your car type.
Wait for your car assignment. At times, in busy period, you’ll be shown your position in line and an estimated wait time. Based on my experience in Chengdu, most of the drivers arrive within 3 min. The longest I have waited is 10 min. Once a driver accepts the job, you'll see their details, including name, photo, vehicle, and ride history.
Track the driver’s location in real-time.
When the driver arrives, they'll confirm your identity by the last four digits of your cell number.
Note: Do check if the driver has sent you a message in the “message” section as some of the drivers will text to confirm the pickup address or when they have arrived. As most drivers are unable to converse fluently in English, Didi offers an instant translation feature that allows you to type in English while having drivers receive them in Chinese! There are also prepared English message options with common requests you can choose from.
Sometimes, the driver may give you a call. Especially since there is no designated taxi stand, many of the drivers will stop on the side of the road. It can be difficult to spot the ride on a busy road near tourist attractions, so they will give you a call to confirm your whereabouts. However, if you are using an international number, the call will not go through. It will be good to have a China number. More on that later.
After you have arrived at your destination, you can confirm payment and the fare will be automatically charged to your selected payment method if you've set up an electronic payment, in my case through the WeChat Pay.
Types of Rides
Express / Express Discount: Private cars offering the lowest fares. For this type of ride, the price shown is an estimate. When the ride is completed, you will know the exact amount you have to pay. Based on my observation there isn’t a major difference between the estimate and exact fees. There may be a difference of a few yuan at most.
Premier: Professional drivers with more amenities like water, battery chargers, an umbrella, tissues, etc.
DiDi Luxe: Luxury cars for the best comfort and style.
DiDi Flash: For short-distance trips within urban areas. This type of ride typically uses smaller vehicles and may offer shared rides, helping to reduce costs for passengers.
Taxi: Hail a traditional taxi cab through the DiDi app. For this type of tide, the price shown is also an estimate and you will know the exact amount after the ride is complete. The fare will be based on meter. Taxis can also be paid with cash and you have the advantage of being able to get a paper receipt immediately after the end of the ride.
Note: You can still flag down taxis along the road, but beware of the taxi scams – always go to official taxi lines in airports or train stations to avoid being extremely overcharged or taken advantage of. Make sure they run the meter inside their taxi so you know what you’re being charged.
4. Never Lose Your Way with Baidu Maps (百度地图)
Google Maps doesn’t work in China, but Baidu Maps is an excellent alternative. It offers detailed maps, public transport routes, traffic conditions, and even a heat map of busy areas.
Baidu Maps can help you find nearby service items, convenient for your travel.
However, a downside of Baidu Maps is that it does not come with an English interface, so those who are unable to read Chinese may face some difficulties in using the app. Before travelling to China, it would be best to copy or screenshot your hotel address as well as destinations in Chinese and English so that you can easily input the address into Baidu Maps or to ask a local for directions.
5. Book Hotels Using Trip.com
Trip is China’s largest online travel agency, offering hotels, flights, and high-speed train bookings. I found it more affordable than Agoda. I booked my flight to Chengdu and my hotel stay using Trip as well.
OTHER TRAVEL TIPS
Some attractions require online ticket purchases and a Chinese mobile number, so getting a local SIM card upon arrival is recommended. The major mobile phone providers in China are China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. You can purchase a SIM card from these providers at their retail outlets or at airport kiosks upon arrival in China.
To purchase a SIM card, foreigners need to provide a valid passport with a valid visa. Some mobile phone providers in China may have additional requirements for foreigners, such as a minimum length of stay in China, a local address, or a Chinese bank account. It is a good idea to check with the mobile phone provider about any specific requirements for foreigners.
Many popular social media and connectivity apps like Facebook, Instagram and Gmail are inaccessible via Chinese networks. I hear of people using a virtual private network (VPN) to stay connected with family and friends, but I don't have much experience with that.
Personally, I opted for data roaming using my local service provider, which meant I didn't have a Chinese mobile number. This worked fine for general internet use, but when I needed to buy a ticket to the Chengdu Panda Base, I had to ask a friend with a Chinese number to help me out. If you want to avoid this hassle, definitely consider getting a local SIM card.
Another thing to note is that China’s tap water isn’t safe to drink, so you’ll need to buy bottled water. Bottled water is readily available at convenience stores, supermarkets, and vending machines.
AND …
That’s all from me for now. Happy travels everyone!
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