Essential Things to Know Before Visiting China

So you are thinking about visiting China, what a wonderful and brave choice! Why brave you say? I’m going to be completely honest, traveling in China as a foreigner will be an amazing experience, but one that comes with its own unique challenges. What are some essential things to know before visiting China?

Don’t worry! I’ve got you covered. As someone who spent the first 9 years of her life in China AND made multiple visits later as a “foreigner”, I am here to sort out some of these challenges for you, help equip you with a few essential tools and give you a peace of mind before your trip!

 

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Getting a Visa for China

You can actually handle the visa process yourself. It does get a little bit complicated depending on which country you’re from. The requirements include things like the general application, the entire trip’s accommodation bookings, invitation letter (if applicable), and more. You have to bring all the required documents to your local Chinese Embassy along with your passport, and they will issue you a visa inside your passport.

If this sounds a little too complicated, iVisa is a highly reviewed and trusted company that takes care of all your visa needs specific to your country of origin.

 

 

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Life-Saving Apps and Tech

#1. Get a local sim card

Traveling in China without a local guide or tour company can be challenging, but technology can save you some headaches. You can find ‘tourist sim cards’ sold at airport arrivals/train stations. Just be sure to bargain for a good price, and test your phone right after to make sure the sim card has data and works properly.

#2. Get a VPN service

Once you land in China, you will find that most of the essential websites/apps you’re used to back home will no longer be accessible. A VPN service allows you to bypass the firewall and gain access with anonymity. All you have to do is sign up, turn the service on, and basically it redirects your IP address so it looks like you’re in a different country accessing these sites.

Here’s just a short list of things blocked in China:

• Google services including: Gmail, Google Maps, and more…
• YouTube, What’sApp, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook

To learn more, read my article: Complete Guide on How to Use VPN in China

 

I personally used ExpressVPN for several months in China and other countries(for access to Netflix). It’s the service that I trust, and they offer 24/7 customer support! You can use this on your laptop as well as your mobile phones. I have tried free services and none of them really worked well unfortunately

Important Tip: Make sure to sign up for VPN before you leave for your trip.

 

#3. WeChat (微信 in Chinese)

This app is dominating the Chinese market for essentially everything. You can use it as a messenger, it also functions as a sort of ‘Instagram’. However, most importantly, you can use this app to pay at nearly every shop, restaurants, and even street stalls. In fact, its began to eliminate cash and credit cards all together.

>> You won’t be able to use the PAY feature unless you have a Chinese bank card. I have multiple resources confirming that setting up a Chinese bank account is very easy. So if you’re visiting China long term, I would highly recommend visiting a Chinese bank upon arrival.

If not, there are still plenty of useful elements such as ordering food when you eat at some restaurants. You scan the code on a table, and the App allows you to look at photo menus and even order directly from your phone. You can see how this helps with communication difficulties.

#4. Google Translate

I think this is self explanatory. You may run into people who can speak English, but most of the time you’ll play a game of gestures and guessing. Google translate can at least get your general meaning across, even if it’s not completely accurate. Download the offline version to ensure you can use it any time. You can also speak directly into the app and let it translate into Chinese, as well as take photos of signs and have it translate for you into English.

#5. Baidu Map

This is basically the Chinese version of Google Maps. Let me tell you, it works WAY better than Google Maps. The downfall is, it’s going to be in Chinese. But guess what? Let’s say you’ve found a local to help you with directions, show them this App and they can drop a pin on the map for you, and all you have to do is follow the route! (This saved me so many times from getting lost and wasting time)

#6. Trip.com (previously known as Ctrip)

This website/app can help you get all your booking needs, in particular transportation such as buses and trains and even tours.

#7. DiDi (Rideshare app like Uber)

DiDi as of now (2019), accepts major foreign credit cards for linking and creating an account. This is extremely helpful for getting a ride when you’re traveling in China.

 

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Money, ATM, Bargaining

Getting Cash From ATMs

I cannot tell you specifically which banks to withdraw from because it depends on the province or city you’re visiting (each province has its national and local banks), as well as what kind of card you use. However, from my experience it’s not as difficult as I thought it would be.

24 hour ATMs can be found easily in most cities, and just keep trying till one works. Also don’t forget to call your bank and let them know you’ll be traveling to China.

How to Bargain Like a Pro

Let me preface by saying, the first price you get from the seller IS NOT the price you should settle on.(excluding large chain stores)

The boutique merchants generally will inflate the price of items up to double or maybe even triple. They do this with locals too, and if you look like a visitor you bet your ass they’ll gonna go even higher.

It is EXPECTED for customers to bargain, so don’t feel bad by asking for your price 50% less than the initial offer. You can play a little dance of negotiation and if you still feel like they’re trying to rip you off, just walk away.

If they can offer you at a lower price, they’ll tell you to come back.  If not, there’s probably 20 other stores down the street that sells the same thing.

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Finding an accommodation

If you’re traveling short term, you’ve probably got this covered, as the Chinese embassy will have requested you to provide a detailed itinerary including accommodation in your Visa application.

If you are traveling across the country and haven’t planned out your whole trip, then continue reading.

Many local hotels/B&B do NOT accept foreigners.  Each city and district have their own government regulations. I encountered this problem even in Beijing and Shanghai. Now if you’re not a budget traveler, all the big international chain hotels are open to foreign visitors.

If you’re looking to save some money and stay at a local hotel, I used BOOKING.COM.

• If there’s a restriction placed on a specific hotel, when you try to book a room on bookings.com, you will receive an alert on the page about the non-Chinese citizen limitation.
• READ the reviews. If you see only Chinese travelers in the section, it is likely that they are not foreigner friendly.
• International hostels are a good way to save money, and they usually don’t have that locals-only restriction.

 

Lastly, Airbnb can always be an option! Click on my link to receive a credit off your first booking, and I will also receive a small credit as well.

 

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Transportation & getting around

Getting Around Within The City

I do NOT recommend driving in China. The traffic laws are not often followed, and the drivers are very aggressive. If you can navigate the app I mentioned earlier, Baidu map has a function for you to call a taxi to your location kind of like Uber.

You can download the Chinese version of Uber called didi. The only downside to this is the driver might call you to confirm before pick up. (Communication might be a bit hard)

Subway trains are great when available, there are always signs in both English & Chinese.

Local buses for the most part are also organized and clean, but given the language barrier it will be slightly more difficult to read the signs. Attempt at your own risk!

Cross-Country Travels

High Speed Railway! It is going to be your best friend. China has an amazingly developed high speed railway system. It’s much more simple than traveling by flight (also cheaper), and they’re SO comfortable and clean.

Just make sure to bring your passport when you go buy the tickets at the station, they won’t issue them without it.

 

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Food & Dining

Choosing The Right Time to Eat

People in China tend to stick to a pretty consistent meal time during the day, SOME restaurants do stay open all day but it’ll be like a ghost town in there. Some places could be closed. You’re probably safe in the big cities, but if you happen to travel to a small city or town, be prepared to eat lunch on schedule or there may not be any food left for you…until dinner time.

Here’s an approximate break down for your dining considerations:

Breakfast: 6:30am-9:30am

Lunch: 11:30am-1:30pm

Dinner: 5:00pm-Close

Dining Service

Don’t expect the kind of services you may get in ‘western’ countries. Sometimes they may even come off as rude but trust me, it’s not intentional.

Everything is just much more straight forward, you sit, you order, they bring you the food. Non of that extra, “how’s everything?” “The menu special for today is…” kind of treatment. (Of course unless you’re at a fine dining high end restaurant tailored towards a western dining experience.

If you need to raise your hand to get the server’s attention, it won’t be considered rude. In fact, sometimes locals just shout really loud to get their servers to take their order.

Tipping Etiquette 

Tipping is not expected in restaurants. My suggestion is if you REALLY want to leave a tip for excellent service, please don’t just leave the change behind. It can be taken as an insulting gesture instead of your intended appreciation. So don’t tip unless you really want to and definitely don’t leave your pocket change behind.

 

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Culture shock & What to expect?

Politeness and Personal Space

I know there are many out there who thinks Chinese tourists are ‘rude’ when they visit their country, and even though I grew up in China for 9 years I feel the same way. You’re not alone.

However, I gently ask you to understand it’s a matter of differences in culture and what we’re used to. The locals may have a less understanding of personal space and accidentally bump into you, or even sometimes intentionally(especially in crowded train stations). Again, just be mentally prepared. Not everyone is pushy, and in some cities people are pushier than others. (Guangzhou was really pushy, and Shanghai not as much)

Also, I don’t have this issue since I am Chinese American, and I blend in easily. But, if you’re a foreigner and especially if you’ve got a lighter complexion, people might stare at you. (especially the kids since they have no filters, but it’s all friendly)

Using Public Restrooms

You’re lucky if you find one that you can sit on. Mostly likely, you’ll have to learn to squat down low. Especially if you’re a girl or doing a number 2.

BRING YOUR OWN TISSUE. Most restrooms (even in restaurants) will not provide toilet paper. Good news is you can buy these cute little tissue things everywhere and they’re cheap.

Take Extra Caution When You’re Crossing the Road

This may sound like common sense, but if you haven’t experienced it, crossing the road in certain cities can be like the game Frogger. (For those of you old enough to remember)

Take extra caution because the cars and buses will not let you have ‘the right of way’, and especially look out for the motorbikes.

A lot of motorbike riders are used to dodging pedestrians, so don’t suddenly stop in the middle of the street because you’ll actually make things worse.

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BONUS: Useful Phrases

Just as any other place, Chinese people will really appreciate you learning a couple of simple things in their language. Especially when they see a ‘foreigner’ (lao wai) speak Chinese, people tend to display shock, excitement, and polite giggles. They will probably even be more keen on helping you out!

Hello

• – ňi hǎo
• sounds like “knee haul” + the tones.

Thank you

• – xiè xiè
• sounds like “shie shie”

Not a problem/you’re welcome 

• – bú kè qì
• sounds like “boo ke chi” + tones
• This literally translate to “don’t be so polite”

Too expensive

• – tài gùi le
• sounds like “tai gway le”

I don’t want it/I don’t want to/I don’t need it

• – bú yào
• sounds like “boo yaw”
• you can use this phrase if someone is pestering you or simply to turn down an offer.

Want more?

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Are you ready?

I hope you feel more prepared now for your trip to China! There’s sooo much to see and even more to eat!

Yes you will run into miscommunications and frustration at times, but don’t let that deter you from visiting such an interesting country with its long and rich history, and did I already say amazing food?!

My last trip to China was this year (2018), I visited Shanghai, Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Xiamen.

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Related Articles:

15 Things NOT to Do When Visiting China

How to Avoid These Top 10 Common Scams in China

How To Guide on Using VPN in China

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