Thank you for the video / information. I had intended on purchasing a sim card prior to flying to China but on the information you provided I believe it would be better to purchase the sim card on arrival at the airport. Thanks again. 👍
@@tastyaffordabledelicious7391 I would suggest taking some cash with you as well. Sometimes Alipay don’t work especially in rural area and smaller merchants.
In 3 weeks time, I am gonna move to Wuhan to study. I am very excited & nervous😅. I don't have any knowledge in Chinese 😢. I hope I can survive there 😅. Thank you for the infos
@@ameliah8164Wuhan is very hot & humid than I expected 😅. I am trying to get used to living here. Without your phone and even a little Chinese, you can't survive here. WeChat and Alipay are used on everything. 🙌🏻 This was my first week, and I was struggling a bit. But it is an adventure I want to experience. I should learn Chinese as soon as possible and than discover the country.
Many thnks for your wonderful tips and tools . One question , as a foreigner what is the best and cheapest chinese phone card or prepaid sim card to get in china if i stay more then 3 months . Thnx
If you plan to stay for long term, I would suggest to go with China mobile 39RMB/month or 59RMB/month plan which gives you unlimited text and calls and 5G data or 10G data respectively. If the airport can’t give you these plans you can try to go into a phone store in the city you are staying. I personally chose China Mobile (CMCC).
Very informative video, Danny. Thanks. I am going to Guangzhou soon and have downloaded the Alipay app and linked my Visa card. Just wondering if I buy a Chinese SIM card, would that affect the way I use Alipay and other Apps like DiDi?
@@thanhlu3667 Hi Thanhlu, I think Alipay would work if your registered number and active number is different, as long as you stay logged in. I have a vague memory about not able to pay for my DiDi trip when my active number and registered number is different. I have to log back to my old number to access payment. But if it happens to you, you could just registered DiDi with your new Chinese SIM.
This is the most informative video I found on UA-cam about what to prepare when you go to China! Thanks! If you go from tourist to longer stay in China, you can change your profile in Alipay? I tought that when you are later aresident, you can do more with the app (less ristrictions)
Hello, thanks for the super infor on the apps to be used in China. I have a question on Alipay which I loaded in Malaysia and linked to my Wise Card. Why is it that each time I used my Alipay to pay at the hotels in China, there is a card charge of 3% additional charged to my total amount ?
@@tan20530 Hi Tan, some of the hotels, airfares and restaurants will charge additional for overseas cards, no matter if it’s Alipay, WeChat or direct card payment.
Thank you so much for providing all the information! I will be staying in China (Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou) for 3 weeks. I was planning to have two smart phones with me. One with a German phone number where Alipay is already downloaded and linked to my credit card for payments in China. The other smart phone has also a German phone number. With the second smart phone I was planning to buy a Chinese sim card at the Pudong airport and use this phone has a hot spot for my other phone in order to have internet. My smart phones do not provide any e-sim or dual sim cards, unfortunately. Should that work? You mentioned that some apps must be linked to a Chinese phone number such as Diddi. But if Diddi is already included in the alipay app, then I should be able to pay via my smart phone with the German phone number? Thank you very much for providing the answers!! Additionally, I plan to use the tour card on the Alipay app. To top up some money in case the standard alipay payement procedere does not work. Have you any experience with the Alipay tour card if that is also woking on a phone with a forein phone number which is linked to a foreign credit card? Thanks mate!!
@@bienchen317 I understand. Yes, your method is workable. When you opened DiDi from Alipay, you still have to sign in DiDi. At the DiDi sign in step, You could choose one tap or sign in with a number, I would suggest to sign in with your Chinese number, because I recently have issues with my Australian phone number not able to log in to DiDi occasionally. Maybe because of peak season. Chinese number will be more reliable. For Tour card, I have not used it before, I will try these few days and let you know later.
@@bienchen317 for Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou you should be able to use Alipay no problem. But just in case, take some cash with you and exchange to smaller notes like 10s and 20s, bottle of water and metro tickets normally cost 3-5 RMB. Sometime the metro machine have troubles reading barcodes, it may not be Alipay’s issue. I’m this case, I would try a few times with a different passage or get a ticket at the ticket machine and pay by Alipay.
Hello, thanks for the info. Just a question please, you have your alipay registered with an Australian number.. are you using a Chinese phone number when you are there? I'm just wondering if there are any issues registering alipay with an Australian number and then using the app in China with a chinese phone number?
Also I think if you need to change or cancel the ticket, you MIGHT have to do it in trip.com app or call trip.com customer service instead of going through the ticket sales office at the station.
Hi, at 6:42 you entered the train station like locals by scanning your passport on your own. Isn’t it necessary for foreigners to only enter via a specific gate manned by security?
@@sylai3483Hi Sylai, foreigners specific entrance points only appear in boarder custom check ins and check outs, not for any transportation entrances. But something to watch out for when you use passport to pass through the railway station check in gates - not all stations support passports for automatic check points, if so, there is always a check point either in the middle or side with a person standing there, they would help to get people through, don’t be surprised that lots of the locals need to use these check points as well.
@@STEGOTOYS Hi Zara, some credit card work and some don’t. If you could link it to Alipay then it will work. But Alipay and WeChat are in competition at the moment, if the merchants have chosen an exclusive deal with either one, then the other one would not work, some times it is not Alipay app issue.
One more thing that you didn’t add that is so important is a VPN to be able to use Facebook, instagram google and UA-cam. Thanks for the alipay tip will save me paying cash everywhere
Thanks for your sharing of Guangzhou. Question, is the DiDi App in English? Need help as my Chinese is limited. I live in Dongguan. Thank you for your support.
Thank you. But with a sim card, can i see my text messages or receive my phone calls with my usual home phone number? Im leaving in 10 days to hong kong and china.
@@jtf267 yes, you could. Tell the sales person you want to activate international roaming service there might be an easy process to go through. But they will help you.
Hi should i download all these apps before travelling to China or do it when i am there? Also Alipay do i set up with my current oversea number or should i wait until I am in China with a Chinese SIM card before i set up?
@@fansuria9741 Hi Fansuria, all these apps could be downloaded anytime, Alipay could be used overseas, I sometimes use it in Australia. But if you are planning to use all the apps just in China, then it’s better to register with your Chinese number. Especially with DiDi China, if you don’t register with your active number (the number of your active SIM), you might have trouble accessing trip payment.
@@pbworld7858 I would say In Guangzhou, most of the shops would speak Cantonese. Less likely in other places in Canton. There are lots of people from nearby provinces living in Canton.
@@virginia_wong I’m not sure if AlipayHK is the same app as the international version. I know Alipay international version works in China and HK sim could be used to register 12306 railway app.
Which app should I use to translate chinese to english and English to chinese in offline Plz reply me because I am arriving at China for my hair study in September 1,2024
@@a.d.dipgamer3674 You got me, I’m really not sure what apps work offline that does the translation. Using mobile data could be a bit costly as a student. But depends on where you’re studying, most of the institutes or hairdressers have free WiFi.
Hi, are we able to book trains using the 120306 app while we are in Sydney. We would like to secure the train tickets before we arrive in China. Thanks very much.
@@HuifenWu Hi Huifen, you sure can as long as you have registered the app with your Chinese number. Otherwise you could only search it but could not book it.
@@HappyVibeHunter thanks! The problem is we won’t be able to buy a China number until we are in China.. so I was wondering if we were able to register the 120306 app with my Australian number and book the train tickets in advance before we arrive in China. We are travelling to China next year very close to May day holidays and would prefer to secure train tickets in advance.
@@HuifenWu Ah, I got it. I wouldn’t worry too much about that. The high speed train tickets are only available to purchase 2 weeks in advance. Also, March is not a peak season, tickets should be relatively enough. I normally prebook the tickets 1day ahead, quite a few times I had to purchase the ticket few minutes before it departed.
@@Елена-э7с7м Alipay could pay for multiple people except metro tickets. One Alipay account QR code could only open the entrance barrier once, the same QR code could not be used to open the entrance again before scanning it to exit.
Hey mate, fellow Aussie here. Great tips. I’m Travelling around China for 2 months next week with no mandarin at all. Questions - can I survive with eSim or do I need a physical sim with China number? It seems like I can only use Railway12306 with China number. Also, any limit for liquids ie water, toiletries etc to enter metro/railway station? As I will be using HSR a lot. Much appreciated
@@nasdanrose4802 Hi Nasdanrose, I have not used an eSIM in China before neither have I seen it being sold anywhere in China. Railway 12306 currently does need a Chinese SIM, but the international version of the app is said to be on the way, hopefully soon. There is no limit for liquids and toiletries for railways. But the security check point might ask you to have a drink of your water or put it through the counter scan machine, just to make sure it is not combustible substance. The annoying thing is that they ask you to do that every time you go through a station. After all, I think you will have a pleasant trip! Chinese people even have trouble understand each other’s language in the same city.
what if you dont have alipay installed? i have elderly parents coming with me and they dont know how to use these...how will they take the trains with me? also, when i try to do the transport card, it says i need to be a chinese mainland user..
@@MultiAnonymous1993 you could pay cash at the ticket sales office at every station. Or you could purchase tickets for them in the app, then show your passports to assistance standing near check in channels to enter. Personally, I have to not encountered your second issue. But some metro and bus companies have issues with their partnership with Alipay and WeChat pay, even my parents with Chinese National card have issues with public transport card using Alipay. Would you give me more information? Are you currently in China mainland region? Did you download the international version? Did register with you overseas phone number?
@@franklinsanchez7984 Hi Franklin, if you are using an IPhone, you could get a Chinese SIM and use VPN Cat, this is the one that has not been banned. If you are using other phones, I could not suggest any to you atm, quite a few VPN apps that were suggested to me had been banned recently. I have to go to Macao to upload my videos. If you find any new VPN could work please let me know.
@@gustavob1223 No, they are different. They run by different telecom companies, but local SIM cards from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and China should all be able to access Alipay and 12306.
@@kushalraj There are check in paths after the security check, you will see icons of Chinese green card and Passport next to a small screen, put your passport’s first page in for scanning, if successful then it will open the barrier and let you through.
@@HappyVibeHunter thanks, just find out my phone (ultra s20 Note) doesn't support eSim soi just bought a VPN, now when I arrive at the airport will I be able purchase a simcard and with the VPN can then access my social media apps?
@@mistareagle2398 I’m afraid it might not work on phones other than IPhone. The lady at the information desk at the airport said that the VPN only works on IPhones with the SIM. It is through an app called “VPN Cat”. Lots of people said there are other VPN app will work on other phones. But there will be a subscription cost, and more and more had been banned by the government slowly.
I just came back from china, alipay is easy to use if you have a SIM card(I don't know if e SIM you buy online would work or not). You can go to transport section and get a metro card of any city, you can switch from city to city. You can use it with your credit card. It will give you the the metro card in QR form. You can simply walk straight to the gate of the station and face your screen to the gate scanner, and do the same thing when you get out. It's that easy.
You could add passengers in the app. Anyone with a passport could be added as a passenger and when you are purchasing tickets select the passengers, then pay for the tickets. If you registered the account using foreign passport then you could only add passengers with a passport, not Chinese National Card.
When setting up the account, it asks for a phone number. However, I don't have a China mobile number, and the drop-down list only includes country codes for China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan-nothing for Singapore. Do you have any idea how to resolve this?
Hi Stephanie, I assume that you are talking about the 12306 App. Unfortunately, the phone number at the moment can only be from these areas, they are working on an international App but not yet completed. I would suggest to get a Chinese SIM card if you are planning on using the high speed train app.
@@DannyLiDingfor 12306, can 1 account buy multiple tickets for a few persons taking the high speed train at the same time? Will there be multiple QR code?
Hi bro im from india im coming to Shanghai month end... Shall i download wechat and alipay is it safe for payments... Kindly put vdo about wechat like how to register and how to pay money..
@@anishkrish2190 Hi mate, I wouldn’t download WeChat for payment unless you have a Chinese green card. Without the green card WeChat would not let you use payment option (from my own experience). Just download Alipay, it would be more than enough.
Is Alipay international has s time limit of 90 days if I download while I am still overseas? Secondly, can I use the trip or 12306 to buy ticket for others if my family do not have the app ? Thanks
Hi Slchoong, Alipay is a world wide payment app, as long as the merchant has an option for Alipay, you could use the app to pay for anything. There is no limit. I used it both in Australia and China. And for Trip and 12306 - yes you could purchase tickets for anyone as long as you have their Passport or Chinese green card, there are other types of ID options but I have never used them. Once you purchased the tickets on the apps, you could find their ticket informations on your app under paid bookings.
Hello, for the 12306 train app, do you have to upload your passport pic and in-person holding the passport for verification? I was asked to upload for verification but seems to always got error message " system too busy, try again later" Anyone got similar problem?
@@odin5166 I think it might be the requirement of the new version. I will try to registered it and let you know. Is it during registration or other steps?
It works offline only in situations where you generate a QR-Code (your Alipay ID) to be scanned by the other party. However, don't rely on this situation arising when you need it most!
Hi, thanks for your very helpful video. I’m from singapore and plan to be in Shanghai in November this year. If I get a SIM card in China, would I still be able to retain my WhatsApp number, in other words, would my contacts still be able to reach me through WhatsApp? Thanks much
You will need a dual sim phone, when I took my Aus sim out I were not able to receive or send by Watsapp. After I used a dual sim phone and put my Aus sim back in , it were working.
agree, you have to find and call your visa provider in your country before you leave i had the same problem and thank goodness one of my card works or i had to withdraw from atm at all time
hi, i will be traveling to China soon. just curious to know when link my Visa card to Alipay, it depends on the day's exchange rate or in Chinese yuan in the statement?
This might be the best video on payment apps and connectivity for travellers to China. Thanks Danny!
Thank you for the video / information.
I had intended on purchasing a sim card prior to flying to China but on the information you provided I believe it would be better to purchase the sim card on arrival at the airport.
Thanks again.
👍
Excellent Vlog, great communicator! I'm in Shanghai soon. Thanks to you I've set up my Alipay & ready to go 👍
Thank you!!
Very helpful and well explained, I especially like seeing the apps work in real life situations.
Thank you.
Really helpful. Visiting China next summer and trying to learn as much as possible before then. Thank you.
Love the way you explain and show live footage
Much appreciated video bro I'm in Shanghai on Wednesday for the first time and from Gold Coast
Ah, I wish I was in Gold Coast nice and warm. But you are in for a treat, Shanghai has Lots to offer. Have fun!
Thanks! This is very useful, I’m having anxiety thinking how I’m going to pay for my purchases, lol!
@@tastyaffordabledelicious7391 I would suggest taking some cash with you as well. Sometimes Alipay don’t work especially in rural area and smaller merchants.
Thank you very much, we are going to Chengdu in October, your info is very helpful .
In 3 weeks time, I am gonna move to Wuhan to study. I am very excited & nervous😅. I don't have any knowledge in Chinese 😢. I hope I can survive there 😅. Thank you for the infos
@@c.e.6418 Hi c.e, that is awesome! I think you will be fine. Have fun!
Hello, I'm also moving to Wuhan university next month....
how are you now
@@ameliah8164Wuhan is very hot & humid than I expected 😅. I am trying to get used to living here. Without your phone and even a little Chinese, you can't survive here. WeChat and Alipay are used on everything. 🙌🏻
This was my first week, and I was struggling a bit. But it is an adventure I want to experience. I should learn Chinese as soon as possible and than discover the country.
@@ameliah8164 so far so good 👍🏻. Without English it is challenging. But translator (with VPN) helps lot
China train is so advanced and the used of technology as cashless on everything compared to the Bay Area where I live, wow!
comprehensive, digestible, practical, thumbs up❤
Thanks Alvin, glad you liked it.
Many thnks for your wonderful tips and tools . One question , as a foreigner what is the best and cheapest chinese phone card or prepaid sim card to get in china if i stay more then 3 months . Thnx
If you plan to stay for long term, I would suggest to go with China mobile 39RMB/month or 59RMB/month plan which gives you unlimited text and calls and 5G data or 10G data respectively. If the airport can’t give you these plans you can try to go into a phone store in the city you are staying. I personally chose China Mobile (CMCC).
Very informative video, Danny. Thanks. I am going to Guangzhou soon and have downloaded the Alipay app and linked my Visa card. Just wondering if I buy a Chinese SIM card, would that affect the way I use Alipay and other Apps like DiDi?
@@thanhlu3667 Hi Thanhlu, I think Alipay would work if your registered number and active number is different, as long as you stay logged in.
I have a vague memory about not able to pay for my DiDi trip when my active number and registered number is different. I have to log back to my old number to access payment. But if it happens to you, you could just registered DiDi with your new Chinese SIM.
@@HappyVibeHunter Thanks very much.
Great job
This is the most informative video I found on UA-cam about what to prepare when you go to China! Thanks! If you go from tourist to longer stay in China, you can change your profile in Alipay? I tought that when you are later aresident, you can do more with the app (less ristrictions)
Hello, thanks for the super infor on the apps to be used in China. I have a question on Alipay which I loaded in Malaysia and linked to my Wise Card. Why is it that each time I used my Alipay to pay at the hotels in China, there is a card charge of 3% additional charged to my total amount ?
@@tan20530 Hi Tan, some of the hotels, airfares and restaurants will charge additional for overseas cards, no matter if it’s Alipay, WeChat or direct card payment.
Thank you Danny, this is very helpful!
Thank you. very helpful
Thank you so much for providing all the information! I will be staying in China (Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou) for 3 weeks. I was planning to have two smart phones with me. One with a German phone number where Alipay is already downloaded and linked to my credit card for payments in China. The other smart phone has also a German phone number. With the second smart phone I was planning to buy a Chinese sim card at the Pudong airport and use this phone has a hot spot for my other phone in order to have internet. My smart phones do not provide any e-sim or dual sim cards, unfortunately. Should that work? You mentioned that some apps must be linked to a Chinese phone number such as Diddi. But if Diddi is already included in the alipay app, then I should be able to pay via my smart phone with the German phone number? Thank you very much for providing the answers!! Additionally, I plan to use the tour card on the Alipay app. To top up some money in case the standard alipay payement procedere does not work. Have you any experience with the Alipay tour card if that is also woking on a phone with a forein phone number which is linked to a foreign credit card? Thanks mate!!
@@bienchen317 I understand. Yes, your method is workable. When you opened DiDi from Alipay, you still have to sign in DiDi. At the DiDi sign in step, You could choose one tap or sign in with a number, I would suggest to sign in with your Chinese number, because I recently have issues with my Australian phone number not able to log in to DiDi occasionally. Maybe because of peak season. Chinese number will be more reliable.
For Tour card, I have not used it before, I will try these few days and let you know later.
@@bienchen317 for Shanghai, Hangzhou & Suzhou you should be able to use Alipay no problem. But just in case, take some cash with you and exchange to smaller notes like 10s and 20s, bottle of water and metro tickets normally cost 3-5 RMB. Sometime the metro machine have troubles reading barcodes, it may not be Alipay’s issue. I’m this case, I would try a few times with a different passage or get a ticket at the ticket machine and pay by Alipay.
Hello, thanks for the info. Just a question please, you have your alipay registered with an Australian number.. are you using a Chinese phone number when you are there? I'm just wondering if there are any issues registering alipay with an Australian number and then using the app in China with a chinese phone number?
@@leelee3942 Hi Leelee, I registered Alipay with my Aus number and I was using my Chinese SIM at the same time. I didn’t have any issues😊
smart man..thanks its helpful
Can we use Trip to book high speed train also? Or we have to use 12306 to book High speed train or any rail services ? Thanks so much
@@yhchong621 sure, the price is the same but trip.com will charge a percentage of booking fee. Around 10-20%.
Also I think if you need to change or cancel the ticket, you MIGHT have to do it in trip.com app or call trip.com customer service instead of going through the ticket sales office at the station.
Hi, at 6:42 you entered the train station like locals by scanning your passport on your own. Isn’t it necessary for foreigners to only enter via a specific gate manned by security?
@@sylai3483Hi Sylai, foreigners specific entrance points only appear in boarder custom check ins and check outs, not for any transportation entrances.
But something to watch out for when you use passport to pass through the railway station check in gates - not all stations support passports for automatic check points, if so, there is always a check point either in the middle or side with a person standing there, they would help to get people through, don’t be surprised that lots of the locals need to use these check points as well.
can we enter a credit card number in the place of Bank Card? or do we have to enter a Debit Card number ?
@@STEGOTOYS Hi Zara, some credit card work and some don’t. If you could link it to Alipay then it will work.
But Alipay and WeChat are in competition at the moment, if the merchants have chosen an exclusive deal with either one, then the other one would not work, some times it is not Alipay app issue.
Thank you, very helpful!
One more thing that you didn’t add that is so important is a VPN to be able to use Facebook, instagram google and UA-cam. Thanks for the alipay tip will save me paying cash everywhere
if you use a sim card not from China, this thing is not a must.
Alipay charges fees at an obscene rate of 3%
Thanks for your sharing of Guangzhou. Question, is the DiDi App in English? Need help as my Chinese is limited. I live in Dongguan. Thank you for your support.
@@Raymond-h1s Hi Raymond, the DiDi app does have English language option. It’s under settings.
Thank you. But with a sim card, can i see my text messages or receive my phone calls with my usual home phone number? Im leaving in 10 days to hong kong and china.
@@jtf267 yes, you could. Tell the sales person you want to activate international roaming service there might be an easy process to go through. But they will help you.
On my Alipay app, there is an eSim option for Mainland China. Does this eSim work if i purchase one?
Hi should i download all these apps before travelling to China or do it when i am there? Also Alipay do i set up with my current oversea number or should i wait until I am in China with a Chinese SIM card before i set up?
@@fansuria9741 Hi Fansuria, all these apps could be downloaded anytime, Alipay could be used overseas, I sometimes use it in Australia. But if you are planning to use all the apps just in China, then it’s better to register with your Chinese number. Especially with DiDi China, if you don’t register with your active number (the number of your active SIM), you might have trouble accessing trip payment.
Cheers Mate. Very helpful
this is so helpful. thank you very much.
Will most people in shops understand Cantonese? I notice only the taxi driver spoke in Cantonese.
@@pbworld7858 I would say In Guangzhou, most of the shops would speak Cantonese. Less likely in other places in Canton. There are lots of people from nearby provinces living in Canton.
Can i use alipayHK in China? Does HK sim card work in China? Thanks!
@@virginia_wong I’m not sure if AlipayHK is the same app as the international version. I know Alipay international version works in China and HK sim could be used to register 12306 railway app.
How long does it take to register the Chinese Sim card at the airport? 15 minutes?
@@simmergy yes about 15 minutes. They will have to take photos of you holding the new phone number and let you pick phone numbers from a list etc.
which phone company are you using? is it Unicom ?
can i go from guangzhou to shanghai by train ??
@@logout010 Sure, high speed rail links connect almost 100% of all major cities except Tibet and Xinjiang.
thank you for your video, it is very useful!
Which app should I use to translate chinese to english and English to chinese in offline
Plz reply me because I am arriving at China for my hair study in September 1,2024
@@a.d.dipgamer3674 You got me, I’m really not sure what apps work offline that does the translation.
Using mobile data could be a bit costly as a student. But depends on where you’re studying, most of the institutes or hairdressers have free WiFi.
youdao / apple / baidu
Did the payment needs internet or can I pay offline?
@@jawadabdulhasan5102All Alipay payments need internet. Some restaurants have free WiFi if you ask them.
Hi, when you get the chinese number, did they give you physical sim card or esim?
@@JohnDoe-xm7ee It will be a physical sim, they didn’t give me the option to choose not even in the local stores.
no such thing as eSIM in China from Chinese carriers.
Very good ! ... 😊
Hi, are we able to book trains using the 120306 app while we are in Sydney. We would like to secure the train tickets before we arrive in China. Thanks very much.
@@HuifenWu Hi Huifen, you sure can as long as you have registered the app with your Chinese number. Otherwise you could only search it but could not book it.
@@HappyVibeHunter thanks! The problem is we won’t be able to buy a China number until we are in China.. so I was wondering if we were able to register the 120306 app with my Australian number and book the train tickets in advance before we arrive in China. We are travelling to China next year very close to May day holidays and would prefer to secure train tickets in advance.
@@HuifenWu Ah, I got it. I wouldn’t worry too much about that. The high speed train tickets are only available to purchase 2 weeks in advance. Also, March is not a peak season, tickets should be relatively enough. I normally prebook the tickets 1day ahead, quite a few times I had to purchase the ticket few minutes before it departed.
Hi Danny, Thank you very much. Can I pay for 4 people from one phone via alipay?
Absolutely,I come from China, and Alipay can buy everything.
@@Елена-э7с7м Alipay could pay for multiple people except metro tickets. One Alipay account QR code could only open the entrance barrier once, the same QR code could not be used to open the entrance again before scanning it to exit.
Hey mate, fellow Aussie here. Great tips. I’m Travelling around China for 2 months next week with no mandarin at all. Questions - can I survive with eSim or do I need a physical sim with China number? It seems like I can only use Railway12306 with China number. Also, any limit for liquids ie water, toiletries etc to enter metro/railway station? As I will be using HSR a lot. Much appreciated
@@nasdanrose4802 Hi Nasdanrose, I have not used an eSIM in China before neither have I seen it being sold anywhere in China.
Railway 12306 currently does need a Chinese SIM, but the international version of the app is said to be on the way, hopefully soon.
There is no limit for liquids and toiletries for railways. But the security check point might ask you to have a drink of your water or put it through the counter scan machine, just to make sure it is not combustible substance. The annoying thing is that they ask you to do that every time you go through a station.
After all, I think you will have a pleasant trip! Chinese people even have trouble understand each other’s language in the same city.
@@HappyVibeHunter awesome! Definitely will sign up for a Chinese sim once I arrive in Beijing.
may I know which translation app you use?
@@aaronhuang9550 I use “Translate” from App Store. Most of the time is accurate.
In 12306, one of my passengers can not verified . I try many ways, upload the passport, change the email but it didn't work out
what if you dont have alipay installed? i have elderly parents coming with me and they dont know how to use these...how will they take the trains with me?
also, when i try to do the transport card, it says i need to be a chinese mainland user..
@@MultiAnonymous1993 you could pay cash at the ticket sales office at every station. Or you could purchase tickets for them in the app, then show your passports to assistance standing near check in channels to enter.
Personally, I have to not encountered your second issue. But some metro and bus companies have issues with their partnership with Alipay and WeChat pay, even my parents with Chinese National card have issues with public transport card using Alipay.
Would you give me more information? Are you currently in China mainland region? Did you download the international version? Did register with you overseas phone number?
you can pay cash also
Did you use vpn ?
I use Lets VPN. If you choose this VPN, make sure you buy the subscription before getting into Mainland China and resub just before it expire.
I will need VPN
card to be able to use Western Apps and be in constant touch with family at home.
What do you recomend?
@@franklinsanchez7984 Hi Franklin, if you are using an IPhone, you could get a Chinese SIM and use VPN Cat, this is the one that has not been banned. If you are using other phones, I could not suggest any to you atm, quite a few VPN apps that were suggested to me had been banned recently.
I have to go to Macao to upload my videos. If you find any new VPN could work please let me know.
Astrill is great but expensive, I’ve heard LetsVPN is good too.
LetsVPN works perfect and is only around $5 USD for one month
gkd vpn
Can you make a video on how to hail Didi using address in English for foreigners? Also, if you don’t have Chinese phone number how do you confirm it?
@@hhwin2198 👍 the video is on the way
The SIM card is the same in Hong Kong and (the rest of, if you will) China?
@@gustavob1223 No, they are different. They run by different telecom companies, but local SIM cards from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and China should all be able to access Alipay and 12306.
@@HappyVibeHunter thank you!
Where did you have to scan your passport? For public transportation?
@@kushalraj There are check in paths after the security check, you will see icons of Chinese green card and Passport next to a small screen, put your passport’s first page in for scanning, if successful then it will open the barrier and let you through.
Sweeeet! Great video
I'm going to Guangzhou in 5 days
Oh nice! Hope you have a great trip there! Watch out for the humidity and heat
@@HappyVibeHunter thanks, just find out my phone (ultra s20 Note) doesn't support eSim soi just bought a VPN, now when I arrive at the airport will I be able purchase a simcard and with the VPN can then access my social media apps?
@@mistareagle2398 I’m afraid it might not work on phones other than IPhone. The lady at the information desk at the airport said that the VPN only works on IPhones with the SIM. It is through an app called “VPN Cat”.
Lots of people said there are other VPN app will work on other phones. But there will be a subscription cost, and more and more had been banned by the government slowly.
how does it work if I want to pay for 2 train tickets?
I just came back from china, alipay is easy to use if you have a SIM card(I don't know if e SIM you buy online would work or not). You can go to transport section and get a metro card of any city, you can switch from city to city. You can use it with your credit card. It will give you the the metro card in QR form. You can simply walk straight to the gate of the station and face your screen to the gate scanner, and do the same thing when you get out. It's that easy.
@@7X2TT are you paying for 2 people for the same trip or same people for 2 different trips?
@@7X2TT I am planning a video detailing the 12306 app this month if you are not in a hurry.
You could add passengers in the app. Anyone with a passport could be added as a passenger and when you are purchasing tickets select the passengers, then pay for the tickets.
If you registered the account using foreign passport then you could only add passengers with a passport, not Chinese National Card.
Thank you!
When setting up the account, it asks for a phone number. However, I don't have a China mobile number, and the drop-down list only includes country codes for China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan-nothing for Singapore. Do you have any idea how to resolve this?
Hi Stephanie, I assume that you are talking about the 12306 App. Unfortunately, the phone number at the moment can only be from these areas, they are working on an international App but not yet completed.
I would suggest to get a Chinese SIM card if you are planning on using the high speed train app.
@@DannyLiDing Thanks for the reply.
@@DannyLiDingfor 12306, can 1 account buy multiple tickets for a few persons taking the high speed train at the same time? Will there be multiple QR code?
What VPN works for Android in China..?
@@achrafessadiqi635 you could use Let’s VPN, it’s like $3/week, works on phone and PC. That’s the one I’m using on my pc win 11
Hi bro im from india im coming to Shanghai month end... Shall i download wechat and alipay is it safe for payments... Kindly put vdo about wechat like how to register and how to pay money..
@@anishkrish2190 Hi mate, I wouldn’t download WeChat for payment unless you have a Chinese green card. Without the green card WeChat would not let you use payment option (from my own experience). Just download Alipay, it would be more than enough.
I use Alipay for all payments even overseas if they have Alipay option.
U didn't inform which email.
Because Google and Yahoo doesn't work
Can we use a debit or credit card with Alipay?
@@ervinan2124 Hi Ervinan, credit card or do it credit card would work.
Is Alipay international has s time limit of 90 days if I download while I am still overseas? Secondly, can I use the trip or 12306 to buy ticket for others if my family do not have the app ? Thanks
Hi Slchoong, Alipay is a world wide payment app, as long as the merchant has an option for Alipay, you could use the app to pay for anything. There is no limit. I used it both in Australia and China.
And for Trip and 12306 - yes you could purchase tickets for anyone as long as you have their Passport or Chinese green card, there are other types of ID options but I have never used them. Once you purchased the tickets on the apps, you could find their ticket informations on your app under paid bookings.
@@DannyLiDing Thanks 😄 and have a great day.
@@DannyLiDingI tried to use Alipay in Sydney recently to see if it works before travelling to China. Unfortunately it didn’t.
@@nasdanrose4802 Hi Nasdanrose, where did you get stuck? Could you get to the payment page?
Forgive me for my ignorance but what is 12306???
Can you make a similar video for WeChat?
@@jcwfh yes mate, I am back to China next week, I will make more videos about WeChat and other topics about staying in China
Hello, for the 12306 train app, do you have to upload your passport pic and in-person holding the passport for verification? I was asked to upload for verification but seems to always got error message " system too busy, try again later" Anyone got similar problem?
@@odin5166 I think it might be the requirement of the new version. I will try to registered it and let you know. Is it during registration or other steps?
Does Alipay work offline without internet
Unfortunately, it doesn’t. That’s why I put in the way to get a SIM card at the end.
It works offline only in situations where you generate a QR-Code (your Alipay ID) to be scanned by the other party. However, don't rely on this situation arising when you need it most!
This dude has heavy Aussie accent.
@@oberstleutnant787 Oh man I was trying not to be so obvious🤣 you got me
Great informations
Hi, thanks for your very helpful video. I’m from singapore and plan to be in Shanghai in November this year. If I get a SIM card in China, would I still be able to retain my WhatsApp number, in other words, would my contacts still be able to reach me through WhatsApp? Thanks much
You will need a dual sim phone, when I took my Aus sim out I were not able to receive or send by Watsapp. After I used a dual sim phone and put my Aus sim back in , it were working.
@@HappyVibeHunter thanks!
你好，你好吗，在中国每人有多少电话号码（线）？
@@LayCHUNG 一般一人一个号码，如果有需要可以申请多个。
❤❤❤
Why 12306 failed to verify my passport for many times.
@@happy2gether1000 is it at the “add passenger” section or registration?
Is it worth buying an eSIM e.g. Airalo?
I'm not sure mate, I have never used one before.
eSIM works for data, but you will not have a local phone number, which limits some things you can do.
Bonjour c'est combien un carte sim en chine ,: combien data
@@LayCHUNG last time they offered me RMB 180 for 3 months 20G data
在中国我们可以看youtube吗？
@@HappyVibeHunter 在中国我们可以看youtube吗？
@@LayCHUNG 用VPN可以，不然看不到.
“国家地区” should be your nationality😊
Cool, you could type Chinese
Country/Region
Chinese seniors citizens don’t follow young generation about new technology.
To be honest, they've been completely cut out of society nowadays. Pretty sad.
All Chinese citizens young and old use Weixin, the Chinese version of WeChat.
75% of Visa cards do not work on Alipay or WeChat
Only 2% of banks accept foreign ATM cards
It’s a money nightmare
agree, you have to find and call your visa provider in your country before you leave i had the same problem and thank goodness one of my card works or i had to withdraw from atm at all time
Chinese electronic devices are very bad
hi, i will be traveling to China soon. just curious to know when link my Visa card to Alipay, it depends on the day's exchange rate or in Chinese yuan in the statement?
@@janesheng7517 Hi Jane, it works on daily exchange rate. There is an exchange rate button at the Home Screen of Alipay, it shows you the rates.
@@HappyVibeHunter Good to know. Thank you!
Thank you !!