China on your phone: internet, Alipay, WeChat, maps, and translator - what to set up before your trip

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In China, it's not enough for a tourist to just take a smartphone.

It needs to have internet, payment options, maps, a translator, and at least one means of communication set up in advance.

Because the "I'll set it up when I get there" approach can easily fail in China:

no internet
→ the app won't open
→ can't make a payment
→ can't call a taxi
→ can't show the address
→ can't explain what you need

China can be quite convenient for tourists if the phone is prepared in advance. But if you arrive with a blank plan and the hope of "I'll figure it out there," ordinary things can suddenly become complicated, like calling a taxi or showing the hotel address.

Below are the things you should set up before departure.

1. Entry: check the validity for your passport

Reference (as of June 2026):

Russian citizens
→ visa-free for up to 30 days

Kazakh citizens
→ visa-free for up to 30 days per trip
→ up to 90 days total in 180 days

Before buying a ticket, check the conditions specific to your passport, purpose of the trip, and itinerary.

Save offline:

  • passport
  • hotel reservation
  • return ticket
  • insurance
  • hotel address
  • hotel contact

It's better not to rely solely on email. Save PDFs and screenshots directly to your phone's memory.

2. Payment: a card alone may not save you

China is a country of QR payments.

Yes, international cards are gradually being accepted better. But in everyday life, tourists often encounter QR codes rather than terminals.

What to prepare:

  • Alipay
  • WeChat / Weixin Pay
  • cash RMB / CNY
  • a working international card
  • a backup payment method

RMB / CNY is the Chinese yuan.

If you have a Visa or Mastercard from a Russian bank, don't rely on it abroad. You need a card from a foreign bank, cash, or another working payment method.

3. Alipay: set up and check before departure

Alipay is one of the main payment apps in China.

Through it, you can pay via QR code, sometimes buy tickets, use city services, call a taxi, and pay for transport in certain cities.

What to do at home:

  • install Alipay
  • register
  • link an international card
  • verify the SMS code
  • complete verification if required
  • change the interface language if available

Tip: don't postpone linking your card until you reach the airport. If the bank declines the transaction, you don't receive an SMS, or the app requests verification, it's better to find out this at home.

4. WeChat: it's not just a messenger

WeChat is a messenger, calls, contacts, mini-apps, QR codes, and payments through Weixin Pay.

For tourists, WeChat is needed not "just in case," but for everyday tasks:

  • message the hotel
  • contact the guide
  • get the driver's contact
  • open a mini-app
  • show a QR code
  • try payment through Weixin Pay

What to do before the trip:

  • install WeChat
  • register
  • add key contacts
  • check login
  • link a card if you plan to use Weixin Pay

Important: account registration and verification can be finicky. It's better to complete this before departure.

5. Maps: don't count on the Google scenario as primary

In mainland China, familiar Western services may not work as they do at home or may not open on local networks.

Therefore, it's better to install alternatives before the trip:

  • Amap / Gaode Maps
  • Baidu Maps
  • Apple Maps, if you use an iPhone
  • a translator with offline languages

Amap / Gaode Maps is one of the popular Chinese navigation apps.

Baidu Maps is another major Chinese mapping service.

Tip: save the hotel address in Chinese. Not just the English name, but the actual Chinese address line. This makes it easier to show it to the driver, metro staff, or at the reception.

6. Taxis: DiDi and built-in calls through Alipay/WeChat

DiDi is the main taxi and ride service in China.

But tourists don't always need to install a separate app: in some cases, a ride can be called through Alipay or WeChat.

What to check in advance:

  • DiDi is installed
  • or taxi calling is available through Alipay / WeChat
  • the card is linked
  • the phone number is verified
  • the hotel address is saved in Chinese

Tip: in China, it's better not to dictate the address. It's better to show the point on the map and the Chinese address. The driver may not understand the English name of the hotel.

7. Internet: roaming, local SIM, or eSIM

In China, the internet is not just "to be online."

It's needed for payments, maps, taxis, translators, app access, and communication.

Options:

Roaming
→ convenient if the price and conditions are clear in advance

Local SIM
→ can provide a Chinese number
→ usually requires a passport and registration

eSIM
→ can be prepared before departure
→ no need to find a SIM on-site
→ the phone must support eSIM

An important nuance: local SIMs and Wi-Fi in mainland China operate under local internet access rules. International tourist eSIMs may work differently - it depends on the specific package and provider.

Before purchasing an eSIM, check:

  • country: China / Mainland China
  • data volume
  • validity period
  • activation moment (upon installation or upon first connection to the provider's network)
  • phone compatibility
  • installation instructions

You can view eSIM packages for China in the eSIM catalog at eSIM.bar

Before connecting, be sure to check the conditions of the specific package.

8. Translator: download offline languages

In China, English doesn't always help, especially outside hotels, airports, and major tourist spots.

What to prepare:

  • translator
  • offline Chinese language
  • offline Russian / English
  • phrases for taxis
  • phrases for hotels
  • phrases for payments
  • phrases for food

Save useful phrases in advance:

Please take me to this address.
I want to pay in cash.
Can I pay by card?
I need a receipt.
Where is the metro entrance?
I have a reservation at this hotel.

Tip: make a separate note with the hotel address in Chinese, the hotel phone number, and the phrase "please help me call a taxi."

9. Trains and intercity transfers

If you plan to travel from Beijing to Shanghai, Shanghai to Hangzhou, Guangzhou to Shenzhen, or other transfers, check tickets in advance.

In China, high-speed trains are often more convenient than planes for medium distances.

What to save:

  • train number
  • departure station
  • arrival station
  • time
  • passport details
  • electronic ticket / screenshot
  • station address in Chinese

Important: in large cities, there may be several train stations. "Shanghai Railway Station" and "Shanghai Hongqiao" are not the same.

10. What to save offline

Checklist:

☐ passport
☐ hotel reservation
☐ insurance
☐ return ticket
☐ hotel address in Chinese
☐ hotel phone number
☐ hotel location on the map
☐ offline translator
☐ offline area map
☐ Alipay installed
☐ WeChat installed
☐ card linked
☐ internet chosen: roaming / SIM / eSIM
☐ eSIM instructions saved
☐ QR code / connection data saved

Quick check before departure

☐ clear if you need a visa regime
☐ Alipay works
☐ WeChat works
☐ have backup cash
☐ Russian card is not considered the primary payment method
☐ hotel address saved in Chinese
☐ maps and translator ready
☐ taxi / DiDi checked
☐ internet prepared
☐ important documents saved offline

It's better not to approach China with the principle of "I'll figure it out on the spot."

Here, the phone is not just a camera and messenger. It's payment, maps, a translator, taxis, tickets, hotels, and communication.

If everything is set up before departure, the trip starts with the itinerary, not with trying to understand why the app won't open and the QR code won't process.