Stay

Daily China runs on QR wallets. Treat cash as backup, not the primary plan. Re-test a small QR payment every few days if a card keeps failing.

1. Confirm Alipay and/or WeChat can still pay a real merchant QR
2. Keep a small RMB cash float for taxis, markets, and outages
3. If a wallet fails: notify your home bank, retry SMS binding, then fall back to cash
4. Read the payment guide when products or limits change

Use the Places directory for foreigner-friendlier payment tags. Tags go stale — always reconfirm at the counter before ordering.

1. Filter by foreign cards / Alipay / WeChat / cash / English menu
2. Open Amap for the Chinese address
3. Ask the cashier how they accept payment today

Chain cafes and convenience stores are usually the least stressful for first-week payments. Street stalls and small canteens often want local QR or cash.

1. Screenshot Chinese dish names if you have allergies
2. Carry small RMB notes for markets and stalls
3. Prefer venues that show a QR code you already tested

Most cities support transit QR codes inside Alipay or WeChat, or a reloadable card from a metro service center. Use official metro maps for schematics; use Amap for exits and walking.

1. Open your city transit mini-program in Alipay/WeChat
2. Or buy/reload a physical transit card at a service center
3. Bookmark official metro links in Essentials

DiDi and similar apps are common. Payment usually needs a working Alipay/WeChat wallet. Show the Chinese address screen to the driver.

1. Enter the Chinese destination from Amap or your hotel card
2. Confirm price estimate before confirming the ride
3. Keep cash ready if the app wallet fails at the curb

Official China Railway booking needs passport details. Prefer official 12306 when possible; third-party apps exist but add another failure mode.

1. Register with passport details before you need a rush ticket
2. Arrive early — security and ID checks take time
3. Keep the ticket QR / paper until you exit the destination station

Foreigners can drive only with the correct temporary Chinese permit or Chinese license — not a home license or IDP alone. Most short visitors are better on metro + DiDi.

1. Read Essentials driving rules for your city
2. Confirm rental desks require the Chinese permit, not only your home license
3. Skip driving if your stay is short and metro covers your route

Every address change can require a new temporary residence registration. Hotels usually handle it; private apartments often mean another police-station visit.

1. When you change hotels/apartments, ask who files the registration
2. Keep passport + stamped registration slips together
3. Do not wait until Exit-Entry asks for proof

24-hour pharmacies are common in big cities. For anything beyond OTC, bring passport and use translation carefully. International / VIP clinics cost more but often have English desks.

1. Save one nearby pharmacy and one hospital on Amap
2. Carry chronic meds with original packaging
3. For emergencies, dial local emergency services and show your address in Chinese

Essentials holds live weather, licensed guide OTAs, and translation apps. Use it as a toolbox — not a substitute for official rules.

Do not wait until the last weekend. If you may need more time, jump to Extend early. If you are leaving, jump to Leave.

1. Photo your entry stamp / visa page again
2. Write the last permitted day in your calendar with a 3-day buffer
3. If unsure, ask hotel front desk or Exit-Entry — not a random chat group