WeChat for Foreigners: Setup, Pay, Mini Programs
WeChat is your app store and bank in China: register with a foreign SIM, link payment, and the 1…
Life
Practical tips and everyday notes
The everyday China survival kit: WeChat, SIM cards, Taobao, banks, delivery, hospitals, and the apps that actually matter in your first week. Written for people who just landed.
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Taobao for First-Timers: 7 Steps From Search to Doorstep
How to buy on Taobao as a first-timer: what to search, how to read shop ratings, the Chinese add…
China SIM Card: 6 Steps From Airport Counter to Data
How to buy a China SIM card with a passport: which counter to queue at, what real-name registrat…
WeChat for Foreigners: Setup, Pay, Mini Programs
WeChat is your app store and bank in China: register with a foreign SIM, link payment, and the 1…
Taobao for First-Timers: 7 Steps From Search to Doorstep
How to buy on Taobao as a first-timer: what to search, how to read shop ratings, the Chinese add…
How Long Things Take in China: 15 Tasks I Timed
Fifteen everyday errands timed with a stopwatch: rail security 11 min, a bank account 72 min, fo…
8 Chinese Apps You Need Before Your First Week
WeChat, Alipay, Amap, 12306 and four more: what each Chinese app actually does, what it costs yo…
China SIM Card: 6 Steps From Airport Counter to Data
How to buy a China SIM card with a passport: which counter to queue at, what real-name registrat…
China Convenience Store Prices: 20 Things I Bought in 7 Days
A logged week of 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Bianlifeng receipts: 20 everyday items with what I pai…
Shared Bikes in China: What 41 Rides in 3 Cities Taught Me
41 shared bike rides across Hangzhou, Chengdu and Xi'an: what the apps really cost, where the bi…
I Used Food Delivery in China for 30 Days. Here's What I'd Tell a Friend
The real app, the real fee, and the real reason your first order will confuse you — 30 days of o…
FAQ
Do I need WeChat in China?
For everyday life, yes. WeChat handles messaging, payments, and mini-programs such as booking and government services. Set it up with a linked bank card in your first week, because many things simply do not work without it.
Can I use Google, WhatsApp, or Instagram in China?
They are blocked without a VPN. Locals use WeChat, Baidu for search, and Douyin for short video instead. Plan for that before you rely on Western apps.
How do I get a Chinese SIM card?
Buy one at an airport counter or a carrier store with your passport, register, pick a data plan, and you are online in minutes. The major carriers are China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom.