Practical guide.
VPN
China's Great Firewall blocks Google, YouTube, most social media, Slack, Discord, and many other Western tools. A VPN routes your traffic through a server outside China, restoring access. Download and configure your VPN before you arrive — VPN provider websites are often blocked on the mainland.
Recommended VPNs (mid-2026)
- Astrill VPN — most reliable in China; $15/month; OpenWeb protocol for best speeds
- ExpressVPN — strong China track record; $10/month on annual plan
- Mullvad — no-logs policy; $5/month; works well with WireGuard
Install 2 VPN clients as backup — reliability fluctuates around major political events and national holidays.
Payments
China is a mobile-payment society. Most vendors accept WeChat Pay and Alipay QR codes. International credit cards work at large chain stores, hotels, and tourist areas.
WeChat Pay for foreigners
- Download WeChat (works outside China)
- Create account with your phone number
- Go to Me → Pay → Add Card: add your foreign Visa or Mastercard
- Complete identity verification (passport + selfie)
- WeChat Pay now works at any merchant — daily limit ¥6,000 (~$830)
Alipay for foreigners
- Download Alipay, select "International User" during setup
- Link a foreign Visa/Mastercard or Apple Pay/Google Pay
- The "Alipay+" international wallet works at most merchants
- Daily limit: ¥2,000 (~$280); monthly: ¥50,000 (~$6,900)
SIM cards
Buy a SIM at the airport on arrival — 10 minutes with your passport.
| Provider | Data | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Unicom | 100GB+/mo | ¥99/mo (~$14) | Expats; English support |
| China Telecom | 100GB+/mo | ¥89/mo (~$12) | Rural + Yunnan coverage |
| China Mobile | 100GB+/mo | ¥79/mo (~$11) | Largest network |
Register your SIM with your real name and passport — legally required. Unregistered SIMs are deactivated after 30 days.
Visa
China's visa landscape has changed significantly in 2024–2026. Verify current policies with your embassy before travel.
Visa-free options
- 144-hour transit: 53 nationalities, up to 6 days in designated cities, onward ticket required
- 15-day visa-free: 38+ nationalities (mostly European) for tourism/business
- 30–90 day bilateral exemptions: Check your passport for mutual exemptions
Longer stay options
- Tourist visa (L): 30–90 days, extendable once; apply at Chinese embassy
- Business visa (M): Sponsored by a Chinese company; many co-living bases can assist
Most common nomad strategy: enter on 15-day visa-free or tourist visa, extend at local PSB, then do a "visa run" to Hong Kong (30-min from Shenzhen) to restart the clock.
Banking
A Chinese bank account is useful but not essential for stays under 3 months. WeChat Pay/Alipay linked to a foreign card handles 95% of daily transactions.
- Bank of China — most expat-friendly; English-speaking staff at major branches
- ICBC — largest ATM network nationwide
- HSBC China — easiest for international transfers; ¥50,000 minimum balance
Day-to-day
Apps to install before arrival
- WeChat — messaging, payments, mini-programs
- Alipay — payments, translation, city services
- Didi — ride-hailing (Chinese Uber); accepts foreign cards; English interface
- Baidu Maps — more accurate than Google Maps in China; works without VPN
- Pleco — essential Chinese dictionary; works offline
- Your VPN — configured before landing
Getting around
Metro systems in all major cities are excellent and cheap ($0.30–0.80/ride). Pay with WeChat Pay or Alipay QR code. High-speed rail between cities is outstanding: Shanghai→Hangzhou is 45 minutes at 350 km/h. Book through Trip.com (English interface) or the 12306 app.
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