China travel advice

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Get a prepaid SIM card with a data plan to stay connected. Remember, because of the fire wall, apps like Whatsapp, Instgram, and Google Map are not accessible in China, so you may wish to install a workable VPN before your trip. This is something we can assist you with.

• Mobile Payment: Although some cash can still be handy just in case, almost everyone in China now uses Alipay and Wechat Pay. You can download the apps and add your cards to them for an easy mobile payment experience. Instructions can be found here.
• Card Payment: Alternatively, you can also pay by card. While you can pay with Visa and Mastercard in many places, UnionPay is the most commonly accepted. 

• Didi is the counterpart of Uber in China, which you can use it for ride hailing. 
• Amap and Baidu map are the most frequently used navigation apps in China. They are good for local traffic and public transportation routes. 
• You can also use Meituan and Alipay to rent shared bikes, although be aware they are much smaller compared to bikes in Western countries. 

• Restaurants in China are less allergy friendly, so you may wish to bring an allergy card in Chinese to communicate your diet requirements effectively. For example：我对酱油过敏(I am allergic to soy sauce) or 我对坚果过敏(I am allergic to nuts). SpotChina will help you produce your allergy card. 
• Meituan and Eleme are the Chinese Deliveroo. With these apps, you have a wide variety of delicious food at your fingertips. Instructions for using these apps can be found here.