Apps & Tech: Staying Connected in China

Your guide to the essential apps for travel: mobile payment (WeChat Pay/Alipay), translation, maps, and vital information on using VPNs and accessing blocked websites.

A vibrant, multi-tiered Chinese pagoda with red pillars, golden roofs, and intricate traditional decorations, framed by dark tree branches and scattered golden autumn leaves.

China Mobile Payments: Your Essential Guide to WeChat Pay & Alipay

Picture this: You’ve just landed in Shanghai. You’re jet-lagged, thirsty, and standing in front of a vending machine or a [...]

A hand holds a smartphone displaying a digital food menu app with images of various Chinese dishes and prices. The phone is positioned above a blue and white card on a wooden table. The card features a large QR code, an NFC symbol, and Chinese text indicating 'Scan to Order' and 'Tap to Order,' along with 'Table No: A01.'

Staying Connected in China: SIM Card, eSIM, VPN & Wi-Fi Guide

Landing in Beijing or Shanghai without a working internet connection is not just inconvenient; in 2025, it renders you almost [...]