China - never a dull moment!

[mrsterryn]

Id only add that for the first time taking HSR, give yourself at least 1.5hr before the train to figure everything out without stress panicking. Its quite simple once you get it but the first time can be nerve wracking as it's a different way of doing things.

I just do it through Alipay/wechat for Didi after i set both those up. You'll need the payment solution anyways.

Hoping to do either the business one or the premium first class (believe it just started last year ) from Shanghai to Beijing

 

[daft009]

i just setup wechat and alipay both just before i left AU on 11th March.
Was easy, just register account and link CC (i linked by NAB/citi forex free debit card).

upto 15,000 RMB (approx $3300 AUD) can be spent without doing any addtional ID checks the app said. was plenty for me as hotels took visa/mc/AMEX
so really its meals when out & about, metro etc and shopping

I also had no issues using didi china and set it up myself.
I was roaming on my aussie sim the whole time $5/day plan so was easy for my aussie customers to reach me while I was away for work and therefore no issues using whatspp/google maps etc. google maps is quite hit & miss though, good guide but cannot depend on it

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Cash is acceptable almost everywhere / certainly where tourists are likely to go

 

[mrsterryn]

Cash is acceptable almost everywhere / certainly where tourists are likely to go

Thanks I wasn't sure whether to take any

Post automatically merged: Thursday at 1:42 PM

i just setup wechat and alipay both just before i left AU on 11th March.
Was easy, just register account and link CC (i linked by NAB/citi forex free debit card).

upto 15,000 RMB (approx $3300 AUD) can be spent without doing any addtional ID checks the app said. was plenty for me as hotels took visa/mc/AMEX
so really its meals when out & about, metro etc and shopping

I also had no issues using didi china and set it up myself.
I was roaming on my aussie sim the whole time $5/day plan so was easy for my aussie customers to reach me while I was away for work and therefore no issues using whatspp/google maps etc. google maps is quite hit & miss though, good guide but cannot depend on it

Definitely reassuring as we use Whatsapp for family if they don't

 

[SYD]

i just setup wechat and alipay both just before i left AU on 11th March.

Why both? I believe you need WeChat if doing business, but if just visiting (Tourist) one or the other would suffice? Presumably AliPay, suitable CC for hotel and ATM access for cash (if that’s your preference).

Cash is acceptable almost everywhere / certainly where tourists are likely to go

Over here, I recall someone mentioning it’s the law to still accept cash?

 

[daft009]

Why both? I believe you need WeChat if doing business, but if just visiting (Tourist) one or the other would suffice? Presumably AliPay, suitable CC for hotel and ATM access for cash (if that’s your preference).

Over here, I recall someone mentioning it’s the law to still accept cash?

wechat for messaging local suppliers i was going to meet.
did Ali as well, incase i needed another 15000RMB limit/backup

I didnt take any cash or used any cash.. loved it!

 

[RealtimeY]

Occasionally I've had some payments and mini-apps (like QR ordering in restaurants) inexplicably fail on WeChat but work on Alipay, or vice versa. So I recommend setting up both just in case.

WeChat is also generally good to have just as a communication tool as it's often used in place of SMS.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Hey bear in mind to check into hotels 100% you will need physical Credit Card - again you MUST have physical CC

Also for HSR only access for foreigners is with Passport not train tickets and not electronically - you MUST have Passport for HRR travel - not for Subway.

 

[mrsterryn]

Occasionally I've had some payments and mini-apps (like QR ordering in restaurants) inexplicably fail on WeChat but work on Alipay, or vice versa. So I recommend setting up both just in case.

WeChat is also generally good to have just as a communication tool as it's often used in place of SMS.

I was thinking i would need both for a back up if one failed. I have seen a few vloggers comment about that

Post automatically merged: Thursday at 2:22 PM

Hey bear in mind to check into hotels 100% you will need physical Credit Card - again you MUST have physical CC

Also for HSR only access for foreigners is with Passport not train tickets and not electronically - you MUST have Passport for HRR travel - not for Subway.

They seem to use the passport a lot doe that time of thing

 

[elanshin]

Why both? I believe you need WeChat if doing business, but if just visiting (Tourist) one or the other would suffice? Presumably AliPay, suitable CC for hotel and ATM access for cash (if that’s your preference).

I've found with foreign mobile numbers that sometimes things work on one app and not the other. Sometimes some miniapps just don't outright work as well.

Over here, I recall someone mentioning it’s the law to still accept cash?

Yes cash still works but every so often you might not be able to get your change properly.

Hey bear in mind to check into hotels 100% you will need physical Credit Card - again you MUST have physical CC

Also for HSR only access for foreigners is with Passport not train tickets and not electronically - you MUST have Passport for HRR travel - not for Subway.

Just want to add here for others - it's not obvious where you're supposed to go, but its the manual manned check gates and they'll check your passport. I think i spent a solid 15mins trying to figure it out, failing and just asked in Chinese where I'm meant to go to one of the staff. It's not very well labelled.

Thanks I wasn't sure whether to take any

I personally haven't taken cash to China in recent years.
WhatsApp is one of the few apps that work through the great firewall ny default. Personally though i use a combination of roaming and a VPN (LetsVPN).

Edit: time for me to head out and explore Guangzhou before supplier meeting.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Was at the market today in shanghai. Various shops with aircraft models on display. They were beautifully finished, glossy, crisp sharp colours on the liveries.

The only issue was the attention to detail. There as a single design for each aircraft type, over which the livery was applied… ie the models weren’t tailored for each airline. Little things like number of windows in a cabin, placement of windows - particularly for the first class cabin on the SQ 380, or BA’s aircraft, weren’t accurately recorded.

Maybe there were some models in ‘the back room’ which were produced by the main manufacturers? Didn’t ask. But the ones on display, while lovely, may not suit the collector who is after accuracy.

 

[Quattro]

Shanghai Tourist MUST sees:

• Jazz band at Peace Hotel
• Night cruise on Huangpu River to view Bund lights
• Visit the Bund itself
• Fake market at Science and Technology Subway Station
• Xin Tian Di
• Stroll pedestrian mall Nanjing Lu
• YuYu Gardens
• Shanghai QiBao Ancient Town,
• Binjiang Park across from Bund – take in Flar at RC Pudong whilst there
• Shanghai Aquarium
• Jing’an Temple

Thank you. Will sort. 1 year old in attendance. Jazz band sounds fantastic. Wonder how I’ll manage that

And whilst I am at it I should add Beijing also:

Beijing Tourist MUST sees:

• Great Wall
• Forbidden City
• Tiananmen Square / Mao Tomb
• Summer Palace
• Temple of Heaven
• Ming Tombs
• Hutong Tour
• Beijing Duck Restaurant
• Wanfujing Street
• Pearl Fake Market

FTR - I have always preferred Beijing much more than Shanghai

Thanks, haven’t sorted accommodation for Beijing yet but looks like we will be staying around the forbidden city.

 

[moa999]

Also particularly Beijing, reservations now needed for Tiananmen Square.

 

[ksthommo]

Enjoyed the Jinshanaling Wall and Simatai Wall tour some time ago.
Less crowded around 150km drive from Beijing, long walk/hike, loved it.
Full day tour.
Used Miles Car Service http://www.beijingenglishdriver.com/

 

[moa999]

On the Shanghai Maglev, believe it's now permanently 300kph, and every 15min.

So its often quicker just taking L2 Metro which is every few minutes, and a lot cheaper.

And if wanting to get to the West of the city, the new AirportLink line is definitely quicker (and will add more connecting lines over the next few years).

And I wouldn't be surprised if the Maglev gets quietly stopped in a few years with demand dropping.

For short trips think you can get away with just Alipay, and a roaming SIM (so no VPN needed). (My recent trip used trip.com Mainland China SIM). WeChat more for communications. I used the separate Didi China app, but can also do inside.

But once you get beyond the basics apps, you often find you need a Chinese number for registrations.

 

[mrsterryn]

Suggestions on shopping ?
Shanghai looking at the Marriot Marquis (?)
Wondering about prescription glasses ? New blue tooth headphones ? Is Huawei a good brand to buy there ?
Still need to convince son and his family lol . May have to reduce this trip to just Shanghai and have another for Beijing

 

[Matt_01]

In the past I have just used my CC or cash for most payments. I am heading back in a couple of months and have been advised cash maybe the best option as I will not be in the major cities. Also I am still deciding if I will spend an few extra days and head off to Wuzhan and Nanjing or go to Japan a few days earlier. The China trip will go south if I my permit is not issued.

 

[mel-world]

The Great Wall at Simatai is definitely worth the long day trip. Especially in the spring or autumn.

 

[elanshin]

Suggestions on shopping ?

There are malls just about everywhere, so it really depends on what you want to buy.

Some of the Malls that personally have a bit of extra flair:
Raffles City North Bund 上海北外滩来福 - the food court in B1 (or B2) was built by transplanting old Shanghai alleyways and homes so you can basically see what Shanghai housing looked like up to about early 2000s.

There's another mall in Pudong 世纪汇广场 which has what the old port used to look like for its food court.

Shanghai looking at the Marriot Marquis (?)

Haven't stayed there personally, but most western big brands top tier hotels tend to all be quite well done. It's located right by the high end shopping steet (nanjing rd).

Wondering about prescription glasses ? New blue tooth headphones ? Is Huawei a good brand to buy there ?

If you need to get new glasses, there are stores at just about every mall from chains like Jins (JP). Usually if its just standard lens and such its probably ready in an hour or two. Huawei and Xiaomi are the absolute top brands (even globally) for electronics.

 

[TheEmu]

Wondering about prescription glasses ?

There was an optical store on campus of the uni I worked at in Nanjing. Several times I took a prescription fom my local independent optometrist in Aus and had it filled there. They would give me an eye-test to confirm the prescription anyway, plus they would test the current spectacles to confirm that prescription as well. Over the counter new frames and lenses: about an hour. From memory new lenses were about $40. Fitting new lenses to my existing (RayBan) frames: next day. Highly competent, efficient, friendly, economical.