Payments 5 min read
What if my foreign card is declined in China?
A practical first response when a foreign card is declined in China, with backup steps and a 60-second payment rehearsal.
Reviewed 2026-07-27
Read the answer Answers + rehearsals
China travel answers for the moments that feel unfamiliar.
Start with a direct answer, prepare the fallback, then practise the moment before it happens. Each guide is written for first-time visitors, reviewed, bounded, and linked to a playable rehearsal where one exists.
Arrival
Phone, airport, hotel address, and the first-hour sequence.
Payments
Prepare a mobile payment path without relying on one card.
Everyday moments
Handle rides, food, QR menus, and small language gaps.
Transport 5 min read
What to do when a Didi driver calls in Chinese
A calm, practical way to handle a Chinese pickup call: keep your pin visible, switch to writing, and show a prepared message.
Reviewed 2026-07-27
Read the answer Food 6 min read
How to order food in China without speaking Chinese
How to use a QR menu, camera translation, and one clear food preference when a restaurant has no English menu.
Reviewed 2026-07-27
Read the answer Arrival 6 min read
China first-day arrival checklist: what to prepare before you land
A calm, practical China arrival checklist covering phone data, your hotel address, payment backups, transport, and the first meal.
Reviewed 2026-07-27
Read the answer Payments 5 min read
How to prepare Alipay for a trip to China as a foreign visitor
A practical pre-departure checklist for preparing a mobile payment app, checking verification, and keeping a backup when travelling in China.
Reviewed 2026-07-27
Read the answer Connectivity 5 min read
How to prepare your phone for travel in China
A first-day phone checklist for mobile data, charging, offline details, translation, maps, and the accounts you may need on arrival.
Reviewed 2026-07-27
Read the answer Transport 5 min read
How to get from Shanghai Pudong Airport to your hotel
A decision guide for your first airport transfer: save the address, choose a route, confirm the pickup point, and keep a backup.
Reviewed 2026-07-27
Read the answer Food 5 min read
How to order food in China with a QR menu
A first-restaurant walkthrough for scanning a QR menu, translating the important parts, checking preferences, and confirming the order.
Reviewed 2026-07-27
Read the answer