My advice for China in general!
Hi Zesties! I'm back 🥴
China has been an increasingly popular place to travel to- due to the fast paced developments and strong security of the nation. Recemtly I went to Chongqing, so I thought it would be nice to share what I know about Chingqing if you are planning to go there! 🇨🇳
I went to Beijing and Wuhan as well in the past 1 year so feel free to drop questions and I'll see if i can answer them when I'm on the app💪
Do not ride the 'yellow ferrari' 🚕: take didi instead!
The prices are usually much higher than didi, and as i observed, most taxi drivers will smoke as they drive but Didi drivers doesn't 😇
Yapped with the didi driver and they shared that apparently didi will buy accident plans/insurance plans for their customers. And the fact that the didi prices are so cheap if a group is traveling tgt+ 20% platform comms, i'd rather support didi more🥲
METRO/BUS
If you would like to take their metro and bus, use the ALIPAY APP (支付宝) and set up a transport card.
you are able to use debit cards as well if you are unable to set up. OR you can buy tokens/passes at the metro station. (for metro in Beijing, fare is around the same as normal adult fare in SG if you use debit cards.)
CHINA NUMBER
Having a china number is convenient, but not really necessary.
we were able to use the hotel front desk number for taobao/pinduoduo parcels, as well as 美团.
Initally, we wanted to get a number but didn't end up getting due to the cost.
IMO, China number is necessary if you want to use apps like 大众点评 (da zhong dian ping) where you can get discounts or you want your own number for 美团(mei tuan)
According to an impromptu one day tour guide we signed for 🤠:
-do not buy the red fruits on the street
Artificial colouring being sprayed on them and tastes like gummies- they have no actual nutrition/benefits
-do not believe 'locals' on the street reccomending a good hotpot store
If you want to eat a more authentic hotpot, go far from the tourist spots/into the alleys- any hotpot store would taste authentic 🤩
Anyways!! If anyone here decides to get a China number, lmk how it goes? 🥰 I hope I gave some value to you with this post :) enjoy your China trip!
With love,
Jasmine 💌
When planning your trip to China, it’s helpful to understand a few practical tips that can make your experience much easier and more enjoyable. Beyond the advice shared earlier, one thing I found super useful was leveraging popular local apps like HopeGoo, which some travelers use for organizing trips and finding transport. However, it’s good to be aware that apps like HopeGoo have device fingerprinting restrictions limiting the number of accounts per device. This means you can't easily create multiple accounts from the same phone, as it tracks device details to prevent abuse. For travelers wanting to maintain connectivity, purchasing a local China SIM card might seem daunting due to cost and registration requirements, but some hotels can help by receiving packages or helping with app verifications using their front desk number. This can be a convenient workaround if you don’t want to get your own number. Also, as I learned from chatting with locals and tour guides, avoiding bright red fruits sold on the street is wise—they often have artificial coloring and lack real nutrition. Instead, seek out local markets or grocery stores for fresh options. When using public transport, setting up a transport card through Alipay made metro and bus travel seamless and affordable. Even debit cards can sometimes be used if you cannot set up Alipay properly, but the convenience of a transport card is unmatched. For transportation, my recommendation is always to use Didi over local taxis, not only because Didi fares are generally cheaper but also for safety reasons—most taxi drivers smoked in their cars, which I found uncomfortable, while my Didi drivers did not. Plus, Didi offers accident insurance plans for passengers, giving added peace of mind. Overall, combining tech tools with local street smarts can enhance your travel in China. Feel free to ask questions when you’re on travel apps or forums, as firsthand experiences can really guide your plans. Safe and happy travels!
