Useful apps for China: what to install before you go

1. Payments: Alipay and WeChat Pay

In China you pay for almost everything with your phone. We used Alipay and WeChat Pay for restaurants, shops, the metro and taxis. Both let you link a Visa or Mastercard issued abroad. With Alipay we paid for everything from metro rides costing a few cents to souvenirs.

Tip: download the apps, sign up and link your card before you leave, then test them.

2. Data: Saily eSIM

We used a Saily eSIM, activated before leaving. The VPN was included in the eSIM and worked very well for the whole trip, with nothing else to install. Cost: €36, VPN included.

3. Maps and metro: Apple Maps (and Alipay)

Google Maps isn't usable in China without a VPN. For getting around and for the metro we used Apple Maps, plus Alipay at times. We rode the metro in Beijing, Xi'an, Chongqing and Shanghai, and each ride cost a few cents.

4. Taxis: Didi

For station-to-hotel rides and airport runs we used Didi. A ride in town usually cost us €2–9 for two. Always keep your hotel address written in Chinese.

5. Bookings: Klook

We booked our day tours (Great Wall, Terracotta Army, pandas and Leshan, Zhangjiajie) from Italy with Klook.

6. The whole trip in one place: Itinero

Before, our trip was scattered across Notion, PDF emails, map pins and notes. In China the plan changed 3–4 times. Itinero held all 146 events of the trip, available offline, including the right stations (Chongqing North and Chongqing East are not the same).

Pre-departure checklist

• Alipay and WeChat Pay installed, card linked and tested
• eSIM activated (ours, Saily, included a VPN)
• Places saved in Apple Maps
• Didi installed
• Tours booked (we used Klook)
• Hotel addresses in Chinese
• Full itinerary offline in Itinero