China: Getting Around (2)

You have the passport and a phone with the internet on it. What is next?

Translate.

Unless you speak Mandarin, a language translator app in the next on the list. Language has been a barrier, but translator apps break through that barrier. Use the one you like. I use Google translate. It is prudent to download the languages for offline use. Once done you can either type or dictate (or have someone else dictate) or use camera for instant translation of signage or restaurant menus. The apps are not perfect (yet), but they do a really good job. On one of the past trips, for example, we were able to negotiate a set of medicines in a pharmacy. The pharmacist was asking many questions in Chinese, us answering in English, and ultimately the medicine worked very well.

Payments.

As I mentioned, China has its own preferred payment systems. Credit cards would not work in most cases. Maybe in higher end hotels. But the default means of payment is by presenting or scanning a QR code. The app I use most often is Alipay. Set it up before you go. The most straightforward way to enable Alipay is to configure it with a credit card as the source of funds. Then everything is open. Grocery stores, vending machines, metro tickets, taxi rides. There are other apps too - Weixin Pay which is the payment and digital wallet service by WeChat.

WeChat

Is the messenger service everybody uses. Even if you don't have Chinese friends, have WeChat configured. For example hotels will want to become friends with you on WeChat to offer electronic front desk access, notifications and more. Similar to Alipay, WeChat is a platform hosting so called "mini programs". A mini program can be a restaurant menu or the payment subsystem or DiDi, the ride - hailing service.

DiDi

DiDi is the Chinese Uber. Works everywhere, the same way. It can be a standalone app, but is also present as a mini-program on Alipay and WeChat. There is one subtle (but very nice) difference. You are not charged up front. You hail a ride, and after the trip is finished you pay. You can of course pay after getting off the car. Remember to do so, as you will not be able to hail another ride. But otherwise this is the way things work in China. They trust you and they do not start a service by charging your card. Booking hotels via internet (I usually use Booking.com) never charges the card. You pay at the hotel. 

One very useful tip is to take a screenshot of an address in local language. Booking.com for example offers this. It is very helpful when taking a taxi to a hotel. Show the driver the address in Chinese and off you go. 

These are the basics, but cover pretty much everything you may need. I'll talk more about longer distance transportation in the next episode.