Journey to China: Important suggestions for navigating apps, digital funds and visa-free entry for Australians

More than 20 years in the past in 2003, I used to be dancing on the Great Wall of China as DJ Paul Oakenfold performed from an historical watchtower.

My sister and I had been wearing down parkas and the sight of us raving in full winter package within the pouring rain on this UNESCO website would have despatched social media right into a flurry. But there’s no digital footprint of that evening, solely reminiscences. This was earlier than the age of Instagram, and a decade earlier than China launched the “Great Firewall”, a state-run web censorship system that blocks entry to international web sites and apps.

I just lately returned to China, and there are some issues you actually need to know earlier than you journey. Thankfully, visas usually are not considered one of them. Late final yr, China prolonged its visa-free program for Australians till December 2026, permitting us to journey as much as 30 days with out making use of for a visa.

Most of us have come to depend on our smartphones after we journey to assist with each day navigation, reserving eating places, paying for purchases and ordering rideshares and taxis. Unless you’re ready, visiting China can really feel like leaping in a DeLorean and time travelling again to the ’70s. The know-how (particularly the apps) that we’ve got come to know and love evaporates in a single day.

First factor to do earlier than you allow is obtain Alipay (in absence of Apple Pay) and WeChat (China’s reply to WhatsApp). Alipay and WeChat are the commonest methods to make transactions, and also you’ll have to hyperlink a card earlier than being supplied with a QR code, which you utilize to make funds. You can’t pay with a bodily card. WeChat is used for messaging, but in addition has a cost perform.

Uber is blocked in China, as a substitute use the Alipay app to order a DiDi ride-share or taxi, which features in English. Keep some money available, too.

Alongside lifeline Alipay, an e-sim is important. Holafly (esim.holafly.com) supplies limitless knowledge e-sims for China with an inbuilt VPN, so you may entry Instagram, Facebook and Google Maps.

Netflix will work in your smartphone, however if you wish to stream it in your laptop computer, you’ll have to hotspot out of your telephone.

If you often journey with an influence financial institution, go away it at dwelling and purchase one whenever you arrive. My costly energy financial institution was confiscated on the airport, together with many others as a result of it didn’t meet the brand new necessities swiftly launched final yr. In China, energy banks should now have a “CCC” stamp to show they’ve been made and manufactured within the nation.

Last however actually not least, the Google Translate app turns out to be useful, particularly as English menus are nonetheless a rarity in mainland China. Use the “Camera” perform to translate menus into English (and be ready to giggle on the generally absurd interpretations).

You also can use the microphone perform to translate by speech. Ask a query into the microphone, and it’ll translate into the textual content of your alternative, which you’ll be able to present to the particular person you’re interacting with.

Be calm and affected person and keep in mind that it’s all a part of the expertise. And if you happen to ever end up raving on the Great Wall of China, fireplace up that e-sim and waste no time in sharing it to your socials.