Went to beijing in january. Was fine with credit cards and cash but having wechat pay will probably make life easier. The CCP clamped down on security, massive security checkpoints at all famous sites, must carry passport with you at all times. You also need some foreigner permission form submitted in advance to enter tiananman square.

I was only there for two days so I didnt bother using a vpn. Microsoft bing, apple maps and revscene is not blocked lol

Not sure about Beijing but in Guangzhou it's practically cash free. Make sure you have your payment apps set up asap

I'm heard horror stories of foreigners showing up with Alipay suddenly not working. I downloaded it and registered, even scanned my passport, added a couple credit cards. Am I good to go? Can I test it here at Chinese places in Van?

Also downloaded Amap to act as Google Maps

What else? Can I just use Didi in the Alipay App or do I need to download the standalone app?

I heard e-sims like Airalo give you unrestricted internet. Same as if you use your Canadian carrier's roaming. Did you use that?

The Tiananmen sq thing - yeah that's a big wtf, I heard you need to register on Wechat to get in now?

Any food court stalls in Richmond run by Mainland Chinese would very likely accept Alipay and WeChat Pay. Foody World on Sexsmith (between Bridgeport & Sea Island Way) will also take Alipay and WeChat Pay.

Apparently TnT accepts Ali and Wechat pay too

Holt Renfrew probably accepts Ali and WeChat pay :p

lol I'm guessing they're going to book us on Cathay but not until they officially cancel the flight

I'll be headed into the mainland on this trip too

I got alipay, wechat, meituan (food ordering), didi, Baidu maps, ctrip (Chinese version of trip.com app) mulladvpn

Yep as does that Chinese save on foods by metro

I went back in 2017 and it was already different. You'll need one of their electronic payment systems. I couldn't even get a coffee with cash when I was seeing a friend. He laughed at me and treated me.

Only the really old school places take cash.

Also the major stations all require you to xray your bags, taking the train is like taking a plane it was kind of insane

I was in Shanghai and Fuzhou in December 2019, just before COVID-19.

You need to have AliPay or WeChat Pay on your phone. Cash? You'll get laughed at and ridiculed, just like how we make fun of new-rich peasant farmers who come to Canada. The only place I was able to use cash was at McDonald's when the cashier lady (probably a grandmother) knew we were not locals and felt really sorry for us, and had to ask her manager to authorize us to pay for our meal in cash. Had it not been for meeting up with family, we would have been screwed. I tried to pay for a family dinner and the staff at the restaurant laughed right at my face, and my uncle had to tell him I wasn't from here. They both laughed together at me. :okay:

Edit: I should emphasize and encourage you to bring some cash, but you may not be able to use much of it, depending on where you go. Be prepared for oddball side eye stares. Even street vendors will only (prefer) to take electronic payment. Good idea on getting food apps for your phone - do your research on which apps work depending on where you go. If you use a travel eSIM, depending on which carrier you are using and how it is setup, you may or may not be exposed to the Great Firewall. If you use, say for example, your RoBellus SIM, your data will be served by Canadian servers, so no Great Firewall limitations. Enjoy your trip and please let us know how it goes.

I will never go back to China. Ever.

Does that mean the next meet isn’t in Richmond?

So has anyone here from Canada and has no ties to China able to set up their Alipay/Wechat and use it successfully?

I love being able to spend cash!

No cash... no privacy!

no privacy no crime

#chinar

At the time (remember, this was 2019) you had to have a Chinese bank account, which I did not have. I tried and failed.

It's possible you can try to open a Bank of China account locally first and see if it will work that way. Perhaps the rules at changed.

Got me there. :badpokerface:

This sounds pleasant

It’s too bad China is what it is because it’s like a Canada/Russia/India/Etc there is endless variety to explore and beautiful scenery etc. but everything else is just gross/a burden to deal with

lol putting Canada in that category is fucking retarded haha. Such a drama queen.

lol wut

I meant all those places have relatively easy adoption, even Russia VS China with these payment methods and security checkpoints etc. and barriers for tourism

Oh I thought you were saying Canada is a burden to travel in.

Nah im lit

Hell yeah :awwyeah:

Cash = privacy

I love me some cash money

China is cool I love their robot olympics and other stuff about China

But Jason00S2000 would be Hung So Lo #6969 in prison in China probably dead or disappeared for resisting the agenda.

I made a basil gravy trad Italian spaghetti tonight, may have gone a little extra wif dat cooking red wine

Comon guys I thought at least someone here has gone before we devolved into this predictable back and forth. No way I'm going to open a bank account for a 4 day trip. Tons of European tourists are going now with the visa free option - they can't all be dealing with cash only.

Fuck travel in 2015 was so much easier. Now it's all Digital arrival cards, payments, e-visas. Not just China too. Have you guys tried visiting the UK since 2024? I had to help my parents take a selfie for their ETA, it was comically idiotic how nit-picky it was.