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View all →Booking China HSR tickets with a foreign passport
A foreign passport works for high-speed rail in China, but you must clear a one-off identity check before you can buy anything, and passport holders are barred from the self-service machines.
China airport SIM cards: prices, hours, and when to skip them
You can buy a local SIM in the arrivals hall at Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen airports — with your passport and about ¥100–300. Here is where the counters are, when they close, and the one reason to buy an eSIM instead.
Which Apps Are Blocked in China — and What to Use Instead
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, X and Uber are blocked across mainland China at network level. Here is what replaces each one, and why the workaround has to be installed before you fly.
eSIM in China: buy and install it before you fly
An international eSIM works across mainland China and sidesteps the Great Firewall on mobile data — but it has to be installed before you leave. Here is the order that works.
Can you use cash and foreign cards in China?
Cash must be accepted for face-to-face payment since 1 February 2026, and foreign cards still work in Chinese ATMs at 3,000 yuan per withdrawal. Here's how each payment route works, including the 3% fee on Alipay and WeChat Pay.
How to set up WeChat Pay with a foreign card
Link a Visa or Mastercard to WeChat Pay without a Chinese bank account — the exact in-app steps, the passport check, and the 3% fee you only pay above ¥200.
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