Thank you and it's most helpful indeed. I was able to use the payment app in China via your previous episode when I travelled to China recently. Appreciate your contribution and wishing you and your family a great day !!! 🙏
@@dennis19169 hey, yes, you can link your own locally issued credit card to the DiDi app. It should work. For Meituan, unfortunately, it doesn’t translate nicely to English.
This presents in English a few apps that only work in Chinese. Since you speak Chinese you miss the struggle and issue of people who don't and need something they can use. The video is somewhat helpful for some of the apps. Thanks
Agree, I'm a bit surprised with the entrepreunership of the Chinese, no one has exploited the option to just do an English translation for food ordering & reservations.
Not being able to use Google Maps and the Baidu Maps is completely in English will be very hard for non-Mandarin speakers navigating China as tourists. Hope there is English version of maps apps in China.
Great video. Will be traveling to China early next year. I have quite a lot Yuan in paper form leftover from my last visit from 10 years ago. Since all transactions are now done using phone apps like AliPay, what can I do with them? Or where can I go to exchange my paper Yuan?
Thank you so so sooooooo much for the useful information..hopefully I can visit China soon..but I have a question..is there any tourist agencies make a private tours f9r families.?
So glad the video has been helpful to you. There are many tour agencies out there providing private tours for families. You can either search online, search on TikTok or get tours at the hotel concierge.
Hi, thank you so much for your thoughtful video. I’ve felt much more prepare going to Shanghai now. I do have a question regarding Alipay/Wechat using a foreign/non-Chinese credit card though. There seems to be a 3% transaction fees for service over 200 RMB ($27-$28), how do we avoid this charge? And, may I ask if Didi also charge for foreign transaction fee? Thank you so much again and wish for much success to the channel! 🎉
Thanks and so glad you find the video helpful. Are you from Singapore? If so, you can use the Changi App which has a digital wallet that can scan Alipay QR codes and doesn’t have the 3% charge. For Didi, you link your credit card to it. There are no extra charges.
Thank you and glad you find the video helpful. An alternative is Apple Maps if you have an iPhone. Google map is blocked. Unfortunately baidu maps has no English version. You can only use a translator if u use Baidu
Hi Gilbert! Thank you for taking the time to explain all of these details and help people to prepare their trip to China 🙇🏻 I’m travelling to Chongquin in September and this is the first video of yours I’ve watched. Really helpful. My only question is about Meituan app. I’ve seen it’s on Chinese. Is there a way I can get it translated into English? I don’t know Chinese unfortunately. If not, by using a the embedded app in WeChat, could do the Trick? Again, thank you for all your videos in advance 🙌🏻
Hey, thanks and so glad that the video is helpful to you. So far, from my own experience, DiDi, WeChat, Alipay, Hello bike mini app are all quite friendly to non Chinese speakers. But Meituan and Baidu still not that friendly, including the mini programs. So it is going to be hard….
Thank you so much. How to subscribe local data roaming service for internet for iPhone without local cell phone number? Could you please explain? Thank you
Hey glad you find the video helpful. What i mean in the video, is that you can use your current telco service in your home country to subscribe for roaming services. While it is more generally higher cost, you will still have access to your everyday apps like TH-cam, Facebook and Google.
Thanks for the useful tips, one question about using DiDi, do u had to have Chinese phone number when using DiDi? some of my friend in China said u must have Chinese phone number when using DiDi, she said the driver might call you if they can’t track it current location . Thanks again for the video
Hey, glad you enjoyed the video. No, you don’t need a Chinese number to use DiDi. Normally the driver won’t call you. If they need to contact you, they will text you using the in app chat. So it’s ok.
Hello uncle! thank you for the video, I’d like to ask did the DiDi driver ask for phone number confirmation ( 4 digits of our phone number, because my friend said they do but she rarely used DiDi, so I’m not sure ) and do they ask again where we want to go? thanks beforehand uncle!
Hi Felicia, glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, the driver will always ask for the last four digits of your phone number the first thing you step into the car. The phone number will be whatever the phone number that you use to register for a DiDi account. It can be your own local phone number.
Gilbert! Ahh that is shared by my elder brother. Good sir, may I inquire if AliPay app offers translators? Since I will see Changsha and Nanning come this January for Spring Festival, my friends will be with families and my only means of translators (lol I don't want to interrupt them). Any other apps also to keep connected like the Chinese equivalent to Skype and Messanger? I ask since while in HK, the city allowed Messanger but mainland China is digitally isolated from the world. Thansk for the vid, gonna see your next one for AliPay
Hi Erik, hope the video has been helpful to you. Yes, Alipay offers a translator mini programme, just go to the more menu, entry utilities, there is a translator that you can use.
Hi Gaven, no I didn’t. I used the roaming services provided by my telco. A prepaid sim card purchased in China will have problems accessing apps like Google, Facebook, TH-cam etc
thank you for your video. I downloaded the baidu app but all is in chinese. as an english speaker, how do i change the language to enaglish? the app is all in chinese
Normally, they will just use the number that you have put in during the account registration. They will also ask for a contact number for the purpose of the reservation which you can then enter your hotel contact number.
Hi, obviously there are difference between a credit card and a debit card. But as far as linking to Alipay is concerned, there is no difference at all.
It's cumbersome but you can take a screen shot and then run it through a translation APP, eg: Google if you have a VPN, otherwise 'Dear Translate' (which I am pretty sure is the English version of Baidu translate). It actually works much better if you have two phones, one running the Chinese-only APP and the other pointing at the screen and doing the translation in real time. Translation APPs can translate If you are on Android then you definitely want to down load and practice using before heading to China. Especially the VPN. Dear Translate is in Chinese but you can pretty soon get the hand of which buttons do what. Google Playstore will be blocked in China. Apple App store doesn't seem to be however.
@@kshred3043 Thanks for your detail reply. Just wondering which vpn seems to work the best or do I really need more than one vpn? I’ve tried espresso VPN it’s so so…works about 40% of time.
No, you don’t need a local China debit card or credit card to use DiDi. All you need to do is to link your Singapore issued credit card to the app. It will work.
@@steventay oh, i think i know what you are asking… if the merchant/shop is not a master card or Visa card merchant, are you still able to make purchases using Alipay? Answer is yes. The merchant only need to offer Alipay has a payment mode, you can simply scan the QR code for payment.
@@gibbontravelogue the other party must be a alipay merchant account in order to work to pay using international alipay with mastercard? if personal alipay, we cannot transfer money to them correct?
I'm in china right now and most difficult thing is that 1. their APP are practically all in Chinese which hard to follow not all of them work in English. 2. The sim card, be aware that as foreigners you have to buy special sim card dedicated to foreigns 10 giga per month with around 89 R&B. 3. Before you come make sure your visa card ' bank' hzs no limits or restrictions to woke in china. 4. Ali pay imposed limitation on my spending whereas i spend only 250 R&B THOSE ARE PROBLEMS CAN HURT I CHINA
That’s a good question. There’s not much of a difference and just a matter of preference. My DiDi app is rather installed and on phone’s home page and easily accessible so I prefer to use the main app.
@gibbontravelogue I suppose didi miniapp doesn't come in English too? 😂 I'd also like to ask about Ctrip for booking tours and 12306 for booking train and gaotie tickets. Many thanks.
Unfortunately, the Meituan app is in Chinese. Perhaps you may have to do it the traditional way, ie enquirer at the hotel concierge for suitable restaurants or can consider getting an English guide.
@@gibbontravelogue yes i activate alipay, i got didi in english, wechat no problem, i mean only difficult to use baidu, it is only in chines,rest all no problem can manage
On the contrary, it is very safe in China. There is respect for law and order and chances of getting mugged, pickpocketed or robbed is much lower than the US and Europe.
@@gibbontravelogue wrong. China doesn't respect any laws. I have a list of 100+ reasons that China is Not safe. I'm Chinese. 48. GARAGE TURNS INTO GRAVEYARD FOR CAR OWNERS. Tragic Tales from Flooded Garage: Locked Exits,Unknown Lives Lost; Half of China is Soaked? Mud Handprints Cover the Walls of the Underground garage in Baoji Emerald City, Post-Disaster Video is shocking . 49. China claims to be the safest country in the world, yet not a single city is on the list of the safest tourist cities in the world out of 100+ cities. Based on 2 independent studies . Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: The World's Safest Cities to Travel 2024, as of September 27, 2023, and List of World's Safest and Most Dangerous Cities for Travelers. Forbes Advisor recently conducted a study ranking cities worldwide based on safety criteria, as of July 29, 2024. China is not safe. 50. Hundreds of restaurants in Nantong have been found to add antibiotic drugs into the customers food to prevent them from getting sick. 51. Chinese EVs can lock you inside. If your social credit score is negative or when you say something negative about the government, they can remotely lock you inside. What if there's a fire or an accident. 52. You could be served Zombie Meat, and you'll never know. Meat that had been frozen for 10 or more years already. Many students were served with zombie meat in many schools around the country.
@@gibbontravelogue 27. The Chinese government never arranged for the evacuation of their citizens in war-torn areas. In times of conflict or War the Chinese government doesn't care about its citizens. Russian Ukraine War Hamas Israel War Palestine Israel War 28. When you help someone in need as a good Samaritan, you'll get into big trouble when the victim sues you for bodily injury that you didn't cause and for financial compensation. 29. Savings may suddenly disappear from your bank account. 30. Millions of babies and Young children are kidnapped every year without a trace. 31. An ordinary person can be arrested for espionage by simply taking pictures of sceneries or by taking down notes on maps , unknowingly designated as secret facilities, government facilities, or military bases . 32. The judicial system doesn't interpret the Law but rather, the CCP decides the interpretation of the law. The supreme court is just an employee of the CCP. And the CCP makes sure to make very vague laws, so that it can easily be manipulated. 33. Almost all the apartments have steel bars on windows , including school dormitories. They look like prison cells because of frequent burglaries. 34. You can get fined for doing household chores. 35. You can freeze to death during winter because the farm management police will confiscate your coal. 36. It is illegal to say China is poor. 37. It is illegal to talk about China's bad economy or worsening economy. 38. It is illegal to carry White Paper because of the White Paper Movement.
@@gibbontravelogue 2. Thousands of people who report on disasters like an outbreak, flood disasters, building fires, and other fatal accidents get arrested and silenced . 3. Human Rights lawyers who defend the innocent and the oppressed are also arrested. 4. Human Trafficking in China . You can buy a wife or children especially in rural areas of China. Child kidnappings and human trafficking are prevalent. It's a very serious crisis in China. 5. Stand-up comedians get arrested for making fun of the government and its officials. 6. In an economic slump, those who are bankrupt are not protected . They can't declare personal bankruptcy, and become prisoners for life in their own debt . All bank accounts are automatically frozen including Alipay and WeChat Pay. 7. Any behavior that is not in line with the government narrative will get demerits from your social credit score . Having a low score will bar you from many necessities in life like you won't be able to hail a taxi nor book a hotel nor buy a plane ticket. 8. When you do business, you'll be forced by many government officials to pay bribes or else your business won't go anywhere. The result is cutting corners , substandard quality products, Tofu dregs , collapsing buildings and bridges are common. 9. If you can't afford an apartment, then you can't get a Hukou 户口.
It's not correct to say China has it's own verson of Google XYZ. Say it this way: China has it's own mapping apps, ride-share apps, travel booking apps, etc. and some of them are much better than their U.S. counterparts. Singaporeans are so used to U.S. dominance that they only think of Google, Apple, etc.
Hi Ken, thanks for the comments. This travelogue is simply for people who wish to plan a trip to China and to know what apps they can use to enhance their visit. While I’m interested to discuss geopolitics, this may not be the right place.
Gilbert, Another useful video for Singaporeans travelling to China. 👍
Thanks and thanks for watching!
Thank you and it's most helpful indeed. I was able to use the payment app in China via your previous episode when I travelled to China recently. Appreciate your contribution and wishing you and your family a great day !!! 🙏
So glad to hear this. Thanks and safe travels!
I'm going to China for the first time at the end of June. I've been watching your videos the most for all of this expert information. Xièxiè nǐ!
Great to hear! And glad you find them helpful. Wishing you a safe and fruitful trip in China!
Fantastic info, really helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for sharing this helpful video!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much! Best regards from Argentine!
Thanks and glad the video reached Argentina. I really hope to visit Argentina one day. Keep safe!
another wonderful video, great work buddy!
Thanks for the visit!
@@gibbontravelogue Keep up the good work! Looking forward to your next video!
@@dave8229Thanks for the encouragement! It matters a lot. 😅
Thanks so much for sharing!!!
@@jasonloke2219 Thanks for watching. And supporting this channel.
thank you , your friend from ALGERIA
Wow! Glad you enjoyed the video and that the video reaches Algeria 🇩🇿
Thank you very much , from kingdom of Morocco
Wow, that’s far away from where I am. Hope you enjoyed the video!
Thank you from Bali! Very useful info for ppl who are going to China and have no clue 😁
Thanks! Glad to know that the video is helpful to you.
I'm going to Wuhan on May 23, 2025, this helped a lot, thank you!
So glad the video has been helpful to you! Have a great trip to Wuhan!
thank you so much, this is valuable info
Glad it was helpful!
Hi, I'm from Malaysia. Thanks for your kind effort bro, very useful information.
Hey, happy to be of help, my friendly neighbour! Thanks for supporting this channel.
Thank you very much for the video.
You are most welcome. Am glad that the video has been helpful to you.
Thanks for the great video! Does the didi app allow payment with a foreign visa card? Also, meituan only available in Chinese and not English?
@@dennis19169 hey, yes, you can link your own locally issued credit card to the DiDi app. It should work. For Meituan, unfortunately, it doesn’t translate nicely to English.
This presents in English a few apps that only work in Chinese. Since you speak Chinese you miss the struggle and issue of people who don't and need something they can use. The video is somewhat helpful for some of the apps. Thanks
Yes, that’s true. Thanks for supporting the channel regardless.
Agree, I'm a bit surprised with the entrepreunership of the Chinese, no one has exploited the option to just do an English translation for food ordering & reservations.
Hi Gilbert, any suggestion of using VPN in China? Surely need mobile data in order to use those apps! Please share more info! Thanks!
Hmm am afraid i never really used any VPN in China. Have always stuck to my local telco roaming services.
Roaming is insanely expensive. That should only be used as an emergency option.
thank you for the great tips :)
You're so welcome!
Sorry Gilbert, I forgot to ask whether YouTrip card can be used to link to Alipay and Wechat Pay.
Yes, can be done.
Hi, so can be use in share electric bike also ?
Thanks Gilbert.
@@Tampines8383 yes, can.
Thank you for sharing :)
Thanks for supporting this channel !
Not being able to use Google Maps and the Baidu Maps is completely in English will be very hard for non-Mandarin speakers navigating China as tourists. Hope there is English version of maps apps in China.
Agreed. Let’s hope we will have that in future. For now, you can rely a little bit on cranky Google maps in China
Great video. Will be traveling to China early next year. I have quite a lot Yuan in paper form leftover from my last visit from 10 years ago. Since all transactions are now done using phone apps like AliPay, what can I do with them? Or where can I go to exchange my paper Yuan?
Sounds great! Hope you have a great trip. Just bring along your physical cash and spend them. The shops still accept them, just a little inconvenient
@@gibbontravelogue Nice! Thanks
Deposit to a Chinese person's bank then he or she transfer the fund to your Alipay Balance.
@@SaveMyLife-h1v Hey, that's a great idea! Thanks 😊
Thank you so so sooooooo much for the useful information..hopefully I can visit China soon..but I have a question..is there any tourist agencies make a private tours f9r families.?
So glad the video has been helpful to you. There are many tour agencies out there providing private tours for families. You can either search online, search on TikTok or get tours at the hotel concierge.
Hi, thank you so much for your thoughtful video. I’ve felt much more prepare going to Shanghai now. I do have a question regarding Alipay/Wechat using a foreign/non-Chinese credit card though. There seems to be a 3% transaction fees for service over 200 RMB ($27-$28), how do we avoid this charge? And, may I ask if Didi also charge for foreign transaction fee? Thank you so much again and wish for much success to the channel! 🎉
Thanks and so glad you find the video helpful. Are you from Singapore? If so, you can use the Changi App which has a digital wallet that can scan Alipay QR codes and doesn’t have the 3% charge.
For Didi, you link your credit card to it. There are no extra charges.
Such helpful suggestions. Thank you. Is there an alternative for Baidu Map in English?
Thank you and glad you find the video helpful. An alternative is Apple Maps if you have an iPhone. Google map is blocked. Unfortunately baidu maps has no English version. You can only use a translator if u use Baidu
Hi Gilbert!
Thank you for taking the time to explain all of these details and help people to prepare their trip to China 🙇🏻
I’m travelling to Chongquin in September and this is the first video of yours I’ve watched. Really helpful.
My only question is about Meituan app. I’ve seen it’s on Chinese. Is there a way I can get it translated into English? I don’t know Chinese unfortunately.
If not, by using a the embedded app in WeChat, could do the Trick? Again, thank you for all your videos in advance 🙌🏻
Hey, thanks and so glad that the video is helpful to you. So far, from my own experience, DiDi, WeChat, Alipay, Hello bike mini app are all quite friendly to non Chinese speakers. But Meituan and Baidu still not that friendly, including the mini programs. So it is going to be hard….
@@gibbontravelogue understood. Really appreciate you taking the time to reply. I’ll give it a try.
Again thanks for creating these great videos 👏🏻🇨🇳🙇🏻
Sorry, another question. Do I need a VPN for 2 weeks' travelling in China? Thanks for your help.
If you are not using a local SIM card, then a VPN is not needed.
Hi Gilbert, can we download all these apps which you mentioned on our own phone, I mean, on my iPhone?
Yes, of course. All available on the Apple AppStore
Very helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Very useful
Glad you think so!
Thank you so much. How to subscribe local data roaming service for internet for iPhone without local cell phone number? Could you please explain? Thank you
Hey glad you find the video helpful. What i mean in the video, is that you can use your current telco service in your home country to subscribe for roaming services. While it is more generally higher cost, you will still have access to your everyday apps like TH-cam, Facebook and Google.
Thanks for the useful tips, one question about using DiDi, do u had to have Chinese phone number when using DiDi? some of my friend in China said u must have Chinese phone number when using DiDi, she said the driver might call you if they can’t track it current location . Thanks again for the video
Hey, glad you enjoyed the video. No, you don’t need a Chinese number to use DiDi. Normally the driver won’t call you. If they need to contact you, they will text you using the in app chat. So it’s ok.
Thank you
Thank you for supporting this channel!
Which apps can't change to english version. Only knew Baidu. How about Meituan, Hello, Didi ?
Only DiDi and the two payments app can change to English
thank you! but unfortunately a lot of these apps and mini programs are not available in my country's app store
Hey which country are you from?
@@gibbontravelogue germany. i hope i can download them once i get to china 😔
how about bank jenius apps, can use at china? because it has an exchange rate to the yuan currency.
I don’t think so. If it has a Mastercard or Visa card, then it can be linked to the WeChat account.
Hello uncle! thank you for the video, I’d like to ask did the DiDi driver ask for phone number confirmation ( 4 digits of our phone number, because my friend said they do but she rarely used DiDi, so I’m not sure ) and do they ask again where we want to go? thanks beforehand uncle!
Hi Felicia, glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, the driver will always ask for the last four digits of your phone number the first thing you step into the car. The phone number will be whatever the phone number that you use to register for a DiDi account. It can be your own local phone number.
@@gibbontravelogue thank you uncle!
Gilbert!
Ahh that is shared by my elder brother. Good sir, may I inquire if AliPay app offers translators?
Since I will see Changsha and Nanning come this January for Spring Festival, my friends will be with families and my only means of translators (lol I don't want to interrupt them).
Any other apps also to keep connected like the Chinese equivalent to Skype and Messanger? I ask since while in HK, the city allowed Messanger but mainland China is digitally isolated from the world.
Thansk for the vid, gonna see your next one for AliPay
Hi Erik, hope the video has been helpful to you. Yes, Alipay offers a translator mini programme, just go to the more menu, entry utilities, there is a translator that you can use.
As for a chat app, WeChat is the go-to app. Everyone uses WeChat to chat, make voice and video calls
Some of these apps dont work out of china. I cannot even see the attractions i want. It shows a blank white page. Or did i get something wrong?
Hi, which app shows a blank white page? Meituan?
Very helpful, however, from earlier I saw that the app only had Chinese text. can we make it to english?
For some of the apps like Didi, WeChat, Alipay, there is a setting that you can switch to English.
@@gibbontravelogue yeah that i found it, i'm still looking for baidu map, all chinese text. so confusing.. haha
@@mayandrapramoedyansyah8987 yah, that one no solution.
Hey Gilbert, may I ask if you purchased a china prepaid sim to access all the applications?
Hi Gaven, no I didn’t. I used the roaming services provided by my telco. A prepaid sim card purchased in China will have problems accessing apps like Google, Facebook, TH-cam etc
@@gibbontravelogue i see. Thank you!
thank you for your video. I downloaded the baidu app but all is in chinese. as an english speaker, how do i change the language to enaglish? the app is all in chinese
Unfortunately for Baidu Map, it is all in Chinese. You will have to use a translation app to manual translation and transcribe.
gd video.... 👍🏼
when reserving (free) museum tickets 预约 on 美团, can just provide hotel contact number too? thanks
Normally, they will just use the number that you have put in during the account registration. They will also ask for a contact number for the purpose of the reservation which you can then enter your hotel contact number.
Is there any advantage of using a debit vs credit card on Alipay?
Hi, obviously there are difference between a credit card and a debit card. But as far as linking to Alipay is concerned, there is no difference at all.
Thanks
Thanks for watching and hope it has been helpful.
So is it better to buy mobile data before leaving for China?
Yes, that’s my preference.
Hey if I don't have Chinese SIM and how do I buy data roaming packages from my local SIM? Will that work in china ?
@@aashikagaire3314 you can find that out from your local telco. Yes, the roaming services will work in China. Btw, where are you from?
@@aashikagaire3314yes it works
dose my number works with those apps there i got roaming plan ?
Yes, no problem at all.
baidu maps isnt available to download in my country what other app can i download for navigation while in china ?
You can consider Bing Map from Microsoft. Although not very well used nor popular in China, it is a viable solution if you cannot download Baidu maps.
This guide is great but if I can’t read any Chinese then some of these apps won’t do me any good, is there any work around?
Ok, these are apps that have English/international versions WeChat, Alipay and Didi.
It's cumbersome but you can take a screen shot and then run it through a translation APP, eg: Google if you have a VPN, otherwise 'Dear Translate' (which I am pretty sure is the English version of Baidu translate). It actually works much better if you have two phones, one running the Chinese-only APP and the other pointing at the screen and doing the translation in real time. Translation APPs can translate
If you are on Android then you definitely want to down load and practice using before heading to China. Especially the VPN.
Dear Translate is in Chinese but you can pretty soon get the hand of which buttons do what. Google Playstore will be blocked in China. Apple App store doesn't seem to be however.
@@kshred3043 Thanks for your detail reply. Just wondering which vpn seems to work the best or do I really need more than one vpn? I’ve tried espresso VPN it’s so so…works about 40% of time.
Set the mobile phone language to English, then wechat and Alipay will be in English mode, other functions can be realized on wechat and Alipay
did you say we need a local china debit card or credit card to use didi cab app? am singaporean, how to use didi when i don't have a china based card.
No, you don’t need a local China debit card or credit card to use DiDi. All you need to do is to link your Singapore issued credit card to the app. It will work.
@@gibbontravelogue thanks!
Hi, now still need tour card or not? what about those small retail seller?
Now no need. This replaces the old tour card.
@@gibbontravelogue if the other party did not subscribe alipay mastercard visa service, we might not able to use. is it truth ?
@@steventay may i know which is the other party that you are referring to?
@@steventay oh, i think i know what you are asking… if the merchant/shop is not a master card or Visa card merchant, are you still able to make purchases using Alipay? Answer is yes. The merchant only need to offer Alipay has a payment mode, you can simply scan the QR code for payment.
@@gibbontravelogue the other party must be a alipay merchant account in order to work to pay using international alipay with mastercard? if personal alipay, we cannot transfer money to them correct?
I'm in china right now and most difficult thing is that
1. their APP are practically all in Chinese which hard to follow not all of them work in English.
2. The sim card, be aware that as foreigners you have to buy special sim card dedicated to foreigns 10 giga per month with around 89 R&B.
3. Before you come make sure your visa card ' bank' hzs no limits or restrictions to woke in china.
4. Ali pay imposed limitation on my spending whereas i spend only 250 R&B
THOSE ARE PROBLEMS CAN HURT I CHINA
Thanks for your comments. I would definitely recommend using your own country roaming services.
What's the difference and why do you prefer using Didi on its own app rather than as a miniapp from Wechat?
That’s a good question. There’s not much of a difference and just a matter of preference. My DiDi app is rather installed and on phone’s home page and easily accessible so I prefer to use the main app.
@gibbontravelogue I suppose didi miniapp doesn't come in English too? 😂
I'd also like to ask about Ctrip for booking tours and 12306 for booking train and gaotie tickets. Many thanks.
@ actually, the DiDi mini app also can be set to English so the difference is not obvious. What are your questions that you have? See if I can assist?
how far in advance can you book the attractions in Meituan?
It really depends on the attraction. Usually a few weeks.
@@gibbontravelogue thank you
is it correct that I need to use WeChat for Meituan to work? Can't find it on Alipay
Please do I need to get an iphone before coming to china?
Of course not! Use whatever smart phone you are using.
@gibbontravelogue thank you I will download the apps to help
To register and activate China apps , do you require a China mobile no ?
No, it is not necessary at all. You can use your own local number.
Are these apps can send my local number verification code?
@ yes, it can.
Can i download ALIPAY APP from India
Hmm 🧐 you try searching on your country AppStore and let us know if it is available.
Is meituoan app in English language? because I cannot speak, because I look halal food restaurant in China
Because I cannot speak Chinese language
Unfortunately, the Meituan app is in Chinese. Perhaps you may have to do it the traditional way, ie enquirer at the hotel concierge for suitable restaurants or can consider getting an English guide.
@@gibbontravelogue it means hotel where I stay?
@@HelmiSyarizal yes, at the hotel that u stay
@@gibbontravelogue do you ever go to changsa, Xiamen, hangzhou?
❤❤❤
Thanks for watching!
Don't confuse people by using terms like " your local bank cards" or " your local Telco service". Just use " foreign".
Thanks for your suggestion. I guess so
From the viewers' POV, "local" don't sound wrong.
Nothing confusing at all.
but all app in chines language, i try to change to english couldn't
Hey, you should be able to get the English version of DiDi, WeChat and Alipay. For Baidu, Meituan, you’ll need to be proficient in Chinese.
@@gibbontravelogue yes i activate alipay, i got didi in english, wechat no problem, i mean only difficult to use baidu, it is only in chines,rest all no problem can manage
In other words don't go to China.
You might get arrested
On the contrary, it is very safe in China. There is respect for law and order and chances of getting mugged, pickpocketed or robbed is much lower than the US and Europe.
@@gibbontravelogue wrong. China doesn't respect any laws. I have a list of 100+ reasons that China is Not safe. I'm Chinese.
48. GARAGE TURNS INTO GRAVEYARD FOR CAR OWNERS.
Tragic Tales from Flooded Garage: Locked Exits,Unknown Lives Lost; Half of China is Soaked?
Mud Handprints Cover the Walls of the Underground garage in Baoji Emerald City, Post-Disaster Video is shocking .
49. China claims to be the safest country in the world, yet not a single city is on the list of the safest tourist cities in the world out of 100+ cities. Based on 2 independent studies .
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: The World's Safest Cities to Travel 2024, as of September 27, 2023, and
List of World's Safest and Most Dangerous Cities for Travelers. Forbes Advisor recently conducted a study ranking cities worldwide based on safety criteria, as of July 29, 2024.
China is not safe.
50. Hundreds of restaurants in Nantong have been found to add antibiotic drugs into the customers food to prevent them from getting sick.
51. Chinese EVs can lock you inside. If your social credit score is negative or when you say something negative about the government, they can remotely lock you inside. What if there's a fire or an accident.
52. You could be served Zombie Meat, and you'll never know. Meat that had been frozen for 10 or more years already. Many students were served with zombie meat in many schools around the country.
@@gibbontravelogue 27. The Chinese government never arranged for the evacuation of their citizens in war-torn areas.
In times of conflict or War the Chinese government doesn't care about its citizens.
Russian Ukraine War
Hamas Israel War
Palestine Israel War
28. When you help someone in need as a good Samaritan, you'll get into big trouble when the victim sues you for bodily injury that you didn't cause and for financial compensation.
29. Savings may suddenly disappear from your bank account.
30. Millions of babies and Young children are kidnapped every year without a trace.
31. An ordinary person can be arrested for espionage by simply taking pictures of sceneries or by taking down notes on maps , unknowingly designated as secret facilities, government facilities, or military bases .
32. The judicial system doesn't interpret the Law but rather, the CCP decides the interpretation of the law. The supreme court is just an employee of the CCP. And the CCP makes sure to make very vague laws, so that it can easily be manipulated.
33. Almost all the apartments have steel bars on windows , including school dormitories. They look like prison cells because of frequent burglaries.
34. You can get fined for doing household chores.
35. You can freeze to death during winter because the farm management police will confiscate your coal.
36. It is illegal to say China is poor.
37. It is illegal to talk about China's bad economy or worsening economy.
38. It is illegal to carry White Paper because of the White Paper Movement.
@@gibbontravelogue 2. Thousands of people who report on disasters like an outbreak, flood disasters, building fires, and other fatal accidents get arrested and silenced .
3. Human Rights lawyers who defend the innocent and the oppressed are also arrested.
4. Human Trafficking in China . You can buy a wife or children especially in rural areas of China. Child kidnappings and human trafficking are prevalent. It's a very serious crisis in China.
5. Stand-up comedians get arrested for making fun of the government and its officials.
6. In an economic slump, those who are bankrupt are not protected . They can't declare personal bankruptcy, and become prisoners for life in their own debt . All bank accounts are automatically frozen including Alipay and WeChat Pay.
7. Any behavior that is not in line with the government narrative will get demerits from your social credit score . Having a low score will bar you from many necessities in life like you won't be able to hail a taxi nor book a hotel nor buy a plane ticket.
8. When you do business, you'll be forced by many government officials to pay bribes or else your business won't go anywhere. The result is cutting corners , substandard quality products, Tofu dregs , collapsing buildings and bridges are common.
9. If you can't afford an apartment, then you can't get a Hukou 户口.
@@gibbontravelogue China doesn't follow laws
It's not correct to say China has it's own verson of Google XYZ. Say it this way: China has it's own mapping apps, ride-share apps, travel booking apps, etc. and some of them are much better than their U.S. counterparts.
Singaporeans are so used to U.S. dominance that they only think of Google, Apple, etc.
Hi Ken, thanks for the comments. This travelogue is simply for people who wish to plan a trip to China and to know what apps they can use to enhance their visit. While I’m interested to discuss geopolitics, this may not be the right place.