So, you’ve booked your flight to China. Nǐ hǎo! You’re picturing the Great Wall snaking across mountains, slurping up noodles like a pro and maybe trying to snap that perfect selfie with a panda (good luck with that). But before you stuff your suitcase with chopsticks and “I ❤️ Beijing” T-shirts, let’s have a word about travel hacks.
China is magnificent, massive and marvellously confusing at times. It’s a land of ancient traditions colliding head-on with futuristic tech, where a toilet trip might require Olympic-level squat skills and a simple meal could be a culinary adventure (or misadventure). So, grab your dumpling, pour a cup of green tea and let’s dive into ten top tips to conquer China like a clever explorer, not a baffled tourist.
1. Download Those Essential Apps Before You Go
📱 China loves apps. And you’ll love them too — because without them, you’re a bit stuffed.
Google, WhatsApp, Facebook? Blocked. But WeChat and Alipay? Absolute lifelines. WeChat is your everything — messenger, map, wallet, translator, karaoke machine (no joke). And Alipay will save your skin when cash and cards let you down.
💡 Hack: Set these up at home, link your card if possible and practise your payment QR scans so you don’t look like your gran trying to work a smartphone.
2. Carry Tissues Like Your Life Depends On It
🚽 Public loos in China can be… let’s say, character-building. Toilet paper? Often a no-show. Soap? Sometimes a rare guest star.
🧻 Hack: Pack tissues and hand sanitiser in every bag, coat pocket and sock if necessary. You’ll thank yourself the first time you encounter a loo with no roll and no remorse.
3. Get Yourself a VPN — Or Embrace the Digital Detox
🌐 Want to check Instagram, Google Maps or your emails? You’ll need a VPN. The Great Firewall is no joke.
💻 Hack: Download and subscribe before you land, as most VPN websites are blocked in China. Or, go old school — switch off the apps, live in the moment and tell everyone you’re “finding yourself” in China.
4. Learn a Few Key Phrases (and Don’t Be Shy)
🗣️ English isn’t as widely spoken as you might hope. But whip out a “nǐ hǎo” (hello) or “xiè xiè” (thank you) and watch faces light up.
💡 Hack: Have your hotel address written in Chinese characters. Saves a lot of panicked pointing at maps while your taxi driver looks at you like you’ve just landed from Mars.
5. Get Ready for Cashless Everything — But Bring Some Cash Anyway
💳 China’s gone digital — street food vendors, market stalls, even buskers often prefer QR payments.
💸 Hack: Keep a small stash of yuan for those rare places that still want paper money, like tiny rural shops or when your phone battery dies at the worst moment (as it always does).
6. Don’t Assume Every Dish is What You Think It Is
🍜 That bowl of soup? Might be pig’s blood curd. That skewer? Could be anything from lamb to… something more mysterious.
💡 Hack: Embrace the surprise but download a food translation app or bring a phrasebook so you don’t end up ordering spicy duck tongue when you were aiming for chicken. Unless you’re into that.
7. Cross the Road Like a Local — With Purpose and Nerves of Steel
🚦 Pedestrian crossings exist. Whether drivers care about them is another matter. You’ll see locals walking across with zen-like calm as cars, bikes and scooters whizz by.
🦸 Hack: Stick close to a local when crossing, move steadily and don’t stop halfway or bolt like a startled rabbit. That’s when it gets dicey.
8. Always Have Your Hotel Card
🏨 Getting lost in China’s mega-cities is basically a rite of passage. Even if you fancy yourself a human compass, the endless rows of buildings can blur into one.
💡 Hack: Take a business card from your hotel reception (in Chinese) so you can always show a driver or friendly local where you’re trying to get back to.
9. Bring an Empty Stomach — Street Food Is Life
🥟 The best eats? Found at sizzling roadside stalls, night markets and tiny hole-in-the-wall joints. From jianbing (savoury crepes) to baozi (steamed buns), you’re in for a treat.
💡 Hack: Look for long queues of locals. If they’re lining up, it’s worth the wait. And always go easy on the chilli sauce the first time. Trust me on that one.
10. Don’t Underestimate the Scale — China Is Huge
🚄 A two-hour train ride in Europe takes you to another country. In China? You might not even leave the province. Distances here are epic.
💡 Hack: Use high-speed trains — they’re fast, comfy and a travel experience in themselves. Book tickets in advance and be prepared for airport-style security at stations.
✨ Final Fortune Cookie Wisdom:
China will dazzle you, challenge you, confuse you and charm you — often all at once. But armed with these hacks (and maybe a spare battery pack), you’ll be ready to dive in headfirst. Whether you’re bargaining at a market, getting lost in a hutong or sipping tea while watching the world go by, remember: stay curious, stay respectful and never say no to another dumpling.
