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​I Thought China Was Too Complicated. I Was Wrong.​

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Everything is Different in China

Or is it?

China was HANDS DOWN the best trip I've taken in a long time. I now understand why everyone raves about it.

It was so fun making YouTube videos here because I had no idea what to expect.

But honestly, it was Alan that suggested we visit.

I've traveled the world, but China felt daunting. It's more complicated and things just work differently.

But modern China is connected and things are so much easier than I thought.

With a bit of work.

We needed our phones constantly for paying, translating, navigating and booking things, including in the subway that was deep underground in Beijing.

I spent more time researching this trip than any other. But it paid off.

Let me save you time and stress with the 7 essential apps to make travel easy peasy.

1. Holafly eSIM

The single most important app you'll need. I

t made everything else on this list possible.

I used a Holafly eSIM in China, which was a game changer as it has a built in VPN. That meant I didn't have to worry about losing access to the apps I use at home.

Normally, services such as WhatsApp, YouTube and Google are blocked in mainland China. Holafly's eSIM connects through international networks, so those services continued working.

Holafly offers unlimited data in 200+ destinations worldwide (including China). This was essential as I was constantly using my phone for translation, maps, payments and bookings.

Once you install your Holafly eSIM, the Always On benefit activates automatically. Every month, you get 1 GB of backup data with global coverage, including China.

Think about what that covers: a flight delay, a long layover, a last-minute change of plans where you end up somewhere you did not expect to be.

2. Alipay

The most important Chinese app is Alipay.

This is how we paid for literally everything. restaurants, bakeries, markets and tiny street vendors all accepted QR code payments.

I was nervous about this at first. The first morning at a bakery another customer showed us what to do. We scanned the vendor's QR code, entered the amount and showed them that we'd paid.

Within a day, it felt completely normal.

Alipay also has mini apps for things like taxis, transportation and other local services. You can even use it to access Didi, China's version of Uber. It becomes the hub to do everything.

BE AWARE: For a single transaction above ¥200, Alipay charges a 3% fee to the full transaction. Many vendors will split a bill into 2 transactions if needed.

Back Up Apps

Many also use WeChat Pay but we didn't use it. In Xi'an a small fruit vendor didn't have Alipay. He borrowed the QR code from the vendor next door, so we still managed to pay.

As we were traveling in Beijing and Xi'an we did not bring cash and did not need it. I've heard more rural area require cash but bring small bills as most people won't have change.

3. Apple Translate

If you have an iPhone, download Apple Translate.

Google itself worked because of my Holafly connection, but Google's maps, search results or translation information isn't reliable for China.

Apple Translate can translate text and conversations. You can also use your camera to translate Chinese text, which is incredibly handy for menus and signs.

If you don't have an iPhone, Baidu Translate and Youdao will work.

4. AMap

DO NOT use Google Maps in China. I tried it early on and it sent me in the wrong direction every time.

AMap is the English version of Gaode Maps and includes walking, public transportation, driving, taxis, cycling and other forms of transportation.

I also really liked: the restaurant listings.

Some of my favorite meals in China came from AMap. I found restaurants that weren't famous. They were just full of locals on their lunch break.

5. Trip.com

​Trip.com made traveling around China much easier.

You can use it to book hotels, flights, trains and attractions, and foreign travelers can book Chinese train tickets using their passports.

This was crucial as Chinese train tickets officially go on sale 15 days before departure, but Trip.com lets you put in your request ahead of time. When the official sales window opens, it automatically tries to purchase your requested train and seats.

I also used Trip.com to book our Great Wall tickets and the other attractions we visited.

In China not all hotels accept foreigners so booking direct is complicated but Trip.com only includes properties set up for international travelers.

6. XE

XE is always on my phone no matter where I travel.

It gives you a quick currency conversion.

This is especially helpful in China because you can get used to seeing prices that look incredibly cheap when they're written in yuan.

I learned this the hard way.

I bought a small box of cherries at a market, paid with Alipay and went home.

Later, I checked XE and realized those cherries cost $10 USD

Suddenly they were very expensive cherries.

7. Wise

I have been using Wise since 2023 to avoid high foreign transaction fees from Canadian banks.

Credit cards are around 2.5% on foreign purchases, often on top of an exchange rate I don't love.

With Wise I keep different currencies in buckets. Conversion and transaction fees are much lower than I would pay with a traditional bank. So as a frequent traveler that's key.

But my favorite aspect is also great for people on holiday.

Wise offers both a physical and digital card to purchase things online, which has been a lifesaver. Over the years my credit cards have been compromised. I've been stuck abroad waiting to get a new physical card.

But with the Wise digital card if I the details are compromised, I freeze the digital card in the app and generate a new one in seconds, without touching my physical card.

Wise also uses two factor authentication on the app, so a stolen card number alone isn't enough to move money.

You can use my referral code to get a fee free transfer of up to 800 CAD. If you're not Canadian XE.com will tell you how much that is in your currency 😊

I hope you enjoy my China series. I would love to go back again soon.

If you have any questions, as always feel free to hit reply and you're straight into my inbox.

Keep Life Delicious

Ayngelina