I have downloaded the Express VPN based on recommendations here, yet, I am unable to connect on mainland China, and I am trying to work, not access social media. I see positive reviews of NordVPN, so I'm wondering if I should subscribe to that VPN service, instead?
A VPN in China is a must, there's no doubt in that, but do your research before buying and choose wisely because not every service will perform nicely. On my last trip, I used NordVPN, and I must say I liked it. No issues appeared and I could easily do my work. The price is a little too high maybe, but I used a discount code SURF2Y and saved quite a lot.
We traveled independently in China in 2012 and again in 2013, each time for four weeks. No smartphone apps, no google maps. Just old-fashion maps, books and curiosity made for a fantastic trip in this amazing country! Don't try to rely so much on your electronics and pay cash. China is very safe!
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I tested SurfShark VPN extension on my mac. It works great, let me access WhatsApp and Facebook without any blocks. It is a newcomer in the VPN market. So China government don't know them yet :)
interesting topic and very helpful article. When my husband and I took a 2 months trip to China we used nordvpn to change our IP address and go through all restrictions which they have there.
You fail to give the most important advice... The WeChat app that you encourage folks to download onto their phone... Its spyware. As bad as running Kapersky. Don't bring any electronics that you care about into China. Get yourself a burner phone before you go. Set up a separate set of social networking accounts that you don't care about.
While it's always better to set up a VPN before you leave for China, it is still possible to do this if you are already in China. Most of the VPN providers have alternative mirror websites where you can sign up and download the apps from within China. You can find the alternative links for most services here.
https://www.tipsforchina.com/china-accessible-vpn-links.html
I would stay away from using free VPN apps mainly because it is often difficult to know how they are monetizing your usage data. Stick to VPN apps that have a clear no-log policy.
I would also recommend to have a back up VPN if you are staying in China for longer periods of time -- or at least a way to download a spare app. VPN services are sporadically targeted by the Great Firewall and can become unusable at times. A comparison of the top VPNs for China can be found here: http://startuplivingchina.com/best-vpn-for-china/
Personally, I have found ExpressVPN, Astrill, and VyprVPN (Goldenfrog) to be quite good in China.
So the best piece of advice - know a local before you go, who can easily get you a SIM card and transfer you money on Alipay and Wechat (there's no need to link a bank card because you can use Alipay balance transferred to you, and people running the newsstands would happily do it if you hand him a bit more in cash). After that you should be pretty unstoppable.
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Another tip is that if you are using an international phone plan (Verizon and Project Fi, in our case), it appears you can serve twitter, Facebook and Instagram given the phone numbers are foreign ones. It is as of 2/11/18 and can change anytime after because the great fire wall changes so constantly. I am in China right now and enjoying reading this NY Times article. Also, I bought ExpressVPN when on local WiFi.
My husband and I visited China in 2014. We also felt safe, until... We visited the Summer Palace in Beijing. I carried my purse with short handles over my shoulder and clamped against my side under my arm. Someone came up behind me in a crowd and slashed my purse! My wallet was taken. I did not realize what had happened because we were continually jostled in the crowds. Luckily, we were not injured. We immediately returned to our hotel to cancel my credit cards. By then over $16,000 had been charged to my credit cards. Obviously, these were professional thieves. Our hotel staff was wonderful. They loaned us their cellphones so that we could call the credit card companies.
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What a coincidence; I am about to travel to China first time in my life, so I find „How to travel ...” very helpfull!
It IS possible to get a Chinese SIM card and therefore a Chinese telephone number. My wife and I both got them last fall from China Mobile. Easy.
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Yes, it is possible -- and not at all hard -- for foreigners to purchase Chinese SIM cards/phone numbers.
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The author states foreigners can't buy SIM cards with Chinese numbers. That is just... wrong. I have spent significant time in China, most recently last summer, and am always able to buy a Chinese SIM with a working Chinese phone number. All you need is a passport.
Another piece of advice - don't download WeChat before you get to China. If you get it before your trip you will have the US version, without a lot of the functionality that makes WeChat great.
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Great article! Adding to pedestrian safety: note that cars bikes etc making righthand turns do not stop. There’s a heirsrchy based on size and pedestrians are at the bottom.
If you plan to bike, be super careful—motorcycles dart out of alleys into bike lanes—and you’d be wise to bring a helmet.
You forgot to mention that tap water is not safe to drink. Always boil water or buy bottled water.
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And don’t forget WayGo or Google Translate or even the translate features built into WeChat to help with communicating and reading menus.
Great article.
I would add that at least in Beijing cars make right turns without stopping for pedestrians or bicyclists. There is a hierarchy--according to size--for stopping and pedestrians are at the bottom, just below bicyclists who will not stop for those on foot.
I advise against cycling, but if you do, be aware that motorcycles shoot out of alleys onto bike lanes without looking or stopping for bikes. And if you do, I hope you'll bring a helmet.
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Thanks - got to save this link for my next travel!
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I recently set up my WeChat wallet with my MasterCard from my entirely US-based bank, after reading online someone else's experience that a MasterCard would work. A colleague in China was able to transfer to me a significant sum in RMB, and I've used this balance to send payments to other associates. You may want to double-check your statement that tourists won't be able to participate in WeChat payments, as I for one, appear to be all set for my next trip to China.
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You have to be very cautious using cash in China. The largest bill is 100 RMB, or around $15, and you will only be receiving these from your ATM, since by definition you can't receive one in change. Nevertheless, I was informed by a store that one of my bills was a forgery. Apparently, it's common for the cashier to pocket the bill you tender and switch it for a forged bill that they then return to you.
I think THAT is why Chinese prefer online cash pay apps.
This is pretty hilarious. Just a guide to how to use your Internet gadgets in China. I get nothing about getting around, whether or not to hire a guide, books you might want to read, cultural faux pas to avoid, etc. Not useful at all.
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I've been able to purchase SIM cards with Chinese phone numbers; you do need to present your passport, but it's possible. Also, if you have a Chinese friend, you can give them cash and they can send you money on WeChat using a "red envelope" (红包), which you can then use to participate in that cashless revolution. Tencent Maps is a good option, though I prefer Baidu Maps personally.
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I don't understand the statement which says I cannot get a local phone number in China. There are many websites which state how easy it is to get one, how to pay for it, where to buy it, which telecom companies are the supplies, etc.
It's also worth mentioning that virtually every official-looking sign posted anywhere in China includes a translation into English. Do not, however, assume that virtually every Chinese citizen speaks English: in fact, very few of them do, and I've spent lots of time in some very good hotels there attempting to track down English-speaking employees.
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Every Chinese college student must pass an English proficiency exam, but it is written. Many have never had a teacher who was a native speaker of English, so oral English is often very difficult for them.
Writing out your message might be more successful in communicating.
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Yes, even in these days of translating apps, a very useful and under-rated travel tool is: a small notebook and pen or pencil. Not just so that you can write things down (most people can do a better job translating written words than spoken words) but because you can resort to drawing pictures and maps, which are much more effective than trying to use hand signals.
IOW, play Pictionary rather than Charades.