Travel Hacks in China by a 90s Girl

Buying SIM cards from China Mobile is cheaper than getting them at the airport. Knowing basic communication phrases will make your trip more enjoyable.

Travel Hacks in China by a 90s Girl

Hồng Nhung (Ho Chi Minh City) is a travel enthusiast who has embarked on numerous self-guided trips in China. Below are her general impressions and the small tips Nhung shares:

Wechat is truly an effective app for self-guided travel in China. It serves as a chat app and allows you to book flights, hotels, movie tickets, rent bikes, and more. All transactions, including buying bubble tea or apples, can be paid through this app by scanning the barcode. Unfortunately, foreign cards cannot be used for this app, so I resort to cash as the traditional way of payment.

China is indeed the “land of QR codes,” as even requesting wifi or unlocking bicycles involves scanning QR codes. All you need is a smartphone with internet connectivity.

Avoid buying SIM cards at the airport due to high prices. For example, Pudong Airport (Shanghai) sells SIM cards at the Arrival Area exit for 200-600 yuan per card, equivalent to 700,000 – 2 million dong (with limited data). I chose to purchase a SIM card at a China Mobile store in O Tran, just needed to bring my passport for registration. The price was 50 yuan (around 180,000 dong). Throughout a week here, the SIM worked well for calls and internet, and I didn't need to top up until the last day.

Power outlets in China are the same as in Vietnam, with two-prong sockets. Hotel rooms in China usually have 5-6 power outlets, so you don't need to bring an adapter or search for charging spots.

Except for Shanghai, all the other cities I visited mainly used Chinese, including hotels and restaurants. Luckily, I knew a bit of Chinese, enough to ask for directions, order food, and bargain for the basics. Knowing the local language is beneficial, and it's delightful to understand what others are saying. For instance, when I was trying on a dress, the sellers were whispering 'ni zhen piaoliang' – meaning 'you're really beautiful,' so I decided to buy it.

Download the language translation app Translate (usable offline) to be able to communicate in case of difficulty.

One of my favorite things in China is the bike-sharing service. Bike rental prices are very affordable, around 1 yuan (3,500 dong) for a ride. Bike stations are everywhere, and you can return the bike wherever you like.

In China, there are many bike-sharing providers. I used OFO bikes. People should download the app from Vietnam because this app requires confirmation through a phone number. The advantage of OFO is that foreign bank cards still work (similar to Uber or Grab), unlike another provider, MOBIKE, which requires payment through wepay or alipay.

Unless during major holidays in China, pre-booking train and bus tickets is unnecessary. I traveled between cities by train and bus, purchasing tickets directly at the new bus station. With a new trip every 30 minutes, there's never a worry about running out of tickets.

From Pudong Airport, I took the metro to Shanghai South Railway Station to buy a train ticket to Hangzhou. For the remaining segments of the journey, I opted for buses and purchased tickets right at the station 15-30 minutes before departure.

China is quite clean with fresh air. During my stay, I didn't need to wear a mask, even when cycling outdoors, and rarely saw anyone wearing one. The streets are spacious, pleasant, with many green trees, especially in Hangzhou.

Although the tourist spots and streets are clean, public restrooms (restaurants, train stations, boat piers, tourist attractions, etc.) often have odors and are mostly squat toilets, a bit inconvenient. It's advisable to carry tissue when using public restrooms.

Apps like Facebook, Instagram, Gmail, Youtube, Whatsapp, Viber, etc., are all blocked in China. If you want to use them, it's recommended to pre-download a VPN from Vietnam so you can access them normally once you're in the country.

China boasts numerous gardens, canal cities, temples, but they tend to look alike, differing mainly in folklore and local tales. If you're short on time and budget, especially for first-time self-guided travelers in China, choose 1-2 of the most prominent and famous places to visit.

Chinese food portions are larger compared to Vietnamese servings. If traveling as a pair, it's advisable to order only 2-3 dishes (in my opinion, 3 dishes are too much). Avoid the temptation to order more than you can eat, as Chinese dishes can be oily and lead to weight gain.

According to Nguyen Hong Nhung/Vnexpress

***

Reference: Travel guide Mytour