China is a very large country, with a very different culture to match. There are many government limitations on technology, as well as a lot of people who don’t speak or understand English. As such, having a phone and knowing how to use it is a lifesaver. When my aunt lived in Shanghai and Beijing for a year, she talked a lot about how she wouldn’t have been have to do half the things she needed to without the various applications that she had to get on her phone. That being said, here are 5 things that you will need on your phone for a trip to China.
Use a Good Translation App
While English is spoken all around the world, Mandarin is actually the most spoken language in the world, and is the primary language in China. As such, there are many people that don’t speak any English, even in the largest cities. When you’re trying to get places and order food (and for pretty much any other kind of interaction), translation apps come in handy. The best apps that I’ve used are Baidu Translate (pictured above) and WeChat Translate, although my aunt got along just fine by using Chinese-Pro.
It would also help to learn some Chinese through Duolingo or Rosetta Stone. Chinese is a very difficult language for most to learn, so using your phone to help speak with people can be your best bet to navigate your trip, and making an effort to understand the language can also help to foster a connection with the people.
2: Get an International VPN
While China’s political sphere has evolved a lot in recent decades, there is still a very strong censorship regime. Because of this, many apps and websites that are commonly used in the western world are banned in China. You can bypass this as a tourist by getting a VPN so that you can still access all of your favorite websites. Nord VPN is especially great because it’s relatively cheap in comparison to others and it’s extremely reliable. Astrill VPN is also very reliable for travelers, and it bypasses inspections easily. This way, you will be able to access all of the streaming and other main apps you use as you wish.
3: Bring a Portable Charger
This can be said for many countries, but a normal day in China is going to have a lot of occasions where you’ll want to use your phone. This is partially because there is simply so much to see in such a condensed area in a lot of places. And it’s also because many of the restaurants won’t have menus; instead, they have QR codes that you must scan to order your food. This, in combination with all of the apps and features you’ll be constantly using, your phone’s battery is going to deplete fast, and a portable charger is going to be very useful. Many come wireless for your convenience, although from my experience the ones with cords charge at a quicker pace. You may end up using the portable charger multiple times throughout the day, so it’s also important that you charge both charger and phone every night.
4: The Best Applications to find Great Food
A potential issue with China’s large size is the overwhelming selection of restaurants, all of varying qualities and prices. It also doesn’t help that Yelp and other rating systems have been banned by the censorship regime. Fortunately, China has its own version of Yelp, which is called Dianping. Dianping helps visitors and locals alike to find the very best spots to eat in any part of the cities. It also finds the hidden gem restaurants very easily, which can help your wallet and your tastebuds. If you want to find discounts for other services or find something at the last minute, Dianping can help you with that as well.
5: The True Power of WeChat
As mentioned earlier, WeChat has its uses as a translation app, but it can also be used for just about anything else you will need on your trip. Used by many people who lived in China like my aunt, it can communicate with people, scan menus, post images and videos, and even pay the bills! There are also mini-apps within WeChat that have purposes such as calling taxis and booking tickets and hotel rooms. To put it plainly, if you cannot afford a VPN (or even if you can and you just don’t want to), I’d say that this app is a man’s best friend in China.
