Traveling to China: Apps, Tips, and Useful Phrases for Beginners (2026)
- LanguageNest
- Apr 2
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 3
What should you know before traveling to China?
If you’re traveling to China for the first time, it’s important to prepare in advance. Install must-have apps like WeChat and Alipay for payments and communication, use a VPN to access Google and social networks, and consider an eSIM through MobiMatter for stable internet. Learn a few basic Chinese phrases and always carry your hotel address in Chinese. This will make your trip much easier and more enjoyable.
A first trip to China is something that can hardly be compared to any other place in the world. From the moment you land, you will feel like you have entered a completely different reality – super modern technology, people everywhere, incredible food and a system that works by its own rules.
And this is where the difference comes in – if you are prepared, China will seem extremely comfortable and impressive. If you are not – you may feel lost right at the airport.
That's why I've gathered the most important things from practice and personal experience - everything you need to know to make your trip peaceful, enjoyable, and successful.
🧳 Preparation before you leave – the most important part
The truth is that preparing for China starts even before you get on the plane.
First – the documents. You will need a visa, a valid passport, as well as hotel and flight reservations. It is a good idea to have copies – both on paper and on your phone.
But more important is something else – digital preparation .
China is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world, but at the same time it uses a completely different app ecosystem. This means you can't rely on the things you're used to.
👉 For example:
Google is almost down
Facebook, Instagram, YouTube are blocked
Payments are almost entirely digital
If you are not prepared in advance, it will be difficult.
📱 The apps you can't live without in China
💬 Communication and everyday life
WeChat is not just an app – it's an entire ecosystem.
In China, almost everything goes through it. With it, you will:
you communicate
you pay
book services
you order food
you show QR codes
👉 Realistically, if you don't have WeChat, you'll feel like a tourist from the past.
💳 Payments – forget about cash
📲 Alipay
Alipay is the second app you should have.
In China, almost no one pays with cash. Everything is done by scanning a QR code.
👉 Even for:
water
transport
small shops
street food
Practical advice: Link your bank card before you leave and test payment.
🗺️ Orientation in cities
📲 Baidu Maps
Baidu Maps is the most reliable map in China.
Google Maps may show inaccurate routes or not work properly.
👉 Baidu Maps will help you:
find a subway
you are planning a route
you navigate in huge cities
🌐 Internet and connection – how to have stable internet in China
📲 VPN – a must!
Without a VPN, you will feel isolated.
You will not have access to:
Google
Gmail
YouTube
social networks
👉 Most importantly: Install a VPN before entering China , because then it may be too late.
📲 MobiMatter (eSIM - internet without a SIM card)
MobiMatter is one of the most convenient internet solutions in China.
With it you can:
buy an eSIM before your trip
activate the internet immediately after landing
avoid searching for a local SIM card
👉 Big plus: Many eSIM packages work with international internet access, which means that sometimes you won't even need a VPN .
💡 Practical advice:
The best option is a combination:
✔️ eSIM via MobiMatter
✔️ VPN as a backup option
👉 This way you guarantee that you will always have internet and access to everything you need.
🗣️ Translation and language assistance
📲 Google Translate / Pleco
Google Translate – camera translation (very useful for menus)
Pleco – ideal for learning and quick reference
👉 Little trick: Capture menu → translate → choose calmly 😄
💡 Real tips that will save you trouble
China is very convenient, but only if you know how to navigate it.
First – always have your hotel address written in Chinese. If you need to take a taxi or ask someone – this will save you a lot of time.
Second – don't rely on English. In big cities there are people who speak English, but in general – not many.
Third – always have a backup plan. For example:
cash money
offline maps
recorded important places
👉 China is safe, but it is different.
🗣️ Useful Chinese phrases (with pinyin and translation)
These phrases can literally help you in a difficult time.
👋 Basics
你好 (nǐ hǎo) – Hello
谢谢 (xièxie) – Thank you
不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) – Excuse me
❓ Questions
远用… (qǐng wèn…) – May I ask…
下载多少钱？(zhège duōshao qián?) – How much is this?
厕所在线？(cèsuǒ zài nǎlǐ?) – Where is the toilet?
🆘 If you have a problem
我不懂 (wǒ bù dǒng) – I don't understand
请帮我 (qǐng bāng wǒ) – Help me
该说说英语吗？(nǐ huì shuō yīngyǔ ma?) – Do you speak English?
🚕 In a taxi
我要去设计 (wǒ yào qù zhèlǐ) – I want to go here
请打表 (qǐng dǎ biǎo) – Run the taxi meter
🎯 What makes your trip truly successful?
To be completely honest, China is not difficult, it's just different.
When:
you have the right apps
you know a few basic phrases
you are prepared in advance
👉 everything becomes much easier and more enjoyable.
And then you can enjoy the most important thing:
the food
culture
the people
and the unique feeling of being in a completely different place in the world
🚀 Prepare before you leave
If you want to feel confident from your first day in China, the best thing you can do is learn the basics of the language.
At LanguageNest we will help you:
you speak in real situations
you understand signs and menus
you navigate without stress
👉 Start today:
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