Things that just work better in China
From airports, travelers often combine local ride-hailing, metro QR, and local map apps to navigate pickup zones and routes.
A global online marketplace and retailer. In China, you’ll typically use local e-commerce platforms for most shopping.
In China, many travelers still rely on local map apps for richer local POI, transit, and integration features.
Contactless ‘tap’ payments aren’t the universal default in China. QR wallets are typically more widely used in daily life.
Bike sharing is common in many Chinese cities, often integrated into local apps with QR unlock and wallet payment.
Cash exists, but many everyday payments in China are optimized for QR scanning rather than handing over notes.
In many countries, tap-to-pay is everywhere. In China, QR scanning wallets are often the more universal daily flow.
A food delivery service in some countries; in China, you’ll typically use local delivery apps instead.
A popular food delivery app in some countries; in China, you’ll typically use local delivery platforms instead.
A global marketplace known for C2C listings and secondhand items. In China, local resale and marketplace platforms are more commonly used.
A common messaging app tied to Facebook accounts, but it’s not typically used for day-to-day messaging in China.
In China, local map apps are commonly used for navigation, transit, and nearby places.
In China, QR-based wallet payments are often more common than contactless tap-to-pay for everyday use.
A food delivery app in some markets; in China you’ll typically order via local delivery platforms instead.
High-speed rail is a major way to travel between Chinese cities, with ticketing and station flows that can differ from other countries.
Apple’s built-in messaging on iPhone/iPad/Mac. It may work for your existing contacts, but it’s not the default way people message in China.
Photo and video sharing with creator discovery. In mainland China it’s often inaccessible, so travelers usually use local discovery and short-video apps.
Ride-hailing in China is typically done with local apps rather than global defaults.
Like Visa, Mastercard may work in some places, but daily life in China often revolves around QR wallets.
In many Chinese cities, metro access often supports QR entry flows through apps, alongside physical cards.
PayPal is common internationally, but in China many offline payments are dominated by QR wallets designed for local flows.
QR wallet payments are a core daily payment pattern in China, used for everything from coffee to taxis.
Taxis exist, but many travelers prefer app-based rides for clearer pickup points, route visibility, and cashless payment.
A global messaging app often used for groups and channels, but it’s not the default for local communication in China.
A low-cost online shopping app focused on deals. In China, similar bargain-first platforms and marketplaces are commonly used.
Short-form video app popular worldwide. In mainland China, the most common alternatives are Douyin and Kuaishou.
China's rail network is huge, and booking flows often use local platforms and ID-linked tickets.
Real-time public conversation and news. In mainland China it’s often inaccessible, so travelers typically use local platforms for trends and public discussion.
A widely used food delivery service globally; in China, you’ll generally order through local delivery apps instead.
In China, the most common ride-hailing default is different. Travelers typically use local apps for rides and pickups.
In China, everyday payments are often QR-based. Card acceptance can be inconsistent for small merchants.
For China travel, local map apps are more commonly used for routing, POIs, and local transit information.
A popular global messaging app, but many local contacts in China will prefer WeChat for everyday communication.
Global video platform for creators, music, and long-form content. In mainland China it’s often inaccessible, so travelers usually rely on local video apps.
