Рубрика: English

Short answer: yes. Trip.com is a legitimate travel platform from Trip.com Group, the company that started as Ctrip in China in 1999. I trust it and keep using it myself for flights, hotels, trains and some attraction tickets. My most telling experience: I mixed up the month and paid for a non-refundable hotel, and support got me a full refund even though the terms didn’t oblige them to. But trusting a platform doesn’t mean clicking «Pay» without reading the rules.

Checked November 2026.

Affiliate disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you book through one of them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

This review isn’t based on a single booking. I’ve used Trip.com on trips around China and other countries, and in Shanghai I even asked to visit the company’s office.

Open Trip.com →

Why I decided to check Trip.com for myself

In China I used the service constantly. I booked hotels and train tickets through it, compared flights, looked at attractions and bought an eSIM. At some point I had so many questions, not just about travel, that in Shanghai I asked to visit the Trip.com office.

Some of my questions never got answered there, and I had to work them out myself. But the visit was useful: I saw not a pretty guest desk but a huge working system of content teams, support, open-plan offices, meeting rooms, kitchens, canteens, cafés, shops and deliveries.

Is Trip.com a Chinese company?

Yes. The group’s history began in China in 1999 with the Ctrip website, and in 2019 the company renamed itself Trip.com Group, as its official history page confirms.

Today the group runs several travel brands. Ctrip mainly serves mainland China, while Trip.com is aimed at international travellers. That’s why it’s especially handy for a trip to China: it has a big choice of local hotels, trains and tickets, in an English interface.

Does Trip.com give refunds?

Once, through carelessness, I picked the wrong month and booked a hotel on a non-refundable rate. I noticed the mistake after paying.

Trip.com refunded the full amount, even though the booking terms clearly said the rate was non-refundable and they could formally have refused.

For me that was a strong argument for the service. Support didn’t just quote the rules. They contacted the hotel and tried to fix a human mistake. But don’t draw the wrong conclusion: it doesn’t mean any non-refundable booking will be cancelled for you. It was a decision in one specific situation.

If you make a mistake, I wouldn’t press cancel blindly. First I’d open the support chat, briefly describe what happened, give the booking number and ask them to contact the hotel. The sooner you notice, the better your chances.

So is it safe to book on Trip.com?

In my experience, yes. Bookings showed up in the app, tickets arrived, hotels had my reservations, and money came back when a cancellation was agreed. Trip.com also publishes a service guarantee with rules for different situations.

But safety has two parts. The first is the platform and its support. The second is the terms of the specific hotel, airline or fare. Even a good service doesn’t cancel the rule «read the small print before paying».

What I check before paying

• Dates and city. After my mistake, I check the month especially carefully.
• Cancellation terms. Not just the word «free» but the exact time free cancellation ends.
• Who provides the service. The hotel, airline or other supplier is shown in the booking details.
• The total. Currency, taxes, fees, baggage and breakfast should be clear before you pay.
• The room category. In China, rooms with and without windows are sold side by side, and the price difference isn’t random.
• Recent guest reviews, especially photos of the bathroom, the carpet and the view.
• Names and passport details. On train and plane tickets, one typo can cost far more than on a hotel booking.
• «Pay now» vs «pay at the property». If it’s pay at the property, think in advance about how you’ll pay at the desk.

What I buy on Trip.com

Hotels in China and elsewhere

For China, this is my main use. There’s a big choice of local hotels, and it’s easy to see the distance to the metro, the room category, reviews and cancellation terms. I still compare a few options before paying. Sometimes the difference between a windowless room and a normal one is less than the price of two coffees. My Shanghai picks are in where to stay in Shanghai.

Compare hotels on Trip.com →

Is Trip.com legit for flights?

I use Trip.com not as a magic lowest-price button but as one of the sources I compare. I look at layover length, airports, baggage and fare rules. Sometimes a convenient combination of separate flights works out better than a standard return ticket.

Check flights on Trip.com →

Trains in China

For a foreigner, this is one of the clearest ways to buy a Chinese train ticket: you choose the stations, enter your passport details, and the ticket is linked to your passport.

See China train tickets on Trip.com →

Attractions and an eSIM

Some tickets are better and calmer to buy in advance, especially theme parks and popular sights with timed entry. I also bought my travel eSIM for China there, and it opened my usual apps without anything extra. More in best eSIM for China.

See attraction tickets on Trip.com →

Trip.com downsides

• It’s an intermediary. In a difficult case, the answer may depend on the airline or hotel, not just on support.
• Prices are dynamic. The price you find today doesn’t have to hold tomorrow.
• Similar fares have different rules. The cheapest option often means no baggage, no breakfast or no free cancellation.
• Not every listing is equally useful. Supplement official photos with recent guest photos and the map.
• Don’t count on an exception. I got a refund on a non-refundable hotel, but that was a one-off decision, not a new rule.

What to do if something goes wrong with a booking

1. Don’t make a second booking until you understand the status of the first.
2. Save the booking number, receipts, emails and screenshots of the terms.
3. Contact support from that specific booking.
4. Ask for one clear outcome: change the date, correct details or request a refund.
5. If a hotel or airline provides the service, ask Trip.com to contact them.
6. Don’t delete the conversation until the money is actually back on your card.

The Trip.com office in Shanghai, and what Zaha Hadid has to do with it

The office is in the SkyBridge HQ complex, formerly Sky SOHO. Its flowing shapes and linked buildings come from Zaha Hadid’s architecture firm. From outside it looks like a mix of high-speed trains, bridges and a giant ship.

Inside I visited the content department and got a glimpse of the staff’s working life. It’s a little city of its own: kitchens, open-plan offices, meeting rooms, cafés, canteens, shops, deliveries, a gym and a sauna. After a visit like that, the company stops being just a blue app.

FAQ

Is Trip.com a scam?

No. It’s an international travel service from the group that began as Ctrip in China in 1999. Before paying, still read the rules of the specific supplier and fare.

Does Trip.com give refunds?

If the fare allows cancellation, the refund follows its terms. In my case, support refunded the full amount even for a non-refundable hotel after I mixed up the month, but that result isn’t guaranteed for every booking.

Is Trip.com safe for hotels in China?

In my experience, yes, and the choice of properties in China is especially large. Before paying, check the area, recent reviews, the room category, whether there’s a window, breakfast and cancellation terms.

Is Trip.com legit for flights?

I use it as one of the sources I compare flights on. Check layovers, airports, baggage and fare rules before you pay.

What is Trip.com best for?

I use it for hotels, flights, Chinese trains, attraction tickets and an eSIM. For expensive purchases, I always compare the final price and the fare rules.

Would I book again?

Yes, and I keep doing it. I like the big choice in China, how easy trains are, and how support handled my non-refundable hotel mistake. But before paying I still check the dates, passport details, baggage, the window in the room and the refund rules. Trust doesn’t mean switching off your attention.

Short answer: for a first trip to Shanghai, stay around People’s Square, East Nanjing Road or Huangpu near the Bund, close to a metro station. You can walk to the Bund and Yu Garden, and you won’t spend 40–50 minutes crossing the city every day. Choose Jing’an or the former French Concession for atmosphere, and Lujiazui in Pudong only if you specifically want a skyscraper view.

Checked November 2026. Hotel prices are dynamic, so check breakfast, cancellation terms and the total with taxes for your own dates.

Affiliate disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you book through one of them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I choose where to stay in Shanghai in completely different ways. Sometimes I want hostel vibes, new people and a shared dining room where someone is working on a laptop even at night. Sometimes I want to wake up like a queen with a view of the Bund. So this isn’t a list of seven nearly identical hotels. It’s a way to choose your Shanghai.

Best areas to stay in Shanghai: quick pick

If you want	Where to look	Hotels to check
A first trip of 3–5 days	People’s Square, East Nanjing Road	Hi Inn or Tianhua Hotel
The Bund and Yu Garden on foot	Huangpu, Xiaonanmen, Yuyuan Garden	Philosopher Hotel or JI Hotel
A very low budget, women only	Central, near the metro	Oriental Paris Girls’ Youth Hostel
Atmosphere, cafés, walks	Jing’an, former French Concession	A hotel near a metro station on your route
A panorama and skyscrapers	Lujiazui, Pudong	Grand Hyatt Shanghai
Shanghai Disneyland	Disney Resort	A separate night near the park

Shanghai neighbourhoods for visitors

People’s Square and Nanjing Road: the most practical base

If you only have a few days, I’d start looking here. Several metro lines meet here, and there’s a shopping street, cafés and an easy walk to the Bund. It isn’t the quietest Shanghai, but it saves time every day.

Huangpu, the Bund and Yu Garden: for the first impression

This is the Shanghai of historic façades, the Bund at night and the view of Pudong. You often pay extra for the front row. Walk a few blocks towards Xiaonanmen or Yuyuan Garden and prices get friendlier, while the main walks are still close.

Jing’an and the former French Concession: Shanghai for living

Plane trees, cafés, old houses and streets you want to walk without hurrying. I’d choose this area for the atmosphere, not for a list of sights at the door. Just don’t fall for a pretty address: check the walk to the metro, because Shanghai is huge.

Lujiazui and Pudong: skyscrapers, but not a universal centre

This is the area of the Shanghai Tower and the modern skyline. It works for a business trip, a hotel with a panorama, or a deliberate wish to stay inside a skyscraper. But for the Bund, M50, Yu Garden and the French Concession, Puxi, the west bank of the river, is usually more convenient.

My own pick: a women-only hostel in central Shanghai

My daughter and I stayed at Oriental Paris Girls’ Youth Hostel. We liked it so much that we extended our stay. It’s a hostel for women only: pretty, clean and a bit like an upmarket dorm with European chic.

There’s a separate dining room where someone is always ordering delivery or working on a laptop, and it feels like the lights never go off. There’s a washing machine, a tea room, water and tea, and a whole wall of mirrors for doing your make-up. You can dress up in a traditional Chinese outfit for a photo shoot, and of course I did. It’s also a good place if you want company: I met other travellers there.

One important detail: our rooms and the shared dining area had no windows. We only found windows in the sink area. For a night or a girls’ weekend I’d happily go back, but for a longer stay I’d check the room category name first. Since then I always look for this on Trip.com. In China a windowless room is usually cheaper, sometimes noticeably. The hostel itself was lovely and the beds and shared spaces were clean, but after a few days you really feel the lack of daylight.

Check the women-only hostel on Trip.com →

7 hotels in central Shanghai, from budget to five-star

I checked these in October 2026 for November dates. Ratings and details below are what the listings showed then. Prices change daily, so open the listing for your dates.

1. Zhexuejia (Philosopher) Hotel: budget, by the Bund

Area: the Bund / Xiaonanmen, about three minutes’ walk to Xiaonanmen metro. It opened in 2025, close to the Bund and Yu Garden. The price for this location looked almost suspiciously good, so I’d check fresh reviews and the exact room category first.

See Philosopher Hotel on Trip.com →

2. Hi Inn Shanghai The Bund East Nanjing Road: mid-range with breakfast

Area: the Bund / East Nanjing Road, about six minutes to the metro. When I checked, it was rated 9.5, with a laundry and delivery robots. You can walk to the Bund. A good choice if you want to be central without five-star prices.

See Hi Inn on Trip.com →

3. Tianhua Hotel: People’s Square

Area: People’s Square, about six minutes to People’s Square metro. Renovated in 2025, rated 9.3 when I checked, with good reviews of the mattresses and that favourite Chinese detail, smart toilets. A handy base if you head off somewhere new every day.

See Tianhua Hotel on Trip.com →

4. JI Hotel The Bund Jinling East Road: predictable and calm

Area: between the Bund and Yu Garden, with Yuyuan Garden metro across the road. JI is a familiar Chinese chain: no theatrical luxury, but usually clean and predictable. I’d choose it for the location and the calm.

See JI Hotel on Trip.com →

5. Yitel Premium: a hotel with character

Area: People’s Square / Nanjing Road, about eight minutes to People’s Square. It’s in a building with a century of history and was rated 9.4 when I checked. For people who want more than a comfortable bed.

See Yitel Premium on Trip.com →

6. The Bund Puyan Hotel (5-star): five stars in the centre

Area: the Bund / East Nanjing Road, about six minutes to the metro. When I checked: rated 9.4 with almost 17,000 reviews. A five-star right in the centre for the price of a good four-star, and one I’d consider for a special weekend or your first nights in Shanghai.

See The Bund Puyan Hotel on Trip.com →

7. Grand Hyatt Shanghai (5-star): the «wow» option

Area: Lujiazui, Pudong, about eight minutes to the metro. This one isn’t about saving money. It’s about staying in the Jin Mao Tower and looking at the river and the Bund from your room. If you pick Pudong, pick it for an experience like this. Otherwise I’d still go for the west bank.

See Grand Hyatt Shanghai on Trip.com →

Even in the centre the range is huge: from a bed in a pretty women-only hostel to a skyscraper room that costs more than your whole food budget. Both can be the right choice. It isn’t about stars. It’s about which Shanghai you want.

Browse all hotels in Shanghai on Trip.com →

What to check before booking a hotel in Shanghai

• The exact room category. The same hotel sells rooms with and without windows.
• The real walk to the metro. Look at the exit, not just the distance: a huge station can add ten minutes.
• The total price. Check taxes, fees, breakfast and any deposit before paying.
• Cancellation terms. Free cancellation runs until a specific date and changes with the rate.
• Recent guest photos. Carpets and bathrooms sometimes tell you more than the official interior shots.
• The address in Chinese. Screenshot it for taxis and late check-in.

Getting in from the airport is covered in Pudong Airport to downtown Shanghai. For internet from the moment you land, see best eSIM for China.

FAQ

Which area is best to stay in Shanghai for the first time?

People’s Square, East Nanjing Road or Huangpu near a metro station. From there it’s easy to reach the Bund, Yu Garden, the French Concession and the train stations.

Is there a women-only hostel in Shanghai?

Yes. Oriental Paris Girls’ Youth Hostel takes women only; my daughter and I stayed there. It has pretty shared spaces, a dining room, a washing machine and a make-up area. When booking, check your bed type and whether the room has a window.

Is a hotel with a Bund view worth it?

Yes, if the view is part of the experience and your budget allows. If your routes matter more, stay a few metro stops away and walk to the riverfront in the evening.

Pudong or Puxi: which is better for tourists?

For a first trip, Puxi, the west bank with the Bund, Yu Garden and the historic areas, is usually more convenient. Choose Pudong for business, skyscrapers or a panoramic hotel.

Where should I stay for Shanghai Disneyland?

For one day you can go from the centre by metro. If you want early entry, are travelling with kids or plan two days in the park, a separate night near Disney Resort is easier.

Short answer: the cheapest way from Pudong Airport to downtown Shanghai is Metro Line 2 (about 7 yuan, about an hour to People’s Square). The most fun is the maglev to Longyang Road, about 8 minutes, then a transfer. The easiest after a long flight is an official taxi or DiDi (around 180 yuan and about 50 minutes to People’s Square, per the Shanghai government). I’d choose by arrival time, luggage and where your hotel is, not by the lowest price.

Checked November 2026. Fares and timetables change, so check them the day before you fly.

Affiliate disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you book through one of them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Pudong is about 30 km from the centre. On the map it looks close, but Shanghai can stretch any distance, especially when you’re still looking for the right metro exit after a flight.

Pudong Airport to the city centre: which option to pick

Option	Best for	Cost and time	Main downside
Metro Line 2	Solo, daytime, light luggage	About 7 yuan, about 1 hour to People’s Square	Slow and crowded at rush hour
Maglev + metro or taxi	Anyone who wants to ride the maglev	About 8 minutes to Longyang Road, then a transfer	You still need to get from Longyang Road to your hotel
Taxi or DiDi	Two or three people, kids, suitcases, night arrivals	Around 180 yuan, about 50 minutes to People’s Square	Pricier, depends on traffic
Airport Link Line	Going on to Hongqiao airport or station	About 40 minutes between the airports	Doesn’t reach most hotels

Metro, taxi and Airport Link figures are from the Shanghai government’s airport transport page (updated June 2026).

My rule of thumb:

• Light luggage and a daytime arrival: Metro Line 2.
• You want to ride the maglev: maglev to Longyang Road, then metro or taxi.
• Two or three people with suitcases: an official taxi or DiDi is often the sensible choice.
• Night arrival: check the last services in advance and keep your hotel address in Chinese.

Metro Line 2: the budget option

The airport station, Pudong Airport Terminal 1&2, is on Line 2, one of the most useful lines for visitors. It runs through Longyang Road, Lujiazui, East Nanjing Road and People’s Square. If your hotel is near this line, the route is very simple.

The downsides show after a long flight: the ride takes time, the train can be packed, and a transfer with a big suitcase feels like a sightseeing activity of its own. Before you go, plan the route in Amap and check not only the station but the exit number.

You can pay with a single ticket or the transport QR code in Alipay. For the QR code, set up Alipay at home: see Alipay for foreigners.

The maglev: fast, but not to your hotel

The Shanghai maglev runs from the airport to Longyang Road station in about 8 minutes. That’s not a stop in the centre, so you then change to the metro or take a taxi. People ride it as much for the experience as for the time saved. It is a magnetic levitation train, after all.

Travel guides list the standard fare as 50 yuan one way (40 yuan if you show a same-day air ticket), with the last trains leaving around 21:40. Check the current fare and timetable at the station or on the operator’s site.

If your hotel is near Nanjing Road, the Bund or People’s Square, add time for the transfer. With heavy luggage, «maglev + metro» can turn out less pleasant than one taxi from the terminal.

Taxi and DiDi: when paying more makes sense

After a night flight, with a child or two suitcases, I wouldn’t try to be a hero. The official airport taxi queue is easier than trying to explain a meeting point to a driver. The Shanghai government says the Terminal 1 taxi stand is outside Arrival Gate 12, and the Terminal 2 stand is outside Arrival Gate 25.

DiDi is convenient if Alipay already works and you have mobile data. Ignore drivers offering rides in the arrivals hall. Both official taxis and DiDi drivers should take you on a normal metered or app fare. Save your hotel’s name, full address and phone number in Chinese, because the English name doesn’t always help.

If you’d rather have everything arranged before landing, you can book an airport transfer in advance. It costs more than a taxi, but it takes care of the meeting point and the connection question after a night flight.

Compare airport transfers on Trip.com →

Pudong to Hongqiao: the Airport Link Line

Since the end of 2024 the two airports are connected by the Airport Link Line. The Shanghai government says it takes about 40 minutes between the airports. It’s especially useful if you land at Pudong and your next flight or train leaves from Hongqiao.

Don’t book a tight connection, though. Add passport control, baggage claim, walking to the station and finding the right terminal.

Arriving at night

Timetables change, so don’t memorise one «permanent» last train. The day before your flight, check the route in Amap and on the airport’s official site. If you land close to the end of metro service, treat a taxi as your main option, not a backup.

• Buy and install an eSIM before you fly.
• Save your hotel’s address in Chinese.
• Screenshot your booking.
• Check which terminal you arrive at.
• Keep your home SIM active if your bank sends codes to it.

See the eSIM I used on Trip.com →

More on getting online in best eSIM for China.

Where to stay: pick a hotel near the metro

The easiest arrival is a hotel near Line 2 or a short taxi ride from it. I go through areas and hotels in where to stay in Shanghai.

See hotels in Shanghai on Trip.com →

What I’d choose now

Alone with hand luggage and a daytime arrival: the metro. For the experience and with no rush: the maglev. After a long flight, two people with suitcases: a taxi straight to the hotel. Saving money should make the trip easier, not start it with an hour and a half of fighting your luggage.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way from Pudong Airport to the city centre?

Metro Line 2. The Shanghai government puts the fare at about 7 yuan and the ride to People’s Square at about an hour.

How much is a taxi from Pudong Airport to downtown Shanghai?

Around 180 yuan to People’s Square, taking about 50 minutes, according to the Shanghai government. It depends on traffic and the exact address.

Does the maglev go to the Bund?

No. It runs from Pudong Airport to Longyang Road. From there you change to Metro Line 2 or take a taxi.

How do I get from Pudong to Hongqiao?

Take the Airport Link Line, about 40 minutes between the airports. Leave plenty of margin for passport control and baggage.

Can I use DiDi at Pudong Airport?

Yes, if Alipay or the DiDi app works and you have mobile data. Follow the app to the designated pickup area.

Short answer: set up Alipay (or WeChat Pay) with a Visa or Mastercard issued outside China before you fly, bring a second card from a different bank, and carry a little cash in yuan in small notes. China pays by QR code almost everywhere. Your foreign card works best as the money source inside a wallet app, and direct card payment is a bonus, not a guarantee.

Checked November 2026. Fees, limits and app rules change, so always read the final payment screen before you confirm.

Affiliate disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you book through one of them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Before my first trip, what scared me wasn’t the app itself. It was the thought of standing at a till with a queue behind me, a cashier who only speaks Chinese, and a payment that won’t go through. After 51 days in China my answer is simple: don’t look for one magic method. Build a main option and a backup before you leave.

How tourists pay in China: the quick version

Method	Good for	My take
Alipay with a foreign card	Shops, cafés, metro, taxis, mini-programs	Main method
WeChat Pay with a foreign card	A second QR wallet, some mini-services	Good backup
Visa / Mastercard directly	Hotels, airports, big stores and attractions that show the logo	Useful, but small places often want a QR code
Cash (yuan)	No phone, no internet, a failed payment	Carry some, but not as your only plan
Travel eSIM	Everything above needs data	Set it up before you fly

The setup I’d travel with now

• Main: Alipay with a card that’s already linked and tested.
• Backup: a second card from another bank, or WeChat Pay as a second wallet.
• Cash: a modest amount in small notes for the first day and emergencies.
• Internet: a travel eSIM that works the moment you land.

This looks like overkill right up until your first declined payment. After that you’re very glad you don’t have to message family from a Chinese airport.

Alipay and WeChat Pay with a foreign card

Both apps let visitors link a card issued outside mainland China, so you don’t need a Chinese bank account. Official numbers from the Shanghai government’s payment page (checked November 2026):

Item	What the official page says
Card limits	Up to US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year. The app shows the limits for your account.
Platform fee, 200 yuan or less	Generally no fee
Platform fee, above 200 yuan	Up to 3% of the full amount (a 500-yuan payment adds 15 yuan). Check the payment page for the fee and any promotion.
Exchange rate	Set by your card network and bank, not by the app. Your bank may add its own foreign transaction fee.

The app may ask you to verify your identity with your passport, and some features, such as the metro QR code in Alipay, need verification first. Step-by-step setup is in Alipay for foreigners.

There are two normal ways to pay: you scan the seller’s code, or you show your code to the cashier. That’s the whole mechanic. After the first two days you stop treating every payment as a tech quest. You open the code, pay and walk on.

I used Alipay as my main method and paid for the metro, taxis, cafés, shops and Taobao orders with it.

Can I pay with Visa or Mastercard in China?

Sometimes. Hotels, airports, large shops and tourist sites that show the card logo can take foreign cards. Bank of China says you can use overseas cards at its merchants where the logo is displayed, and otherwise ask the cashier. A small café may simply expect a QR code, so treat direct card payment as a bonus.

Take at least two cards from different banks and keep them in different places. If one is lost or your bank blocks a transaction, you still have a way to pay. Before you fly, check with each bank:

• that foreign transactions are allowed and China isn’t blocked;
• your daily and foreign limits and the conversion fee;
• that the banking app and SMS codes work abroad;
• your physical card PIN for ATMs.

Cash in China: do you still need it?

Yes, as a backup. Cash in yuan is legal tender, and a new People’s Bank of China rule in force since 1 February 2026 says businesses that take payment in person generally must not refuse cash. In practice, a small stall may not have change for a 100-yuan note, so carry small notes.

I took far more cash than I needed, and most of it came home with me. Now I’d take a sensible reserve in small notes and set up the main payment method in advance. Cash isn’t the main plan. It’s peace of mind for a flat phone, no signal, or a wallet that decides to run a security check right at the till.

Getting yuan: official guides say you can exchange money at bank branches and exchange machines at international airports, or withdraw yuan at ATMs with an international card. Bank of China ATMs accept overseas UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard, JCB and American Express cards, with a 3,000-yuan limit per withdrawal. Your own bank sets the fees and the other limits. If the ATM offers to convert into your home currency, choosing yuan usually means your bank does the conversion instead of the machine.

Pay for big items before the trip

I prefer to pay some big costs at home. I book hotels, flights and train tickets on Trip.com, where the total is easy to see and I’m not testing Alipay for the first time on an expensive purchase.

Check hotels in China on Trip.com →

See China train tickets on Trip.com →

Metro, buses and taxis

Metro and buses. In big cities you can open a transport QR code inside Alipay. Some places also sell single tickets and transport cards. I used Alipay: once it’s set up, it’s faster than buying a single ride every time.

Taxis. DiDi works inside Alipay and as a separate app. Pick the address on the map instead of trying to say the hotel name to the driver. The fare is charged after the ride to your chosen payment method.

Why you need internet to pay

Alipay, the transport code, DiDi and mini-programs all depend on your phone. So paying starts with connectivity. I buy an eSIM in advance and switch it on before the flight, so I can open my apps right after landing. My travel eSIM opened my usual services without anything extra and worked across mainland China and in Sanya. Hotel Wi-Fi is a local network and doesn’t work the same way. More in best eSIM for China.

See the eSIM I used on Trip.com →

What to do if a payment fails

Rule one: don’t press pay five times in a row. First check your payment history. Sometimes the money has already gone and the seller’s confirmation is just late.

If there really is no payment, switch to your backup: another card in the wallet, the second wallet app, a physical card, or cash.

Before you fly: payment checklist

1. Choose your main method (Alipay or WeChat Pay).
2. Register with a phone number that receives SMS abroad and verify your passport if asked.
3. Link a card and check that it’s accepted.
4. Prepare an independent backup and some cash in small notes.
5. Tell your banks you’re travelling, if they ask for it, and save their international phone numbers.
6. Make sure you’ll have internet right after landing.

The most expensive mistake is leaving payments until the Chinese airport. Wallets may need SMS codes, your passport, bank confirmation and stable internet. At home it’s all much calmer than after a night flight.

FAQ

What is the best way to pay in China as a tourist?

Alipay with a foreign Visa or Mastercard as your main method, a second card or WeChat Pay as a backup, and a little cash in yuan.

Does China accept Visa and Mastercard?

Hotels, airports, big stores and tourist sites that show the logo often do. Small shops and cafés usually expect a QR code, so link your card to Alipay or WeChat Pay.

How much does Alipay charge foreigners?

According to the Shanghai government’s payment page, payments of 200 yuan or less are generally free. Above 200 yuan a fee of up to 3% of the full amount may apply. Your bank may add its own foreign transaction fee.

Can I pay cash in China?

Yes. Yuan cash is legal tender, and since 1 February 2026 businesses serving customers in person generally must not refuse it. Carry small notes, because change can be a problem.

Alipay or WeChat Pay: which is better for tourists?

For a trip, I find Alipay more convenient because transport, taxis and other services are inside it. WeChat Pay works well as a second wallet.

Do I need internet to pay with Alipay?

Yes, for the wallet, transport codes, DiDi and checking payments. Set up an eSIM or another connection before you land.

Short answer: before you fly, install and set up Alipay, Amap (AMap Global), DiDi (or use it inside Alipay), Trip.com, a translator with offline Chinese, and a travel eSIM. Add WeChat if you need to message hotels or hosts. The key is not just to download them but to log in, verify and test them at home.

Checked November 2026. App features and rules change, so check the store listing and in-app terms before your trip.

Affiliate disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you book through one of them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

I set up my apps at home. When you land, you want to get to your hotel, not hunt for an Alipay password.

The China app checklist

Task	App	What to do before you fly
Paying, taxis, mini-programs	Alipay	Sign up with your phone number, verify your passport, link a card, find Pay and Scan
Maps and directions	Amap / AMap Global	Install, switch to English, save your hotel and key places
Taxis	DiDi (or Taxi inside Alipay)	Log in and check that payment works
Hotels, trains, tickets	Trip.com	Log in, add travellers exactly as in their passports, download confirmations
Translation	Any translator with offline Chinese	Download the offline language pack, test the camera
Internet	Travel eSIM	Install the eSIM profile at home
Messaging (optional)	WeChat	Create the account early; it can ask for extra verification
Offline backup	Organic Maps or Maps.me	Download the cities on your route

1. Alipay: payments, taxis and mini-programs

Alipay is the main app for visitors in China. You pay by scanning a QR code or by showing your own, and inside the app you can call a DiDi taxi and open transport and restaurant mini-programs. Install it first and learn two buttons: Pay and Scan.

What helps at home: register with your phone number (it has to receive SMS abroad), link a card, and do a practice run. I’d open Scan, Pay, your card list and your payment history once before the trip.

Official numbers worth knowing, from the Shanghai government’s payment page (checked November 2026):

• Visitors can link eligible cards issued outside mainland China to Alipay or WeChat Pay without a Chinese bank account.
• Limits for a foreign card: up to US$5,000 per transaction and US$50,000 per year. The app shows the limits for your account.
• Payments of 200 yuan or less are generally free of the platform fee. Above 200 yuan, a 3% fee on the full amount may apply. The payment page shows the fee before you confirm.

Full setup is in Alipay for foreigners and how to pay in China as a tourist.

2. Amap: the map I trust in China

Amap, also called Gaode Maps (高德地图), knows Chinese addresses, metro entrances, stops and routes much better than the Western maps you’re used to. Don’t make Google Maps your only navigation tool in mainland China.

The international version is called AMap Global in the App Store and Google Play. In July 2026 the Shanghai government wrote that Amap now offers services for international visitors in several languages, including English, and that the main services work without logging in. In August 2026 Amap announced ride-hailing in AMap Global with sign-in by phone numbers from 65 countries and regions. Some screens can still appear in Chinese, so keep camera translation handy.

How I use it: I save places in advance and keep the hotels’ Chinese names in my notes. To get a taxi driver to the right place, open the place card in Amap and simply show the screen. The driver reads the map and the Chinese name, and you don’t have to pronounce anything. Download offline maps for your cities too, because signal can drop in the metro.

3. DiDi: taxis without speaking Chinese

DiDi is China’s main ride-hailing app. You can install DiDi separately or open the Taxi service inside Alipay. Before you confirm, you see the estimated price, then the car’s plate number and the pickup point.

For a first ride I’d use DiDi inside Alipay: you already need Alipay for payments, so you don’t create another account at the airport. The in-app chat translates messages, which is easier than a phone call. Write short phrases like «I’m at exit 3».

We got around mostly by metro and used taxis for late evenings and luggage. More in my DiDi guide.

4. Trip.com: hotels, trains and an address in Chinese

Trip.com is where I book most of my China trips. It has an English interface, hotels, train and flight tickets, and attraction tickets in one account. A booking card also shows the hotel’s name and address in Chinese, which you can show a driver.

Before you fly, add every traveller exactly as written in their passport. Train tickets and many attraction tickets are tied to the passport number.

Open Trip.com to plan your China trip →

5. A translator: the camera matters more than perfect pronunciation

Download the offline Chinese pack and test camera translation. Menus, signs at bus stops and instructions on machines come up far more often than long conversations.

A translator can also confidently invent a meaning. Once a simple price sign for mangoes, 三块一斤 (3 yuan per jin, about half a kilo), came out as something about «three pieces of mango for every pie». Short, simple phrases work better than a long, beautiful paragraph, and double-check anything about prices or food.

6. A travel eSIM: so everything works after landing

All these apps need mobile data. A travel eSIM connects to Chinese networks as a roaming line, and on mine Google, Telegram, WhatsApp and my usual apps opened without anything extra. Hotel and airport Wi-Fi are local networks, so blocked services stay blocked there.

I buy the eSIM at home and switch it on at the gate before departure. After landing I choose the travel eSIM for mobile data and turn on Data Roaming for it. Details are in best eSIM for China.

See the eSIM I used on Trip.com →

7. WeChat and food delivery: do tourists need them?

For a short trip, WeChat isn’t essential if you already have Alipay. It’s useful for talking to an apartment owner, a hotel or a new friend, and for adding someone by QR code instead of swapping numbers. Registering a foreign account may need an extra verification step, so create it early and don’t count on finishing it in five minutes after landing.

Food delivery through Meituan and similar Chinese services is possible, but it needs an exact address, a Chinese interface and a way to talk to the courier. I wouldn’t start a holiday by signing up for every Chinese super-app. First Alipay, a card, taxis and internet. Everything else when you actually need it.

8. Offline maps as a backup

An offline map helps if your eSIM hasn’t connected yet or your data runs out. Download your cities in Organic Maps or Maps.me and pin your hotel, the airport and the train stations.

Before you fly: setup checklist

• Log in to every app and confirm your phone number.
• Make sure your home SIM can receive SMS while roaming, for app and bank codes.
• Set up Alipay and test that your card is accepted.
• Add travellers in Trip.com exactly as in their passports.
• Save your hotel’s address in English and Chinese.
• Download offline maps and the offline Chinese language pack.
• Save screenshots of bookings and tickets.
• Install your eSIM and plan a backup way to get online.

FAQ

What apps do I need for China?

The minimum is Alipay, Amap, Trip.com, a translator with offline Chinese, and a travel eSIM. DiDi works inside Alipay. Add WeChat for messaging.

Does Google Maps work in China?

Even when you can open it, don’t rely on it alone in mainland China. Amap (AMap Global) knows local addresses, metro entrances and routes much better.

Is Amap available in English?

Yes. AMap Global has an English interface, and the Shanghai government says the main services for visitors work without logging in. Some screens may still be in Chinese.

Can I download the apps after I arrive?

You can install some of them there, but registration, SMS codes and app store access can let you down. It’s safer to download, log in and update everything before the trip.

Do I need a Chinese phone number for Alipay or DiDi?

No. Alipay accepts an international number that can receive SMS. DiDi also works with a foreign number, or you can open it inside Alipay.

Short answer: buy an international travel eSIM before you fly, not a local Chinese SIM. A travel eSIM connects to Chinese towers as a roaming line, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram usually open without a VPN. I used a Trip.com eSIM for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and everything I needed worked on mobile data. That included Sanya on Hainan Island.

Checked November 2026. eSIM plans and rules change often, so read the current listing before you pay.

Affiliate disclosure: this article contains affiliate links. If you buy through one of them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

See the eSIM I used on Trip.com →

eSIM in China: quick answers

Question	Answer
Can tourists get a Chinese eSIM?	Not easily. Chinese carriers activate eSIMs in their own stores, with an ID check. For iPhones, Apple says this works only on certain models sold in mainland China. Visitors buy an international travel eSIM instead.
Does a travel eSIM work without a VPN?	Usually, yes. Roaming data leaves China through a gateway outside the mainland. Mine opened Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram with no VPN.
Does hotel Wi-Fi work the same way?	No. Hotel, café and airport Wi-Fi are local networks, so blocked apps stay blocked there.
Do I need a separate eSIM for Hainan?	No. Hainan is part of mainland China coverage. My plan worked in Sanya.
What’s the one setting people miss?	Data Roaming on the travel eSIM line. I missed it on my first trip.

Why a travel eSIM and not a local SIM

When you buy a local SIM in China, you join the local internet with all its restrictions. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and many other foreign services don’t open there. The same happens on Wi-Fi in hotels and airports.

A travel eSIM works like roaming. Your phone connects to a Chinese mobile network, but the data goes out to the internet through another region. The current Trip.com listing for the plan I used names CTM, a Macau carrier, as the provider.

Before my first trip I thought the eSIM had a VPN hidden inside it. It doesn’t. You don’t pick Macau anywhere in your phone settings and you don’t change your iPhone region. The routing comes from the plan itself.

That is also why I don’t recommend buying the first card that says «eSIM China». Check what the listing says about coverage and routing, or use one that someone you trust has tested.

Does it really work without a VPN?

On mobile data through my eSIM, yes. This is what worked for me:

Service	On my travel eSIM
Google	Opened without a VPN
WhatsApp	Opened without a VPN
Instagram	Opened without a VPN
Telegram	Opened without a VPN
Alipay, DiDi, Amap, Trip.com	Worked on mobile data
Banking apps from home	Worked, and SMS codes reached my home number

I’d still keep the three situations apart:

• Travel eSIM data. Your usual apps can open without a VPN. That was my experience.
• Hotel, café or airport Wi-Fi. You’re on a local network now, and the list of sites that open can change.
• A local SIM card. Local network rules apply.

If your work depends on the internet (video calls, company systems), don’t rely on one connection only. We once tried the first VPN we found. It worked at first and then stopped connecting. I don’t name or recommend any VPN, because I can’t promise one will work on the day you travel.

One more thing: a working connection doesn’t switch off your bank’s security. An app may ask you to log in again or send a code because it sees a new country. So check your passwords at home and keep your home number able to receive SMS.

Which eSIM I chose for China

I bought a Mainland China / Hong Kong / Macau eSIM on Trip.com. I took the biggest daily plan and shared the connection as a hotspot with three other devices.

The plan’s name is easy to misread. It was called «100GB per day», but in the detailed terms of my plan Trip.com described it as unlimited data at a constant speed of up to 10 Mbps. That’s how I used it: a big plan where I didn’t count every gigabyte, not 100GB of high-speed data every day. Plan names and speeds change, so check the current terms under the plan name before you buy.

What I liked most: after landing I didn’t have to look for a carrier counter or explain anything in Chinese. I switched off Airplane Mode and could open my booking, call a DiDi and message my family.

What the listing said when I checked it in November 2026:

• Coverage: mainland China (China Mobile, China Unicom), Hong Kong (CSL, SmarTone), Macau (CTM).
• Data only. No phone number, no calls, no SMS.
• Hotspot and tethering: supported.
• Day passes or total data packages. One «day» equals 24 hours from activation.
• Installation: you can install it in advance. The plan starts when it activates after you arrive.
• The QR code stays valid for 30 days from the booking date.

I’m not saying every eSIM on Trip.com will behave the same way. Before buying, I check four things every time: coverage, access to foreign services, activation rules and hotspot support.

Check current Trip.com eSIM plans for China →

How much data do you need?

This is how I’d choose:

How you’ll use it	What I’d pick
Maps, DiDi, Alipay, messaging	2 GB per day
Social media and sending photos every day	2–3 GB per day
Video, cloud backups, working on a laptop	A big daily plan or a large total package
Sharing with other devices	A big plan with hotspot support

A hotspot uses data faster than you’d expect. The laptop decides to sync its cloud, another phone starts updating apps, someone plays a video, and it all comes out of one plan. Before my trip I turned off automatic updates and backups over mobile data.

How to install and activate an eSIM for China

Here’s how I do it: I buy and install the eSIM at home, then switch it on at the gate just before boarding. With the Trip.com plan I used, the day count starts only when the eSIM activates on arrival in China, so switching it on at the gate doesn’t eat into your days.

Why install at home? Installing needs a stable internet connection. In China, hotel Wi-Fi may not open the seller’s site, and you won’t have Google to search for help.

Why not activate days early? A woman once wrote to me after she had switched her eSIM on too early. Her plan’s clock had started and the trip hadn’t. She asked if she could pause it. She couldn’t. Other plans may start at installation or at first connection, so your own order instructions are what count.

Before you buy: check your phone

• Your phone supports eSIM. Check the exact model with your eSIM provider. Some iPhone models sold in mainland China have no eSIM at all.
• Your phone is carrier-unlocked. On iPhone, go to Settings → General → About and look at Carrier Lock.
• No eSIM support? Physical adapter cards such as 5ber or eSIM.me let some phones load eSIM profiles. Compatibility depends on the phone and the card, so test it at home, never at the airport.

Install on iPhone

1. Connect to stable Wi-Fi.
2. Open Settings → Cellular (Mobile Data) → Add eSIM.
3. Scan the QR code, or enter the SM-DP+ address and activation code from your order. Trip.com also offers in-app installation: Account → All Bookings → Install.
4. Give the new line a clear name, like «China». You’ll thank yourself later.
5. Save the order, the QR code and the instructions offline.

Install on Android (Samsung, Pixel)

1. Connect to stable Wi-Fi.
2. Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM → Scan QR code. Pixel: Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM → Set up an eSIM.
3. Scan the QR code or enter the activation code manually.
4. Restart the phone if it asks you to.

Menu names vary by phone model and Android version.

Don’t post your QR code in screenshots or send it to anyone. It’s the key to installing your plan.

After you land: the settings that matter

On iPhone:

Setting	What to choose
Cellular Data	The travel eSIM
Data Roaming on the travel eSIM	On
Data Roaming on your home SIM	Off
Home line	On, if you need SMS codes
Allow Cellular Data Switching	Off

On Android, set the travel eSIM as the mobile data SIM in SIM manager (Samsung) or under Network & internet → SIMs (Pixel), and turn on roaming for that eSIM.

Where to find the Data Roaming switch

Menu names vary by phone model and software version. If you can’t find the switch, search for «roaming» in Settings.

My mistake: I landed and had no internet

On my first trip I was sure I’d set everything up perfectly. We landed in Haikou, I switched off Airplane Mode, and nothing happened.

I restarted the phone, checked the eSIM, turned Airplane Mode on and off. Still nothing. So I went to the airport Wi-Fi terminal, where you scan your passport and get a Wi-Fi login and password.

The problem turned out to be one small switch: Data Roaming on the travel eSIM line. A travel eSIM joins the Chinese network as a roaming line. Without that permission the phone sees the line but sends no data through it. I flipped the switch and the internet came on at once. I lost two hours on that.

After 51 days in China, I can say there are far more fears about the Chinese internet than real problems.

eSIM connected but no internet? Check this

1. The eSIM line is turned on.
2. The eSIM is selected for mobile data.
3. Data Roaming is on for the eSIM.
4. Airplane Mode on for 30 seconds, then off. Wait a few minutes.
5. Restart the phone.
6. Only then check the APN in your order instructions. My listing gives ctm-mobile, but take the value from your own order rather than copying mine.
7. Still nothing? Contact the eSIM provider’s support from your order page.

Don’t delete the eSIM in a panic. Reinstalling is limited. The listing I checked allows it only on the same device and only while the QR code or the plan is still valid. Other providers may not allow it at all.

What about hotel Wi-Fi in China?

I used hotel Wi-Fi, but I never relied on it alone. Sometimes it’s slow. Sometimes you need a Chinese phone number to log in. And sometimes it doesn’t open what works fine on the eSIM.

So everything important (taxis, maps, payments, bookings) runs on my eSIM. I join Wi-Fi to download something big or to work on a laptop. If an app suddenly stops loading, turn Wi-Fi off and try again on mobile data. Very often the problem is the hotel network, not the app.

Before you pay: checklist

• Mainland China is in the coverage.
• The listing says how the data is routed.
• You know when the plan starts: at installation, at activation or at first connection.
• You know how much high-speed data you get.
• Hotspot is allowed, if you need it.
• Your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.
• You know where to contact support if it doesn’t connect.

Save offline whatever you’ll need in your first hours: your hotel address in Chinese, your booking, your route from the airport and the support contacts. The internet usually comes on right away. My first landing showed me why a plan B still matters.

Choose your eSIM for China on Trip.com →

FAQ

What is the best eSIM for China?

One that routes data outside mainland China, covers the mainland, supports hotspot if you need it, and gets installed before you fly. I used the Trip.com eSIM for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, and Google, WhatsApp and Instagram worked on it without a VPN.

Do I need a VPN in China if I have an eSIM?

On my travel eSIM I didn’t. Roaming data leaves China through a gateway outside the mainland, so blocked apps usually open. On hotel, café or airport Wi-Fi and on a local Chinese SIM, they usually don’t.

When should I activate my eSIM for China?

I install it at home and switch it on at the gate before boarding, so it’s ready when I land. With the Trip.com plan I used, the day count starts only when it activates on arrival. Some other plans start at installation, so check your plan’s rules.

Why is my eSIM not working in China?

Most often Data Roaming is off on the eSIM line, or the wrong line is selected for mobile data. Turn roaming on for the eSIM, toggle Airplane Mode, restart, and only then check the APN from your order.

Can I use a hotspot with a China eSIM?

With my plan, yes. I shared it with three other devices. Every device uses the same plan, so pick a big one.

Does a China eSIM work in Hainan, Hong Kong and Macau?

Hainan is part of mainland China coverage, and my eSIM worked in Sanya. Hong Kong and Macau are separate networks, so pick a plan that lists them. Mine covered mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.