Payment failed at the counter
Start with mobile data, a backup wallet, a second card, and a small cash fallback before troubleshooting the merchant.
Fix payment failure💬
Community Tips
Real tips from real travelers. Share your experience to help others. Start with the recovery paths below when the issue is urgent, then add a tip if your case can help the next traveler.
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Common China travel problems, routed to the right fix
Hotel cannot register my passport
Use a foreign-passport hotel checklist and keep a backup booking near your arrival area.
Check hotel backupTrain ticket passport mismatch
Compare the exact passport name, ticket name, and station pickup rules before station day.
Fix train passport issueAirport to hotel first day
If you land late, plan transfer, payment, eSIM, and hotel check-in in one sequence.
Open first-day plannerVPN or Google access failed
Keep offline maps, hotel addresses, and a second connectivity path ready before relying on blocked apps.
See problem fixesNeed mobile data before landing
Install an eSIM before boarding so payment, maps, translation, and hotel messages work on arrival.
Compare eSIM optionsHotel passport backup
If check-in is uncertain, keep a second foreign-passport-friendly hotel ready before you land.
Find backup hotelsAirport transfer backup
Late arrivals are easier when transport is solved before payment or map apps misbehave.
Reserve transfereSIM before landing
Payment, translation, hotel messages, and community advice all depend on mobile data.
Compare eSIM options🇺🇸 USA • Shanghai • 2025-05-15
PaymentAlipay Tour Pass saved my trip
I couldn't link my Chase card directly to Alipay, but Tour Pass worked perfectly. I topped up $200 and it lasted me 2 weeks. Every single place accepted it — even the tiny dumpling stall in an alley. The key is to set it up BEFORE you arrive because the verification SMS might not work in China.
— Sarah M.
🇮🇹 Italy • Beijing • 2025-05-10
VPNBuild an offline-first backup plan
Prepare offline maps, downloaded translations, and saved accommodation details before arriving. Check local law and each provider's terms before choosing any connectivity service, and keep your essential travel information available without a connection.
— Marco R.
🇯🇵 Japan • Chengdu • 2025-05-08
FoodHow to order food without speaking Chinese
Most restaurants have QR code menus now. Scan with WeChat and you can see pictures of every dish. Point at what you want if the staff doesn't speak English. Also, the "translate" feature in WeChat works on camera — just point it at the Chinese menu and it overlays English. Not perfect but good enough.
— Yuki T.
🇬🇧 UK • Guangzhou • 2025-05-05
TransportHigh-speed train tips for foreigners
Book trains on Trip.com in English — much easier than 12306. At the station, go to the international passenger window (look for English signs). You scan your passport to enter and exit. The trains are incredibly punctual and clean. First class is worth it for long trips — about $50-80 for 4 hours.
— James K.
🇩🇪 Germany • Xi'an • 2025-05-01
ScamsAvoid the tea ceremony scam
Two "friendly" girls invited me to a tea ceremony near the Muslim Quarter. The tea was nice but the bill was 800 RMB ($110)! They said "no obligation" but then pressured me to pay. I walked out. Lesson: if a stranger is TOO friendly and invites you to something, it's probably a scam. Real Chinese people are friendly but won't drag you to shops.
— Anna L.
🇪🇸 Spain • Shenzhen • 2025-04-28
AccommodationHotel wouldn't accept my passport
I booked a budget hotel on Ctrip and they refused to check me in because they didn't have a "foreign guest license." I had to find a different hotel at 11 PM. Always check the "accepts foreigners" tag before booking. International chains are always safe.
— Carlos M.
🇦🇺 Australia • Kunming • 2025-04-25
HealthGot sick in Yunnan — here's what to do
I got food poisoning in Kunming. The local hospital had no English speakers. I used Pleco to translate my symptoms and it worked. The doctor was professional and the whole visit cost about 30 RMB ($4). Bring your own anti-diarrheal medicine just in case. Also, don't drink tap water even in nice hotels.
— Emma W.
🇫🇷 France • Hangzhou • 2025-04-20
LanguageChinese people are incredibly helpful
My Chinese is zero. But every time I was lost, someone helped me. One guy walked 10 minutes out of his way to show me the right bus stop. A restaurant owner called a taxi for me and told the driver where to go. Don't be afraid to ask for help — use hand gestures, Google Translate, or just show your destination on the map.
— Pierre D.