Booking a high-speed train in China: Trip.com or 12306?
Both work in English and both just need your passport. Which one I’d use for a first trip, when to book, and what to expect at the station.
Read →Hi, I'm David. I've spent years being the new foreigner: in the US for a long stretch, then Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Australia. Now I live in China, and this is where I write down what actually works here, tested in person and dated so you know it's current. More about me →
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Getting Around
Trains, taxis, metro and getting from the airport. See all →
Getting a DiDi without speaking Chinese
You don't need a separate app. Book DiDi inside Alipay in English, pay with the card you've linked, and let the in-app chat translate.
Read →Using the metro in China with your phone (or your card)
Skip the ticket machines. Turn on the city's transit code in Alipay, or in more and more cities just tap your contactless card.
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