Great Firewall of China and Facebook

[Cruiser Elite]

Well it is the official booking system so YES is best system to use

 

[jase05]

Well it is the official booking system so YES is best system to use

Cheers. I’ve just always found Trip so easy and workable so haven’t looked elsewhere and just stuck with them for the sake of it.
Might check them out for the next time we visit

 

[kpc]

Is 12306 good?
Have always just used Trip and it’s worked well so haven’t looked at anything else

I believe trip.com charges a small surcharge whereas 12306 does not.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yes Trip charge small commission but it is neglible in AU$ terms so if you happy with Trip stay with them - my Chinese friends just tell me always use 12306 as you get access to ALL available seats - i do not know of Trips access is in anyway restricted

 

[LionKing]

If you are transferring via Hong Kong, I would strongly recommend you purchase SoSIM service, which will provide you with a cheaper and more flexible option whilst roaming in China, have access to all essnetial social media.

 

[moa999]

but it is neglible in AU$ terms so if you happy with Trip stay with them

It's 20CNY (A$4.35) per ticket. Negligible for a long journey, but can be quite a percentage on short trips in Economy.

The other advantage of 12306 is the ability to waitlist which you can't do on trip.com. Afaik it's a complicated ticketing system and they gradually release tickets for shorter segments over time.
And I've been told trip's advance purchase feature often fails to get tickets.

you purchase SoSIM service,

Just a HK MVNO (owned by 3 HK)

All of the various travel eSims (Airalo, Saily, Flexiroam etc) are essentially wholesale roaming data SIMs from one operator or another (popular ones seem to be from operators in HK, Singapore, Poland and Jersey) and some of the sellers use multiple carriers. The ones exiting in HK are probably best for China given it's less distance for the traffic to travel.

And much like immigration the HK based telcos including CMHK are not seen as mainland carriers

 

[LionKing]

Just a HK MVNO (owned by 3 HK)

All of the various travel eSims (Airalo, Saily, Flexiroam etc) are essentially wholesale roaming data SIMs from one operator or another (popular ones seem to be from operators in HK, Singapore, Poland and Jersey) and some of the sellers use multiple carriers. The ones exiting in HK are probably best for China given it's less distance for the traffic to travel.

And much like immigration the HK based telcos including CMHK are not seen as mainland carriers

Yes I agree. However, the roaming cards in HK are unregistered (when only used for roaming) and also it is cheaper than Australia so it is beneficial when you are using them for roaming in China to enjoy ananymous brosing if that helps.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And don’t forget firewall irrelevant if you are using an Australian SIM with intl data roaming - Vodafone $5/day plan is just perfect albeit with a few tiny quirks - it is irreplaceable for me

 

[SYD]

And don’t forget firewall irrelevant if you are using an Australian SIM with intl data roaming - Vodafone $5/day plan is just perfect albeit with a few tiny quirks - it is irreplaceable for me

Or pretty much most data eSIMs will generally bypass the GFW.

You don’t need a VPN to access most things but they do provide that extra privacy protection since you’re still connected to a local network.

 

[LionKing]

Or pretty much most data eSIMs will generally bypass the GFW.

You don’t need a VPN to access most things but they do provide that extra privacy protection since you’re still connected to a local network.

I wonder which phones do have eSIMs?
I have been trying to get a phone with eSIM and so far no luck.

 

[SYD]

I wonder which phones do have eSIMs?
I have been trying to get a phone with eSIM and so far no luck.

Pretty much every iPhone sold in Oz from iPhone XR onwards. Samsungs from about the same time from memory. Early phones had a physical SIM slot + 1x eSIM. Now they’re often 8 or more eSIMs (but usually can only have any two lines active at the same time).

Equally important is the phone should be unlocked.

 

[Ktan89]

Hey guys, I’m flying to China in a week. I’ll be using Vodafone roaming, so I'm assuming normal apps like Google, WhatsApp and Instagram will work.

I’ve already downloaded Alipay, WeChat, Amap, and Didi.. is there anything else I’m missing? I’m feeling a bit anxious right now.

Also, we couldn’t add the same credit card to both Alipay and WeChat, which was annoying. Is there any way around this?

And are there any good translation apps that can work offline? Thank you

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hey guys, I’m flying to China in a week. I’ll be using Vodafone roaming, so I'm assuming normal apps like Google, WhatsApp and Instagram will work.

I’ve already downloaded Alipay, WeChat, Amap, and Didi.. is there anything else I’m missing? I’m feeling a bit anxious right now.

Also, we couldn’t add the same credit card to both Alipay and WeChat, which was annoying. Is there any way around this?

And are there any good translation apps that can work offline? Thank you

Hmmm… I used the same credit card for wechat and alipay (28 degrees).

Didi is in the alipay app already… IIRC that’s the one you need to use, not the international version of didi (that’s available in Australia for example).

Otherwise, you should be good to go

 

[SYD]

Hey guys, I’m flying to China in a week. I’ll be using Vodafone roaming, so I'm assuming normal apps like Google, WhatsApp and Instagram will work.

Your Vodafone roaming should allow most things to work. However, Google Maps is unreliable in China.

I’ve already downloaded Alipay, WeChat, Amap, and Didi.. is there anything else I’m missing? I’m feeling a bit anxious right now.

We managed (mostly) with just AliPay. Didn’t bother with WeChat.

You might want to get a small amount of cash (ATMs are generally fee free), because sometime AliPay wants a 2FA text to approve the transaction and it just doesn’t arrive - which is very frustrating. A possible work around is to have a 2nd card loaded.

Also, we couldn’t add the same credit card to both Alipay and WeChat, which was annoying. Is there any way around this?

That’s weird. They’re seperate providers.

As above, if you have a fee free DC, it could be a useful backup in AliPay.

And are there any good translation apps that can work offline? Thank you

There are translation functions in AliPay.

Also, if you’re using metros, there are virtual travel cards in AliPay. They work very well and save you stuffing around with ticket machines.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I didn’t use wechat either, much, except needed it for baggage security clearance at Xiamen!

 

[SYD]

I didn’t use wechat either, much, except needed it for baggage security clearance at Xiamen!

From what I’ve read here and other threads, WeChat is essential for business travellers but on paper, as a tourist it’s one or the other should suffice. Eating out, I don’t recall seeing a place that didn’t take both.

I guess having the second is a possible backup plan if one isn’t working eg the 2FA issue I mentioned. Which can be a bit random. We were at a bar and our AP worked but an American trying to use AP had the 2FA problem. Sometimes mine would go into a death spiral but SYD+1’s worked. Both using 28° MC….

We both loaded our ING DCs as well and that did seem to help.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From what I’ve read here and other threads, WeChat is essential for business travellers but on paper, as a tourist it’s one or the other should suffice. Eating out, I don’t recall seeing a place that didn’t take both.

I guess having the second is a possible backup plan if one isn’t working eg the 2FA issue I mentioned. Which can be a bit random. We were at a bar and our AP worked but an American trying to use AP had the 2FA problem. Sometimes mine would go into a death spiral but SYD+1’s worked. Both using 28° MC….

We both loaded our ING DCs as well and that did seem to help.

There was one instance in a convenience store where wechat w

Ar XMN we were in transit and had to wait at baggage reclaim until our bags were security cleared before being transferred to the domestic flight. We literally couldn't proceed until cleared.

Wechat was the only way to do that electronically. There must have been a manual way, but it wasn’t obvious.

 

[moa999]

Other good app for taking metro is MetroMan.
Google Translate works on roaming sim

 

[Ktan89]

Sorry, i should clarify that I tried to use the same cards to load into both my Alipay and my partners but it doesnt allow it. Now ive got my CC on mine and she's got DC (wise) on hers. I would prefer if we both are using the CC as primary though. .

There are translation functions in AliPay.

Also, if you’re using metros, there are virtual travel cards in AliPay. They work very well and save you stuffing around with ticket mamachines.

This is good to know thank you.

Other good app off taking metro is MetroMan.
Google Translate works on roaming sim

Will download this too. Cheers!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For metro you can use alipay, at least in Shnaghai. Guess others might be the same. You just tap on and it gives you a code to tap off too.

With didi, remember to pay - or authorise payment - once you leave the car. If you forget don’t worry too much, you won’t be able to book another car until you’ve finalised the previous one