17 вещей, которые НУЖНО знать перед поездкой в Китай

Key travel / real-life tips (China)

Passport at all times

• Many attractions require ID even when it doesn’t seem necessary.
• Trains: passport may be checked up to three times:
  1. When entering the train station (must match the ticket used to buy the ticket)
  2. Again before going down to the platform
  3. Sometimes again by a ticket inspector while on the train
• Attractions: passport checks are usually once at entry (to link the ticket/pass system—sometimes “show your face” is enough afterward).

Use the right maps

• Google Maps is said to be outdated/unusable (not updated for ~10 years in the video).
• Recommended alternatives:
  • AMAP (recommended)
  • Apple Maps
  • MapS.me (offline maps—download city maps like Shanghai/Beijing and navigate without internet)

Belongings feel relatively safe

• The speaker claims theft is rare, and cameras/public security make it easier to recover lost items.
• Example: a lost phone taken by a vendor was recovered after police used cameras to identify the person.

Health, insurance, and getting treated

• Travel insurance is recommended, especially for serious injuries.
• Minor issues: visit a hospital/ENT specialist as a tourist/business visa holder
  • Example cost mentioned: ~1,000 rubles for an exam + prescriptions for cheaper meds.
• Serious injuries: costs can be extremely high
  • Example given: breaking a leg could cost ~1 million rubles in Shanghai (surgery + hospitalization + meds), so insurance matters.

Avoid airport taxis; use Didi instead

• Download Didi (described as working in English).
• The speaker links it with Alipay payments and says it can be simpler than traditional taxi payment/verification.
• Reported risk: airport/tourist-area taxi scams and meter manipulation.
• If threatened/scammed:
  • Learn the police number and call immediately
  • Show the number to the driver (the driver may switch the meter to a local setting)

Mobile internet is essential

• Many things depend on online payments, bookings, and transport.
• Install Alipay (noted to include tools such as eSIM support and translation).
• Suggestion: get an eSIM / internet plan in advance
  • Video estimate: ~200–300 rubles/month for unlimited, typically activated quickly (~5–10 minutes).

Getting around: trains can be faster than flying

• High-speed rail examples mentioned:
  • ~350 km/h
  • ~1,000 km in ~4 hours
• Flight time can be misleading because airports are far from city centers.
• Booking/app tips:
  • Use Trip.com
  • Upload passport info there
  • Payment via Mir in rubles is mentioned as workable
  • If app language is an issue, switching the app language (e.g., Russian/English) may help

Visa situation (as described in the video)

• Visa-free entry for 30 days is described as available (speaker expects it may continue).
• “Visa run” idea:
  • Travel to southern China cities and periodically do a 30-day reset via neighboring Hong Kong.
• The video also mentions longer-term arrangements via an ATS card concept (briefly described).

Pick the right season

• Avoid:
  • Chinese holidays
  • July/August
  • Chinese New Year
  • (Crowds and disruptions)
• Better months mentioned: May, June, September, October
  • More comfortable weather + fewer people.
• Early holidays can still be crowded; later crowds may disperse as people leave major cities.

Cultural adjustment: etiquette differences

Be prepared for:

• Loud talking, pushing in crowded areas
• Less respect for personal space
• Body-noise behaviors (groans/spitting/burping after meals)
• Taking shoes off and feet out of car windows; lying down in parks
• Long, busy queues for popular spots

Food example/snack:

• Baozi (“baudzy”)—try the buns
  • The video notes meat versions are cheap but implies quality/ingredients may surprise some visitors.

Bride/groom “markets” in some cities

• The video describes weekend “matchmaking” markets in a park setting:
  • A bride market and groom market
  • People sit with questionnaires and negotiation materials
  • Photos may be absent for privacy

Metro is usually easiest

• Pros:
  • Clean, spacious, efficient
  • Avoid rush hour if possible
• Cons:
  • People may exit/enter at the same time, making boundaries feel less respected
• Practical tips:
  • Double-check station names (similar-looking names can be near but not identical)
  • Chinese characters can be duplicated, but the speaker advises focusing on English names on maps

Food “difficulty” for first-timers

• Traditional Chinese food can be very different from what visitors expect.
• Strategy:
  • Find clean, reputable places using online guides
  • Look for a color code sign/smiley face in restaurants:
    • Red = avoid
    • Yellow = “okay-ish”
    • Green = fine
• Western chains:
  • Starbucks, McDonald’s, KFC are available and can help with breakfast/comfort food in smaller places.
• Budget estimate mentioned: ~300–400 rubles for basic meals

Communication tools

• Alipay is recommended for translation support.
• Yandex Translate is mentioned as working without VPN (possibly limited voice input).
• Google Translate is said to require VPN in China.

Install a VPN before traveling

• The speaker recommends installing VPNs beforehand because it’s “difficult to install” from inside China.
• Paid VPN mentioned: ~400 rubles/month (works across devices).
• Free VPN mentioned: VPNIFY
• Russian VPN example mentioned: Dead VPN (status unclear)

Apartment rentals: police registration may be required

• If you stay in a rented apartment (not a hotel), you may need to register yourself at a police station.
• The speaker says:
  • The landlord can tell you where to register
  • Bring a printout of your contract
• Example story: police visited the speaker because registration wasn’t done in that area; later the speaker also needed police registration when getting a bank card.

Everyday payments: Alipay (and WeChat Pay)

• Payments rely heavily on Alipay (WeChat Pay also exists).
• Setup flow described:
  1. Download Alipay using a Russian number (SMS should work better if done abroad)
  2. Register and receive SMS
  3. Activate balance + short verification
  4. Upload passport
  5. Top up via methods such as:
     • Sberbank Online (speaker says it may work “crookedly”)
     • Scripts/exchangers (rubles → Alipay)
     • Intermediaries/exchange services (speaker recommends Nestro and describes ATM QR-code top-up via an intermediary)

Booking travel: rely on Trip.com

• Recommended because it’s connected to local databases and works quickly.
• Example booking timing:
  • Great Wall tickets: book about 1 week in advance
  • Trains: reservations open about 2 weeks before departure (so you can’t book 15 days out)
• Disneyland attractions: not all rides are booked automatically—tickets differ by attraction.

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Notable locations, products, apps, and services mentioned

Locations

• Shanghai People’s Park
• Great Wall of China
• Beijing
• Hong Kong (Hongzhou mentioned)
• Guangzhou
• Shenzhen
• “Venice of the East” (Hangzhou referenced)
• Avatar Mountains
• Yaroslavl (personal anecdote)

Apps / services / tools

• AMAP
• Apple Maps
• MapS.me
• Baidu (maps/cards referenced)
• Didi
• Alipay (including eSIM/translation features)
• Trip.com
• VPNIFY
• Yandex Translate
• Google Maps (not usable)
• Google Translate (with VPN)

Payment / ID-related

• Passport
• Mir card
• Alipay balance
• WeChat Pay (also mentioned as WeChat Pay / VChat Pay)
• ATS card concept

Tour promo / hosting mentions

• The speaker offers Shanghai + Hangzhou excursions and an all-inclusive tour from April 7–13, including Shanghai and the Avatar Mountains.
• Mention of a future free China guide via Telegram/website.

Intermediary mentioned for top-ups

• Nestro

Police/ID reference

• “Learn the police number” (exact number not clearly stated).