Shanghai-first China travel help
Practical help for the China travel problems guidebooks skip.
Clear steps for foreign visitors dealing with payments, airport arrival, metro rides, taxis, mobile data, and QR-code menus. Start with the quickest workable option, then use the backup plan if it fails.
Start With These Guides
How to Pay in Shanghai as a Foreigner
A practical payment setup for foreign visitors in Shanghai: Alipay, WeChat Pay, cards, cash, and what to do when a payment fails.
Alipay Foreign Card Not Working in China
What to check when Alipay rejects a foreign card or a payment fails during a trip in China.
Alipay vs WeChat Pay for Tourists in China
Which payment app foreign tourists should set up first, and why having both is safer.
Can You Use Cash in Shanghai?
Where cash helps foreign visitors in Shanghai, where it is awkward, and how to use it as a backup.
Pudong Airport to Shanghai City Center
How to choose between metro, Maglev, taxi, and Didi after landing at Shanghai Pudong Airport.
First 60 Minutes in Shanghai After Landing
A calm first-hour checklist for foreign visitors landing in Shanghai: internet, payment, address, and transport.
What You Can Solve Here
Payment and fallback plans
Alipay, WeChat Pay, foreign cards, cash, and what to do when a payment fails at the counter.
Shanghai arrival and transport
Pudong airport, first-hour checklists, metro basics, taxis, Didi, and Chinese address cards.
Internet and food basics
eSIM vs local SIM, QR menus, ordering without Chinese, and short phrases visitors can show staff.