Last Updated on June 26, 2026 by stlplace
(Working in progress as of 06-26-2026, soft launch for now as I expect summer travel to take off towards the end of May. Thought may be helpful for friends who have not visited China for a while)
Yesterday I came across 2 blog posts almost 20 years ago – More Shanghai travel tips and Travel tips for Shanghai. A lot has changed since then, this is obvious because not only because of the 20 years but also because of the smartphone revolution happened in last 15 years or so.
App, 微信支付 WeChat Pay
Let me give an example, I recall in March 2023, after a break of more than 3 years (2020, 2021 and 2022), I flew back to PVG and saw my parents again in Ningbo. At the KFC store, they already stopped taking orders from the counter, everything is done via app or via 微信小程序。I didn’t know. Just like I didn’t know way before that, at a bank branch in Shanghai, I am supposed to take a number from the computer (printer), which is equivalent to the ticket dispenser here in the US. But I didn’t know and waited in line directly until I realized that I didn’t have a number. Anyway, at KFC, the cashier or 伙计 tried to teach me to download the KFC China app on my iPhone, and because my app store country is set to the USA, it could not find the app 🙁 She has to manually put in order for me, and I was able to pay via WeChat pay though.
AliPay works too, but personally I like WeChat much more due to its simpler user interface.
Get the money
While China is largely cashless society, cash is still accepted pretty much everywhere. And sometimes we need the cash to fund the WeChat, or give to someone. For that I have a Schwab Bank Visa Platinum Debit Card (google search, look at the AI overview; Schwab website). I pasted some Google AI overview below. One caveat: there is a 7% (roughly) surcharge, if you withdraw cash at the ATM machine (for example, Pufa or Pudong Development bank) at PVG Pudong Airport. I noticed it because it pops up that warning, and I also compared to money exchange rate with CMB (China Mercantile Bank, Zhao’shang Bank). I used the cash withdrawal feature in HK airport too in 2024, note the taxi drivers in HK only accepts cash.
Key Features
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: Purchases made abroad have zero currency conversion fees.
- Unlimited ATM Refunds: All fees charged by out-of-network or international ATM operators are fully refunded at the end of every month. (Note: this card offers unlimited bank ATM fee refund in the US too. Again please note bank ATMs, not the other commercial ATMs that’s not owned or run by a bank)
- ……
How to Use It Effectively
- Decline “Dynamic Currency Conversion”: When an ATM or merchant asks if you want to be charged in U.S. Dollars or the local currency, always select the local currency to avoid getting hit with poor, hidden exchange rates.
Flights
Some of the places we will likely change airplanes: Seattle (Delta), SFO (UA), LAX (? China Eastern?), DFW (AA) and DTW (Delta)
Phone and Internet
I think the easiest way for me is to get International Roaming from Mint Mobile my US wireless carrier. It’s flexible in terms of the cellular and data usage and length of stay there. (put a screenshot here)
China Unicom SIM card and compatible phone
Re: Ke’xue’shang’wang, if you want to learn more, you may refer to my earlier blog post
Last but not least, if you want a local phone number, I bought used this sim card – China Unicom Sim Card 5G Network 20GB Data, 300 Minutes Talk Plus 300 Texts from Amazon. Phone wise, if you have iPhone, you will need to have older iPhone (13 and below) so that it has the slot of micro SIM card.
Train
China ID card or passports (China or foreign)
Where to get tickets: there are still windows or counters that’s staffed by ticket agents, but increasingly people are doing self-serving via the kiosk or phone app.
Hotels
I wrote quite a bit of kids friendly hotels that I stayed in China: mainly Shanghai and Ningbo Beilun. I mainly stayed at Hyatt Place Hong’qiao CBD and Double Tree Beilun. Both places have swimming pools.
Eat
This is mostly for my own benefits 🙂 || I am thankful to my friends who feed me 🙂 谢谢老同学/朋友投喂。
Shanghai: 台乡缘（2024）
文兴酒家久光百货店（2025）
桂满陇虹桥枢纽浙菜 (2025)
Ningbo:小鱼厂私厨 鄞州 (2025)
Beilun coffee and tea place (quite unique), food Yi’liang’yi Si’chu (2026)
Things maybe useful when travel to Ningbo or Beilun: taxi, subway (metro, 10:30 pm is the last train?)