An 11-day trip through China revealed that while the country is increasingly accessible to tourists, payment systems remain confusing and technology doesn't always work as expected—especially when crossing from mainland China to Hong Kong.
A detailed trip report on r/travel breaks down the practical realities of traveling in China, from which payment apps work where, to eSIM reliability issues, to the stark differences between mainland and Hong Kong payment infrastructure.
The eSIM Problem
Multiple travelers in the group experienced issues with Trip.com eSIMs. After following all installation steps, one eSIM randomly switched to "no service." Another traveler needed to hotspot from his wife's phone whenever using the metro or any data service.
"I did try to get a Trip.com eSIM, but after following all the installation steps, it did not work correctly," the traveler wrote. "It randomly would change to no service."
The solution that worked: Getting a physical SIM card from a Chinese mobile provider (China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom). The traveler found a China Mobile store and got a local SIM, which worked "much much better."
With a Chinese SIM, they unlocked modern conveniences that eSIMs couldn't access: ordering KFC on high-speed rail, getting Meituan takeout delivered by service robots to hotel rooms, ordering from Eleme at midnight with 20-minute delivery, and easily renting bikes.
Payment Apps: Set Up Before You Go
China operates on a nearly cashless system dominated by Alipay and WeChat Pay. Credit cards work in major hotels and tourist sites, but most daily transactions require these apps.
