Image 1 of 1
Why a kit, and not just another blog post?
Every China blog will tell you the visa rules changed. Fewer will tell you that a major VPN quietly stopped working this year, that Alipay adds a surcharge past a certain amount, or that a taxi driver might invent a fee that doesn't exist.
Blog posts get written once and go stale. This kit gets updated the moment something on the ground actually changes, and you can always ask me for the latest version.
Three things nobody tells you, free right now.
The Didi 滴滴 extra fee that doesn't exist
A few drivers try to add a "city entry fee" or "return fee" mid-ride, counting on the language barrier. These fees aren't real. Pay only through the app, and if a driver insists, report it. Didi takes it seriously.
How to use Amap 高德地图 without a Chinese phone number
Amap will ask for a local phone number when you sign up. Skip it. Choose email sign-up, select Singapore as your country, and verify with your email instead.
The Alipay 支付宝 surcharge nobody mentions
Alipay charges a 3% surcharge on foreign card payments over ¥200. Splitting one big payment into two smaller ones is the easy workaround.
About Me
Hi, I'm Shiqi. I was born and grew up in Chongqing, left at 18, and spent the next decade living across Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Paris.
When I came home, I watched wave after wave of foreign travelers discover my country for the first time: curious, excited, and constantly running into walls that shouldn't exist. That's why I built Yedu, and why I wrote this kit.
Everything in here comes from real experience: mine, and dozens of conversations with travelers about what it's actually like to navigate China as a foreigner. Nothing sponsored, nothing generic.
Welcome to my country :)
What's inside
Connectivity, so you're online the moment you land: VPN, eSIM, and local SIM, in the right order
Payment setup, step by step: Alipay and WeChat Pay, linked and ready before you arrive
The apps you actually need: navigation, transport, food, translation
What to expect at the border and at hotel check-in
Getting around: Didi, metro, trains, taxis, and the tricks that save you money
Safety, medical, and emergency numbers, so you're covered if anything goes wrong
The practical bit
Practical, no-fluff format, built for pre-trip reading
Print-friendly PDF (A4 / US Letter)
Download once, keep forever
Free, and always will be
Get the kit, then keep going
This kit gets you into the country. The Ultimate Chongqing Guide picks up exactly where it leaves off: where to eat, where to wander, what to skip. And when you're ready for the real thing, join a walking tour and see it the way I do.
