For international students arriving in China
Start here before you install apps, set up payments, or travel to campus.
This guide collects the practical things that usually become urgent in the first few days: mobile apps, payment setup, transit, food, shopping, and campus contacts.
Quick Chapters
Before You Read
Many Chinese apps do not decide your experience only by IP address. They may also consider your phone number, location, account region, user profile, previous activity, and payment method. Because of this, some Chinese apps may work differently outside mainland China. The biggest differences are usually in Amap/Gaode Map, Douyin, and Bilibili.
Some features only become fully available after you arrive in China, get a Chinese phone number, or complete real-name verification. If an app feels incomplete while you are testing it abroad, that does not necessarily mean it is hard to use in China.
If you are still overseas and really want to access the full mainland-China version of some apps, you may need to search for a VPS with a mainland Chinese IP address and connect through it.
Pre-Arrival Checklist
- Install Alipay and WeChat, and try binding a Visa, Mastercard, or other international bank card.
- Prepare a backup email address and, if necessary, register a China-region Apple ID.
- Save digital and offline copies of your passport page, visa page, admission letter, school address, and other important documents.
- Download a translation app and install the offline Chinese language pack.
- Save your school’s Chinese name, dormitory address, international student office phone number, and nearby hospital address.
- Prepare a small amount of RMB cash in case payment apps are not ready immediately after arrival.
Phones and App Stores
iPhone Users
Some local Chinese apps, or their mainland versions, are easier to download with a China-region Apple ID. You can use a backup email address to register a new Apple ID and set the region to China. Switch accounts inside the App Store by tapping the top-right profile icon and scrolling to the bottom to sign out.
Do not change the region of your main Apple ID in Settings, because it may affect subscriptions, payment methods, and Family Sharing.
Android Users
Some Chinese apps on Google Play may be international versions with different features from the mainland versions. Android users can consider downloading apps from Chinese app stores such as Tencent MyApp:
For example, the mainland version of Amap/Gaode Map is usually more suitable for daily use in China than versions from overseas app stores.
You can also download some mainland Chinese app versions from my website, www.files.wangwenku.com, where I have uploaded several apps.
Web
Some services have web versions, but daily life in China depends heavily on mobile apps and mini programs. Web versions are mainly useful for reading about current internet trends. In most scenarios, web access is only a supplement; the apps people actually use are WeChat, Alipay, Meituan, Amap/Gaode Map, and similar mobile services.