Has anyone in the US done the 240hr visa free stuff with China? Looking to go next year meet with a few friends that moved there and sight see for a week.I'm kinda confused on what the requirements are I can't figure out if my shit is right, plan is>Fly in from US>Visit shanghai for 7 days>8th day train to HK to "exit">spend 2 weeks there>fly to japan for a week and head homeHas anyone done this before? Google's AI bullshit is so whack it doesn't explain shit and reddit threads about it are just "read my blog" begging posts. Really don't intend to do anything longer there so I feel the 10 year visa would be a waste of time and money.
From what I've heard post-COVID china is a huge nightmare for outsiders because everything uses these proprietary chinese mobile pay apps, no one accepts cash, and I guess credit cards as we know them aren't a thing there
>>2842240Great, signing up for alipay isn't that hard talking about the visa there bot brain
you didn't find this thread? The page the OP links to is incredibly comprehensive./r/Chinavisa/comments/1ideal6/chinas_10day_visafree_transit_policy_detailed/I spent 2 days in Kunming back when it was only 48 hours and had such a fucking good time, 10 days seems like eternity and I am very excited. Thinking of flying into Wuhan, doing some hiking nearby, then traveling by train to Shanghai. Looks like as long as your route takes you through approved regions you can travel by any means, and fly out of a different airport.My question is this: typically I just travel by camping and hiking, but will I be blacklisted against future travel if I don't register in a hotel every night? I'm guessing yes.
>>2842243Alipay (also wepay) doesn't work well with non-chinese bank accounts. The great firewall doesn't help with this.I'm not going until they sort it out. I already went in the 2010s when you could get by with cash. I can wait (or simply never go again).
>>2842260>Alipay (also wepay) doesn't work well with non-chinese bank accounts.You can literally link Alipay/we pay to most visa backed cards.
I have an Italian passport and get get russia evisa and visa free travel in china easily so I'm thinking of planning a trip through russia, china, mongolia, and central asia. Idk if it makes sense to see so much in a months time or travel over there a few times since I live in Europe and work in Asia, but the ease of access inspired me to try. I've actually been and lived in China a decade ago. I've wondered if it's changed.
>>2842268CorrectAnd then your bank will decline the paymentAnd you need 2-factor authentication And then you need a VPN and a second local simAnd then it might work half the timeI'll pass. There are many other countries in the region that I can check out where I don't have to deal with this shit AND are better and safer
>>2842274I never had much trouble with any of that shit, and the few times I did it wasn't as issue for them to take cash, people online seem to make a bigger deal of the "no cash" thing than it really is. The actual problem is everything is in fucking Chinese - all of the maps apps, menus, etc and there's no English option or smooth way to translate without having to screenshot everything first
>>2842274You know Alipay and WePay is huge in SEA right none of that is true>I'll pass. There are many other countries in the region that I can check out where I don't have to deal with this shit AND are better and saferThen why are you in a thread where the OP is about visiting china?
>>2842284>You know Alipay and WePay is huge in SEA right none of that is trueThis only work for actual Chinese citizens or people that have done some special verification right? I've tried to use the apps outside China and they say I can only use it in China
>>2842289It's the same app now AFAIK, Alipay will allow you to pay but not use the other apps like the china uber alternative stuff or pay without an active data plan. The only thing I've seen is that whatever SMS you registered with must be able to get SMS's wherever you are for issues.
>>2842248>camping and hikingare you going to do that without a car?
>>2842284>it's accepted in SEA!Yes, and so is my visa/mastercard. Thais have it figured out. If only the chinese could somehow figure out this advanced technology of accepting foreign payment processors...
>>2842290>it does work most of the time but you've gotta do x, y, and z for it to workSounds like the typical chinese experience for a foreignerNot worth my time to jump through these retarded hoops. I'm going to Taiwan in 3 weeks where I don't have to deal with any of that shit.
>>2842339>>2842343Great anon why the fuck are you bothering posting in a thread about people visiting China then? Most China accepts CC's but if you want to go to non-chain places you often need to pay with something else and cash is going out of style. Please stick to thailand
>>2842236I've done it before and my parents did it as well this past year. Works fine. The only thing you need to be concerned about is sometimes the immigration agents will really grill you. I've seen them reject people for seemingly no reason, and they nearly rejected my dad, though they thankfully called me over to help explain things.But they'll basically ask you to show proof of all of your hotels, ask you why you're there, ask where you're coming from and where you're going (mention you arrived from the US and you're leaving to Japan. HK is technically okay, but saying Japan is guaranteed okay), be ready to list off a lot of reasons why you're visiting (food, museums, some specific places) and don't sound like you're not sure. I've seen people who say "Oh, I dunno. Just thought I'd check out China because it seems interesting" get turned away. >>2842274Works fine for me. But my parents had issues because they used a bank debit card. I use a normal credit card.
>>2842240>no one accepts cashStrong doubt. ATMs can be found in China. Chinese at local businesses are gonna be rude to a non-Chinese speaking foreigner, but they won't refuse their own currency, and in my experience, Chinese businesses always have big piles of change around, so paying with a large bill will always be doable.
>>2842352Most large companies and chains have done away with cash payment options, you use cash for small goods and shops only.
>>2842346Yep, transit stays are one case where you should have your itinerary completely planned out in advance, with your onward ticket ready to present. Best not to overshare details about your travel plans. Don't say you're thinking of going hiking in some far-off province 1500 km from the airport you are arriving in, even if you are.>saying Japan is guaranteed okayAnon, do you live under a rock? The PRC is mega butthurt over Japan atm.
>>2842346So if I'm staying for 9 nights i have to have all hotels booked in advance?
>>2842260Was in China in October and Alipay worked fine for most things linked to my American debit card. Only thing I had trouble with was those stupid scan and pay vending machines in metro stations.
