Mobile Payment

In China, mobile phone payments are popular. Use WeChat or Alipay.

(1) Download and install WeChat or Alipay apps and follow the instructions to input foreign or Chinese mobile phone numbers for account registration.

(2) Bind the app to international bank cards such as Master Card, Visa, JCB, Diners Club, and Discover, or Chinese bank cards with the UnionPay logo.

(3) You can scan the QR code or use the payment QR code when making payments.

Notes for binding international bank cards:

When binding an international bank card to Alipay or WeChat, it is necessary to obtain authorization from the foreign issuing bank. However, some issuing banks may reject the binding request due to their system's inability to recognize the connection information. In such cases, it is advisable to contact the issuing bank's customer service center or consider using a Chinese bank card instead.
When using Alipay or WeChat for QR code payments through the bound international bank card, users are not required to pay an additional servicefee if the transaction amount does not exceed 200 yuan; or, users need to pay a service fee at 3% of the transaction amount if the amount exceeds 200 yuan.
Alipay and WeChat have set transaction limits for bound international bank cards, with an annual limit of 50,000 US dollars and a single transaction limit of 5,000 US dollars. It is recommended that users who have bound international bank cards to the APPs consider your specific use cases before using mobile payment.
Users of AlipayHK, Wechatpay HK (HKSAR), mPay (Macao SAR), Kakao Pay (Republic of Korea), Touch'n Go eWallet (Malaysia), HiPay (Mongolia), Changi Pay (Singapore), OCBC (Singapore), Naver Pay (Republic of Korea), Toss Pay (Republic of Korea), and TrueMoney (Thailand) can make QR code payments through these e-wallets in the Chinese mainland.

Exchange of Foreign Currencies

(1) Overseas visitors to China can exchange foreign currencies for RMB cash in advance in relevant countries or regions before bringing it into China (each visitor is allowed to take up to 20,000 yuan in cash in or out of the country).

(2) Overseas visitors to China can exchange foreign currencies for RMB cash at commercial bank branches, money changers, and self-service currency exchange machines at international airports, land ports, ports, and other entry ports, or withdraw RMB cash using international bank cards at ATMs.

Time Difference & Business Hours

Beijing time is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+8). / No daylight savings time.
Business hours for banks are generally from 09:00 to 17:00 on weekdays only. Banks are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. ATMs are widely available.
Major department stores are open from 10:00 to 22:00, including Sundays, but smaller shops and restaurants tend to open earlier and close later every day.

Power Plug & Electricity

China uses 220V power supply. Follow guidelines to avoid device damage: check device label, use surge protector for laptops, ensure firm plug insertion. Be cautious with versatile outlets to prevent electricity-related issues.

Emergency Number

110 - Police call.

119 - Fire Department call.

120 - First-aid call.

122 - Traffic police call.

12345 - Government Service Hotline for Public Convenience.

Weather

Summer (June to August)-Climatic Features:

Summer in Beijing is hot and humid, with high temperatures due to monsoon influences.

Average daytime temperatures reach around 29°C, while nights average around 18°C.

Precipitation increases slightly but remains a dry season overall.