Traveling to China

coolgod

coolgod

Major
Registered Member
Dolcevita said:
I will apply for PRC ID once I arrive. Let's assume I will have one. I am leaning on getting a local UnionPay Debit card unless it is very hard. Not sure why it can be difficult but we never know.
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Shouldn't be too difficult, you'd have to go to a bank branch local to the residency address based on your ID card to open your account and get your union pay debit card on the spot. Private commercial banks are more lax on requirements and basically only need your ID card, e.g., China Merchant Bank.
 
Godzilla

Godzilla

Junior Member
Registered Member
Dolcevita said:
I have a follow up question. HSBC has ATM and branches in China. Can anyone confirm if I can withdraw RMB cash using HSBC ATM from my us based HSBC account? I think yes but wanted to confirm.
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You won't have a problem taking money out. Its a problem transferring RMB or USD overseas but no issue withdrawing from your card or transferring money in. Try to do it at the hotel if you are worried.
If u need to move money out, move it in small amounts under that 10k limit in cash lol.
I have a HSBC Us/HK/Mainland accounts and go there every month lol.....
The trick is keep ur money outside of China, and keep a small amount in the transaction account, and transfer in as needed.
 
D

Dolcevita

Major
Godzilla said:
You won't have a problem taking money out. Its a problem transferring RMB or USD overseas but no issue withdrawing from your card or transferring money in. Try to do it at the hotel if you are worried.
If u need to move money out, move it in small amounts under that 10k limit in cash lol.
I have a HSBC Us/HK/Mainland accounts and go there every month lol.....
The trick is keep ur money outside of China, and keep a small amount in the transaction account, and transfer in as needed.
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GReat to know. I was worried I cannot access foreign banking sites to transfer funds to China account.
 
vincent

vincent

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Moderator - World Affairs
I don’t know if the rules have been changed. If you exchange foreign currencies to RMB at a bank, I think you can exchange the same amount back using RMB with the receipts.
 
O

Overseaschinese

New Member
Registered Member
vincent said:
I don’t know if the rules have been changed. If you exchange foreign currencies to RMB at a bank, I think you can exchange the same amount back using RMB with the receipts.
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I have been studying in China last year, just keep the receipt to exchange the money back, but it takes about one hour to change to money. The most easiest thing is to withdrawal the money from the ATM or connect the foreign credit card with Alipay.
 
D

Dolcevita

Major
Overseaschinese said:
I have been studying in China last year, just keep the receipt to exchange the money back, but it takes about one hour to change to money. The most easiest thing is to withdrawal the money from the ATM or connect the foreign credit card with Alipay.
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Good to know on keeping receipt.
Done with linking foreign credit card to Alipay. Just praying that it will work after I arrive.
 
T

Tianxiang

Just Hatched
Registered Member
Hey all. I'm going to China this October for 3 weeks, for the first time in over a decade. I speak Chinese, but I'm afraid I've been away for so long that I'm going to be confused by how much everything has changed. Would greatly appreciate any tips on: where to book hotels, where and when to buy tickets for the 高铁, how to pay for the subway (in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Beijing), how to find restaurants in advance (to plan out my days, kinda like Yelp in the west), and anything else I might need to know? Websites/resources in Chinese are fine.

I already have Alipay and Wechat with my credit card linked for payment, which I assume should be good for most payments there?

Besides those things, if you're a local of/familiar with Shenzhen, Guangzhou, or Hangzhou, I'd also appreciate tips on must-see sights. I've been to BJ/GZ/SZ before but I'm mostly only familiar with Beijing.
 
J

jwt

Just Hatched
Registered Member
Tianxiang said:
Hey all. I'm going to China this October for 3 weeks, for the first time in over a decade. I speak Chinese, but I'm afraid I've been away for so long that I'm going to be confused by how much everything has changed. Would greatly appreciate any tips on: where to book hotels, where and when to buy tickets for the 高铁, how to pay for the subway (in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Beijing), how to find restaurants in advance (to plan out my days, kinda like Yelp in the west), and anything else I might need to know? Websites/resources in Chinese are fine.

I already have Alipay and Wechat with my credit card linked for payment, which I assume should be good for most payments there?

Besides those things, if you're a local of/familiar with Shenzhen, Guangzhou, or Hangzhou, I'd also appreciate tips on must-see sights. I've been to BJ/GZ/SZ before but I'm mostly only familiar with Beijing.
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Book a hotel: Meituan, Ctrip
Buy high-speed rail tickets: Ctrip, Railway 12306
Pay subway fares: Alipay has a pass function (you need to bind a bank card, domestic and foreign bank cards are acceptable)
Find restaurants: Dianping, Meituan
 
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