If you live, work, or study in China, opening a local bank account is almost essential. A Chinese debit card unlocks fuller WeChat Pay and Alipay features, lowers some cross-border friction, and makes salary deposits and daily spending easier. This guide covers 2026 policies, documents, steps, bank choice, and common pitfalls for foreigners.
Policy check: Requirements vary by bank and branch, and they change. Prefer in-branch guidance plus official sites/hotlines. Last verified: September 2026.
If you live in China, online shopping is almost a survival skill. From daily essentials and electronics to groceries and furniture, most things can be ordered online and delivered quickly. This guide covers 2026 platform choices, payment setup, address formatting, courier tracking, returns, and options for shipping abroad.
Policy check: Platform rules, fees, and courier prices change often. Prefer in-app help pages and official hotlines. Last verified: September 2026.
Plenty of China trip plans still treat “WeChat Pay” as “install WeChat, pray the KYC works, bind one card.” That stack is fine when it cooperates. When it doesn’t—or when you only ever set up Alipay—you’re one bank hiccup away from paying with awkward cash.
TenPayGo is the other Tencent-side door: a standalone app aimed at overseas visitors, powered by Weixin Pay’s merchant network, without making you live inside the full WeChat messaging app. Official product pages and the TenPayGo beginner guide say the boring useful bits out loud: sign in with email, add an international bank card or Apple Pay (where your device allows), then scan a merchant QR, show your payment code, or pay on supported merchant sites.
Living in China, second-hand marketplaces are a practical way to save money, furnish a flat, buy used electronics, and clear out items before you leave. This guide covers 2026 platform choices (mainly Xianyu and Zhuanzhuan), account and payment setup, buying flow, inspection options, meetup safety, returns, and shipping abroad.
Policy check: App rules, fees, card limits, and inspection services change often. Prefer in-app help and official customer service. Last verified: February 2026.