10 Things I wish I knew BEFORE visiting CHINA 🇨🇳 in 2024

[@manylch7964]

A few more tips from someone who lived in Shanghai for several years. Shanghai is not China, just as New York is not the USA. You can do a lot in Shanghai as foreigner much more than elsewhere in China. Alipay phone payment is pretty much essential but to find a taxi they have their own equivalents to Uber ( all in Chinese) for which may need a Chinese bank account. You might have wclongvwait if you want to flag down a taxi in the street. In Shanghai take the metro, it is efficient and cheap and you can still buy tickets with cash or use almost. Foreign credit cards may not work except in major hotel and dept store so you should check and make sure your home bank enables your card for transactions in China. Photography and filming are safe in most places in Shanghai coz its a tourist city but use your common sense obviously don't film military or police buildings if you want to avoid trouble. If you want to photograph a person in a specific place better to ask permission. If you are going to bargain at stores you can start at 50% of the asking price. You cant bargain at department stores or at food stall. Please remember if you come from a wealthy country remember that Chinese small shopkeepers generally don't earn that much so don't grind them into the ground for fun and then walk away. They have to make a living as well but of course they won't sell unless they make a profit. First customer of the day usually gets a good bargain as losing the first customer is often considered bad luck. Beware fakes everywhere, if the price is too good to be true then it will be a fake. Shanghai and most places in China are safe or tourists but pickpockets and scammers a plenty in tourist areas. Correct people don't tip in China, especially restaurants. In bigger international hotels staff appreciate very much a tip if you appreciate the service so that's where I mostly tip. If you don't have an e -sim card you can get a local China Mobile or Telecom prepaid sim at both Pudong and Hongqiai airports but you will need your passport ID.

[@michaellicwinko7280]

Having lived in China for 5 years I'd say Shanghai represents China about as much as NYC represents the US. Both are unique and not found anywhere else in their country. Much has changed since I left in 2015. Glad I experienced China at that time.

[@amndkttza6194]

As a local I do not recommend going to the metro shops in Shanghai. At least no Chinese people I know would buy things at these places because they are all cheap and useless. If you want to buy Chinese local specialties or products unique to Chinese culture, please go to stores frequented by local Chinese people. These stores usually offer good quality products and the owners are less likely to overcharge. Also, in my observation, the younger generation in China rarely shops at stores where bargaining is necessary. My friends and I suspect that these stores are specifically targeting foreigners.

[@georwoogle]

How could I have missed this one? I have been enjoying your videos, especially about China, tremendously. Thank you for sharing1

[@YongLi-np3wg]

Looking forward to your China trip round 2!

[@NomacGuides]

Not sure when but soon!!

[@johnsonfitzgerald2696]

Tipping is a bad habit from the US

[@proudwhovian5161]

Tipping in places where it isn’t normalized is, in my opinion, disgusting. Why bring an inherently terrible practice to a place that doesn’t have it? Tipping culture leads to employees being paid less by their employers with the mindset that it is the customer’s job to supplement the employees’ wages, and it leads to ever-growing expectations on what a normal tip is and where/when tipping is expected. If someone is their own employer, they should just be setting their fees at a fair price so that a tip isn’t needed. Just don’t, don’t tip where it isn’t normal to do so.

[@Jassa-v2e]

Absolutely fantastic point.

[@toddhayes3506]

Great Job Thanks Travel Enjoy Life!

[@NomacGuides]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it!!

[@RichardBrett899]

Thank you for making such an informative video on your travel experiences in China. 👍👍👍👍

[@NomacGuides]

Glad you enjoyed it!!🙏🙏

[@UFCMusic]

i need to use a visa.. i worry about Apple Maps as well! Does apple maps work well?

[@alanbgtan]

Apple Maps do work

[@NomacGuides]

Yes! They do work!

[@thatskysylvos]

What about Apple Pay!? I know Google is banned but Apple isn’t so does the wallet on iPhones work?

[@minghaoliu-Chinavisit]

if you need help for visiting China, im here in Shanghai as a professional travel guide

[@MwadPraz]

How much do you charge? Im planning to study in china soon

[@d.n.2143]

What VPN's would you recommend?

[@victorli3117]

You don't have to use VPN as eSIM provides this feaure while roaming.

[@xaxyya]

but many apps like Instagram youtube and WhatsApp doesn't work without VPN @@victorli3117

[@weebeecakery]

@@victorli3117so when I buy online eSIM I don’t need vpn?

[@belinaernest8798]

The content is very helpful

[@anna-vl3er]

Welcome to travel to my beautiful hometown Chongqing

[@Harveyinchina]

Wow, very insightful, thanks 🙏

[@MadDogRyan]

I really need to visit been wanting to meet my friends over there for a while but flights are so expensive

[@peakserv]

​@NomacGuides Is Tip #8 missing?

[@via45]

Great video going in 3 days

[@dunka12]

The whole thing about cashless in China, is not very different than a lot of western countries, but the only major issue is they use their own internal apps, and your international ways of paying with your phone don't work there. It's not "the future"...it's backwards and needlessly complicated.

[@rahuladduri6562]

china is cool

[@VenturesOfTimTim]

“You scratch my back, ill scratch yours” you’re a seasoned veteran in the haggling business 😂

[@theresamakiyama6993]

Where can I buy the ESIM card?

[@NomacGuides]

ref.airalo.com/gRTV

[@Henxanna_]

Bro visit Aizawl NE india

[@ITeachChinese]

The essence of bargaining is lost abroad so quickly 😂

[@jchic32]

For Alipay can you tie two cards on it so you can select which to use so you are no overusing one card?

[@LiliLiu1122]

sure, you can

[@classiquai]

"30 mins" - ah cool 3 mins

[@RodrigoJojola]

Shanghai est une très belle ville. Les habitants sont très accueillants et il y a beaucoup de nourriture délicieuse. Ce n'est pas aussi mauvais que le disent d'autres mauvaises personnes.

[@louisemichelle1428]

Don't tip with money. Give a nice gift😊 If invited bring food😂

[@VillanuevaFilms]

they betta have a dolla store ,$75 for a pen 😂

[@ddramire]

❤

[@Maggie-nv7ds]

(Nohng Ho Va) That means How are you in Shanghanese a dialect that is slowly disappearing and taken over by Mandarin 😅☹️

[@hanhbui4996]

Come to Vietnam 🇻🇳🙏❤

[@Sgs-f5o]

Too many ads

[@MeyiKala-b4u]

Buddy, do not ask "have you eaten" again to Chinese people, it looks so weird in nowadays China, keep in mind buddy!

[@argiarof4938]

With Airlo esim, whattsapp in shanghai are functional?

[@NomacGuides]

Yes it works with the Airalo esim

[@fadyaallam6380]

What about snapchat and TikTok will work with airalo esim ?

[@zhangshunfei]

Do not go to these area sell shoes bog，underfoor，It is to forigner，citizens will not go these area

[@guestonearth1274]

Amazing China

[@EveSaja]

🇨🇳

[@GoWithAli]

Yallah, let's go to China! 🇨🇳

[@NomacGuides]

Yallah bro, I am ready for R2!!! 🇨🇳

[@SuperFan-wn8ei]

Bad boy, bad boy, 你的坏让人不明白！

[@ipg6772]

Yall should go to Xinjiang next time!

[@Josh-ox5np]

@@ipg6772 These two guys have became bad guys, only Harry is still the good person!

[@SuperFan-wn8ei]

@@Josh-ox5np They should go directly to the famous R-e!

[@张启发-y6n]

卖鞋的阿姨坑你们，这双鞋150人民币，妥妥给他拿下

[@vza123]

I hate that bargaining culture!!! I refuse to be part of that so I just won’t buy anything 😑

[@xunxu1483]

IT DEPENDS ,YOUNG PEOPLE NOW DONT DO THAT AND NEVER GO SHOPPING THOSE PLACES

[@Elisa-ml5gq]

It means that you don’t know Chinese culture .

[@NomacGuides]

Loved the trip to Shanghai, here are the helpful links for your trip: Jim's food tour can be found here: gyg.me/iFk8KkVh Transit Visa information here: www.visaforchina.cn/BER2_EN/generalinformation/news/283420.shtml Also, there are no sponsorships in this video, so your support to my small clothing brand means the world: www.worldperception.store/NomacGuides

[@alextjflorida]

If you use T-mobile for example, you don't need a vpn. However, the internet speed is slow. I am fine with it. Don't tip Chinese people. We don't like it.

[@lakaleighharris3135]

How slow are we talking? 3G, 4G or less