Passport

• If the validity period of your passport is less than 6 months, there is a risk of being refused a Visa or refused entry. It is recommended to replace your passport!

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Accommodation

• The Ceremony Dinner will be held at special function room (TBD) that will be accessible via train and DiDi. We've scouted some hotels that are a short trip away, and can provide some accommodation options for your consideration. Please send Jing or Ryan a message or speak with us anytime if you need assistance with booking accommodation. We're here to help.

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Weather

• The weather for Nanjing in January is winter and you can expect the temperatures to be low. Sometimes the temperature will be below 0, and there might be snow! Pack accordingly and stay warm.

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Flights

• There is 1 flight a week that goes direct to Nanjing.

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• Flights to Nanjing will generally have a stopover in a mainland China location like Guangzhou, or, a stopover in Hong Kong which is not considered mainland China (different political system in place).

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• If your transfer is in mainland China e.g. Guangzhou, you will need to go through immigration and customs in Guangzhou before you catch your next flight to Nanjing.

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• If your transfer is through Hong Kong, you will go through a short security check once you get off the plane to go into the Hong Kong airport area. A 3-hour stopover is a common and comfortable amount of time in-between flights for Hong Kong transfer.

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• If you opt for a longer stop-over in Hong Kong, you can exit the airport and explore the city. There's a train from the airport with the Hong Kong CBD not too many stops away. As a general rule, Australian citizens can enter Hong Kong for tourism, business, or transit purposes without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

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Travel Insurance

• I get travel insurance every time I travel. Up to you who you go with or if you get it.

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Visa

• From November 30, 2024 to December 31, 2025, ordinary passport holders from 38 countries, Including Australia, can be exempted from Visa to enter China and stay for no more than 30 days for business, tourism, family visit, exchange visit and transit purposes.​

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• This will be the case up until 31st December 2025. Information has not been released as to whether this will be extended into 2026.​​

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• ​Just in case, you should become familiar with the process and what information you might need to submit for your Visa Application (anticipate a late 2025 submission).​

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• If the Visa Waiver is not extended, you will need a Tourism Visa, Single Entry (depending on your travel plans).​

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• Chinese Visa Applications forms are submitted on this site: 中国签证申请服务中心

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Visa Application Procedure:

1. Create an account and log in

2. Fill in the application form online

3. Submit it to the center on-site with all documents required. You need to submit all the required application documents to the Visa Centre, and the Visa Centre staff will then handle your application.​​

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• Jing will organise the invitation from a Chinese Citizen for you and provide the required details for you to fulfil that part of the Visa Requirements. Reach out to us and we'll co-ordinate on this.​

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• It is advisable that you apply for your visa approximately one month prior to your intended date of entry into China, but not earlier than three months. If you apply for a visa too early, the visa might expire before your arrival to mainland China. ​

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Visa Application Processing Time:​

• A visa typically takes three or four working days to process if all the accompanying documents meet the requirements.

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• The Service options provided by the Visa Centre (in the case of all the required documents are provided)

  • Regular service: The processing time is usually 4 working days.

  • Express service: The processing time is usually 3 working days.

  • Rush service: The processing time is usually 2 working days.​​​​​​

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SIM card / Telecom Network Access

• I recommend you check out your carriers' roaming capabilities. For some it's like $5-$15 a day which is the easiest way to use your own telephone network on days you need to.

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• Getting a physical SIM card in China is (I think) impossible for foreigners. There is an option in Alipay to purchase an eSIM, but, eSIM cards are no longer allowed in China so this option won't work.

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Communication Channels

• Get WeChat. Download it from the AppStore for iOS, and Google Play for Android Devices. ​

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• You will need to set this App up before you go to China.

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• Add my WeChat ID: ryanthomasftw​

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• WeChat is the SMS and phone call app that all Chinese use. It's used to access all services in China, including making and receiving payments, parking, contacting a business about their products and services, you name it - people use WeChat for it. You can't park a car without scanning your WeChat to get in and out of the parking lot. Crazy! ​

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• Foreigners can't use the payment functions, but it's still a great (and maybe the only) app for text and phone call communications in China. As long as you've got an internet connection, you'll be able to use WeChat and get in touch with us while you're in China.​

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Money and Purchasing

• China is a cashless society.

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• Get Alipay. Download it from the AppStore for iOS, and Google Play for Android Devices.​

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• You will need to set this App up before you go to China. It requires some identification documents and processes to get verified. This will be the way that you spend and receive money. ​

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• You will need to set up an account password, as well as a separate PIN you need to enter when making purchases. So make sure you remember those or put them in a safe place like a password manager.​

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• When you go to pay for something, you'll open Alipay and click 'Pay/Receive' to get a QR code for the cashier to scan. ​

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• Some shops will require you to use the 'Scan' function to scan their QR code, using Alipay and you enter the amount to pay.​

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• So that's all well and good, but where does the money come from? You need to add a bank card to your Alipay account. Then, whenever the QR code is used for payment, it will make a charge to your card. Personally, I get some VISA travel cards from my bank, and add one of the cards to my Alipay account. I then periodically transfer AUD to my travel card as CNY (Chinese Yuan).

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• There may be very rare cases where your payment won't work because it's a teenie tiny shop and they don't pay for the functionality to accept payments from VISA cards through Alipay.​​ If you run into any issues, let us know and we can help get it sorted.

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Internet Access

• Baidu is China's Google, so you can search things on Baidu.

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• You can use Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari Browsers like normal to access websites.

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• You can't use Google search, or Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp among other sites and apps which aren't accessible in China without a working VPN on your phone or computer.​​

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• It goes without saying, but don't connect to or use open/public Wi-Fi hotspots. You never know who is sniffing packets! Most places who offer Wi-Fi (shops, restaurants, etc) will have it password protected, and you have to ask for the password. I personally don't use those to do anything except sending a friendly message or making a call on WeChat, searching for things online on Baidu, and map navigation.

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Translating Websites

• Most, maybe all, websites for products and services are in Chinese. Luckily, most browsers have a translate function in the settings menu that you can use to translate the site to English. The translation won't be perfect, but good enough to have you clicking on the right things to do what you're wanting to do. ​​​

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Language / Translation

• There will be a language barrier in almost all situations as English is not widely used or written e.g. on Menus at restaurants. You will see some Pinyin (Latin letters for Chinese words) written on train stops, road signs, maps, etc. Pinyin is useful to search where you are and where you want to go.​

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• I use Microsoft Translator to translate conversations. There's an AppStore version for iPhones, and an Android version on Google Play. The versions are different. Android is good for having a structured back and forth, with the screen able to be split between the 2 parties. The Apple version is more like a stream of conversation, and it will pick up and translate everything until you tell it to stop.​

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• Translators are not perfect, but you'll get the gist of what the group conversation is about, and in a 1-on-1 situation Microsoft Translate is 80%-90% accurate. You can definitely use a translator when needed to communicate and get what you need.​

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• Google Translate (if you have a VPN on) is not that great.

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Navigation 

• Get Amap, it's what most Chinese people use. Download it from the AppStore for iOS, and Google Play for Android Devices.​

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• You can also use Baidu Maps (iOS, Android) which I think is fine but Jing says Amap is better.

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Getting Around

• Don't drive in China. Trust me. Ooo wee it's a stress you do not want.

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• It's very easy to catch a train - there's metro stations everywhere. You can get digital train and bus tickets on Alipay. You need to purchase these for the city you're in as every city has a different card. Once you purchase your digital ticket, e.g., for Nanjing, you can scan the QR code on the ticket in the Alipay app to enter and exit the train gates at the station. You can also purchase physical cards at the train stations and top those up with money. Go with whatever tickles your boat!​

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• Alipay can be used to book a rideshare service through integration with Didi. Uber does not exist in China, only Didi and some other Chinese-specific apps. When you open up Alipay, you'll see the Didi icon you can use to order a ride.​

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• If you're planning on travelling to other Cities, e.g.Shanghai, you'll need an app called Railway 12306 which is used to book intercity train tickets.

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Travel Battery for your Phone(s)

• Your phone is even more valuable in China. Paying for things, using public transport, checking maps, whipping out your translator, etc, will take a higher toll on your battery than you're used to. If your phone goes flat, it's impossible to pay for anything as it's a cashless society - so don't let it happen.

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• I recommend you bring your own travel battery to charge your phone when you're out and about. As an alternative (and something I would prioritise when you're mid-low battery with no back-up juice) you can hire a battery pack on the street. They are stationed all around Nanjing, and you just drop it back at the same branded kiosk at any location when you're done with it. They require you to use a website (in Chinese language) to complete the hire process, so you'll still need to use your phone to translate the site and pay for one. You'll see them all over, but if in doubt, head for a 7/11.

 

Health and Safety 

• In China, do not drink tap water. Instead, buy and drink bottled water. It is inexpensive to buy water, and all Chinese drink water this way. Tap water is safe for washing hands, dishes, clothes, brushing your teeth, but not to drink directly. If you want to enjoy tea at your accommodation, then you can of course boil the water first, that's totally fine. It's not because it's bad water, it's just only treated to a standard for the purposes listed above but not specifically treated for consumption. Consuming water from a tap is bizarre concept to the Chinese.

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• In China, buy and carry small packets of tissue for toilet use. If you are out in public and decide you want to use the toilet, you'll find out very quickly that it's BYO toilet paper. Most shops sell small packets of face, hand, and toilet tissues as essential items. Grab some and keep them on you when you go out. 

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• Be wary of petty crime especially when in crowded areas. This applies when going to all foreign countries, and travellers should always remain vigilant. I've never experienced anything, and China's safety is incredible, but if you don't usually carry a bag with you, I recommend that you use a small cross-body bag like this to carry important things like your phone, and your toilet tissue lol. You can wear it so your belongings are at your side, or your front. It's fashionable even for men to use bags like these in China, so you will fit in more than stand out by having one.

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• In China, food allergies are not common and often not considered. Be cautious when eating food outside at a restaurant or from a vendor. Allergies like nuts, seafood, gluten, are not considered by the Chinese. Food allergies may as well not exist there. Even if you ask for gluten-free food, they might not know what you mean, or say that it is, when it's not. It's not like Australia where it's a service standard. If you have food allergies, it's best to buy raw ingredients to cook at your accommodation and eat raw foods when you're out and about. There's an incredible selection of fruit and vegetables so give those a try. If you're really struggling to get a good meal because of this, let us know and Jings parents will help us prepare food for you.

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• In China, don't get into arguments in public. Not saying anyone would intentionally, but tensions can raise quickly when no-one understands each other. Everyone in China is super nice, and even when you think they're talking sharply or aggressively to you, they're just talking. Don't escalate conversations, as civil unrest is frowned upon and there are people and police everywhere to ensure the public vibe is mellow. People will push to get onto trains as you're trying to exit, and vice versa, so expect some pushing to get through a crowd. People will also push in front of you in lines, which is normal behaviour. You won't get a large group doing this, but some individuals will take an opportunity when it presents itself. Think of it as a rule - if there is a gap, it will be filled. This goes for lining up to get through train station gates, cars cutting in front of you or your Didi drivers without an indicator (no-one uses their indicator btw), and other things that require a line or order. If this happens, just let it go. Nearby people and police are more likely to look at you strangely for creating an issue rather than frown at the person who pushed in. Everyone there is fighting for their place, thus, if there is a gap, it will be filled.

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Cultural Etiquette

• You'll learn!

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Difficulties

• If you anticipate or run into any difficulties, please reach out to Jing or Ryan. While there's a lot to consider, it's somewhat normalized for me, and definitely EZPZ for Jing. We are here to help. ​

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Disclaimer

• The information on this page is for general information and education purposes only. It is not legal advice, nor is it financial advice.

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