Must use app in Beijing
I downloaded the app prior to our trip to Beijing and must say this helped us so much, as China is so digitalized. Before you leave add you creditcard (amex doesn’t work, we used Mastercard). It’s a bit trial and error, it took me a few iteration, but got it linked. In the app you have a number of mini apps. You almost have everything you need in the one app. The most used function is Pay/Receive. If you open you’ll get a QR code. Shop owners will scan the QR code to pay. It feels very secure. You have to confirm with pincode and if the amount is bigger there’s another validation from the credit card app. One time something seemed wrong - I thought I had paid, but the merchant said not. But the transaction was reversed the next day. The next useful app is Transport. If you open it you see metro and bus (and train, but didn’t use that). You must activate this first (two clicks), choose a city and then you have a QR code you can use in the metro/bus. Works like a clock. Scan when you enter and when you leave and you pay automatically. The next critical mini app is Didi Travel, it’s a taxi service like uber. You can enter your destination. The taxi knows where you are, pick you up. Sometimes you havce to show the last for digits of your phone number (I made a note to show the drivers). Add the end of the ride you confirm the payment. So convenient. Alipay also has build-in translation. Last miniapp we used was Hello Ride. Same concept for shared (blue) bikes. Scan the QR code on the bike to unlock. Park at a marked spot (where other bikes are already parked) and end the ride on in the app. One important thing to know to learn the hardware. Mastercard only allows 15 transactions a day per account (not card). The 16th transaction will not work. So keep track to ensure you don’t enjoy a nice meal and then you’re not able to pay.
