Living & Practical Life in China

Practical tips for daily life: internet, apps, mobile payments, halal food, and essential services

Life in China is radically different from anywhere else. Everything is digital—you order food from your phone, pay by scanning QR codes, rent bikes with apps, and even street beggars have QR codes for donations. Cash is nearly extinct, and without WeChat Pay you're practically outside the system.

After 7 years of living here, I've learned how the system works and where the bumps are. This guide saves you months of trial and error—from opening a bank account to renting an apartment, and from dealing with bureaucracy to mastering delivery apps.

Housing: How to Find and Rent an Apartment

Types of Housing in China

Your options depend on your budget and length of stay:

🏢 Serviced Apartments

Fully furnished, utilities included, cleaning service

Price: 6,000-15,000 yuan/month

Suitable for: Short stays (1-6 months)

🏠 Shared Apartments

Rent a room, share kitchen and bathroom with others

Price: 2,000-4,000 yuan/month

Suitable for: Students and beginners on limited budget

🏘️ Local Apartments

Regular apartments, often unfurnished, long-term lease

Price: 3,000-8,000 yuan/month (Beijing/Shanghai)

Suitable for: Long stays (year+)

How to Search for an Apartment?

  • Ziroom (自如): Largest rental app, reliable, clear prices
  • WeChat Groups: Expat groups post available apartments daily
  • 58.com: Open market, better prices but beware scams
  • Real estate agencies: Take full month commission, but save time and hassle

⚠️ Hidden Costs:

  • Deposit: Usually one or two months rent
  • Agency commission: Half to full month (if using agent)
  • Utilities: Electricity, water, internet (200-400 yuan/month)
  • Maintenance fees: Some buildings require monthly fees (100-300 yuan)

🚨 Beware Common Scam:

Fake "agents" take deposit and disappear. Solution:

  • Never pay before physically seeing apartment
  • Verify owner's ownership (request property deed)
  • Use reliable platforms (Ziroom) or known agencies

Banking and Financial System

Opening a Bank Account - Easier Than You Think

You need a Chinese bank account to fully link WeChat Pay and Alipay. Procedures:

  1. Choose bank: ICBC, Bank of China, or China Construction Bank (most accepting of foreigners)
  2. Required documents: Passport + valid visa + Chinese phone number + address proof (rental contract or work letter)
  3. Visit: Go to branch in morning (less crowded), take number and wait
  4. Fill forms: Staff will help (some speak basic English)
  5. Get card: Immediate or within 5-7 business days

💡 Important Tips:

  • Activate phone banking services (important for WeChat Pay)
  • Remember your PIN—you need it for every transaction
  • Some banks charge monthly fees (10-20 yuan) if balance below 500 yuan
  • ATM withdrawals from other banks: 2-4 yuan fee per transaction

WeChat Pay vs Alipay - Which is Better?

Both are necessary, but they have differences:

💬 WeChat Pay

  • Integrated into main communication app
  • Easy money transfers to friends
  • Red envelopes (红包) part of culture
  • Wide acceptance everywhere

💳 Alipay

  • More discounts and offers
  • Better money management (expense tracking)
  • Usable reward points
  • Integrated with Taobao (China's Amazon)

✅ My Advice:

Use both. WeChat for daily life and communication, Alipay for online shopping and discounts. Most Chinese do this.

Communications: Phone and Internet

Getting a Chinese Phone Number

A Chinese number is necessary for almost everything: WeChat, banking, apps, delivery. Options:

📱 China Mobile (Most Popular)

Largest coverage, especially in remote areas

Basic plan: 58-98 yuan/month (5-10 GB + calls)

📱 China Unicom (Cheapest)

Lower price, good in major cities

Basic plan: 39-79 yuan/month (3-8 GB + calls)

📱 China Telecom

Faster internet, but less coverage

Basic plan: 49-89 yuan/month (4-9 GB + calls)

Getting a SIM Card

Very easy—from any branch or official store:

  1. Go to company branch (everywhere)
  2. Present your passport (required by law)
  3. Choose plan (staff will help)
  4. Pay (cash or WeChat/Alipay if you have it)
  5. Instant activation—ready to use immediately

💡 Important Notes:

  • Most plans are "Real-Name"—legally tied to your passport
  • Monthly plans auto-renew (cancellation requires branch visit)
  • Internet data consumed quickly—China's apps are "heavy"
  • International calls expensive—use WeChat or WhatsApp (with VPN)

Home Internet

Furnished apartments usually come with internet. If you need new installation:

  • Regular speed (50-100 Mbps): 80-120 yuan/month
  • High speed (200-500 Mbps): 150-250 yuan/month
  • Installation: Usually free with 12-month contract
  • Companies: Same as phone companies (Mobile, Unicom, Telecom)

🌐 Home Internet + VPN:

Home internet is subject to blocking (Great Firewall) like mobile. You'll always need VPN for Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.

Daily Life: Apps and Practical Tips

Delivery Apps - Survival Essentials

Food delivery in China is amazingly cheap and fast:

🍜 Meituan (美团)

Most popular app—food, groceries, everything

  • Delivery: 3-6 yuan (usually less than $1 USD)
  • Time: 20-40 minutes
  • Daily discounts for new users

🍱 Ele.me (饿了么)

Alibaba-owned—Meituan's competitor

  • Better offers for Alipay users
  • Exclusive restaurants not on Meituan
  • Membership program (Ele.me Plus) with free delivery

Online Shopping - China's Amazon

🛒 Taobao (淘宝)

Everything imaginable, amazing prices, but varying quality

🛍️ Tmall (天猫)

Official brands, guaranteed quality, slightly more expensive

📦 JD.com (京东)

Electronics and authentic products, fast shipping (sometimes same-day)

💄 Pinduoduo (拼多多)

Cheapest of all, group buying, acceptable quality

Daily Transportation

  • Bike-sharing: Mobike or Alipay Bike—1.5 yuan/30 minutes
  • DiDi: China's Uber—30-50% cheaper than regular taxis
  • Subway: Cheapest and fastest way—rechargeable smart card
  • DiDi Bike/E-Scooter: Bikes and e-scooters—perfect for short distances

💰 Monthly Living Costs (Average):

  • Rent (1-bedroom): 3,000-6,000 yuan
  • Food (cooking + delivery): 1,500-2,500 yuan
  • Transportation: 300-600 yuan
  • Utilities (electricity, internet, phone): 300-500 yuan
  • Entertainment and miscellaneous: 1,000-2,000 yuan
  • Total: 6,100-11,600 yuan/month ($900-1,700 USD)

🏥 Health Insurance:

Don't live in China without insurance:

  • Government insurance: Mandatory for employees, covers 70-80% of treatment
  • Private insurance: 5,000-15,000 yuan/year, comprehensive coverage
  • Without insurance: Regular doctor visit 100-300 yuan, emergency 1,000+ yuan

Frequently Asked Questions

Life in China is challenging at first—the system is different, language is hard, and bureaucracy is annoying sometimes. But after two or three months, you discover that life here is incredibly comfortable: everything available with button press, high safety, and infrastructure among world's best.

The key is mastering the basics: WeChat, banking, essential apps. After that, you'll wonder how you lived in your country without 20-minute food delivery and payment without carrying a wallet.

Need help with banking procedures, finding housing, or translation? We provide support services for new expats.

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