Problem-First Hub
{count} China travel problems, solved
Symptom → Cause → Solution pages for the failures you actually hit on the ground: Alipay declines, passport lost, VPN blocked, 12306 won't accept your card, taxi scam. Each page fixes one problem, with the exact steps we've tested.
Can foreigners receive money on Alipay?
You want to receive a WeChat or bank transfer to your Alipay wallet but the app shows no Receive option.
Can I extend my 30-day visa-free stay inside China?
You entered on the 30-day visa-free scheme and need more time but don't want to leave China.
Can I pay cash in China in 2026?
You want to know if you need to carry RMB cash or if Alipay/WeChat Pay is enough for the entire trip.
How much does ATM withdrawal cost in China?
You withdrew RMB from a Chinese ATM and your home bank charged an unexpected foreign-transaction or ATM fee.
I think I got scammed in China — what should I do?
You've been overcharged, given fake money, or pressured into a tea ceremony / art student scam.
My China visa was denied — what now?
Your L visa application was refused at the Chinese consulate and your trip is in 2–4 weeks.
My passport was lost or stolen in China — what do I do?
Your passport is gone (theft or loss) and you're in mainland China without travel documents.
Why can't I access Google, YouTube, or WhatsApp in China?
Every Google service, YouTube, and WhatsApp fail to load or time out on any Chinese Wi-Fi or mobile network.
Why can't I access my banking app on Chinese Wi-Fi?
Your home-bank or fintech app refuses to log in or warns "unsecured network" the moment you join hotel or café Wi-Fi.
Why can't I book a Tibet trip on my own?
You try to book Lhasa flights and hotels yourself but the booking fails, or you're turned away at the Lhasa airport without a permit.
Why can't I book on 12306 with my foreign card?
You tried to book a high-speed rail ticket on 12306.cn and your foreign Visa/Mastercard is rejected at checkout.
Why can't I use Apple Pay or Google Pay in China?
You tap Apple Pay or Google Pay at a Chinese POS terminal and nothing happens — the merchant says "it doesn't work here."
Why can't I verify my passport on Alipay?
Alipay's identity verification step fails — passport photo upload rejected or OCR misread.
Why did my hotel say they can't register a foreign passport?
A smaller or budget hotel refuses to check you in, saying they "can't accept foreigners" or "the system doesn't take foreign passports."
Why did the high-speed rail ticket machine reject my passport?
At a 12306 self-service kiosk you scan your passport and the screen shows "document not recognized" or no ticket prints.
Why did the taxi driver refuse my destination?
You tell a street taxi your destination in English and the driver waves you off, locks the doors, or drives away.
Why does WeChat Pay keep declining my foreign card?
You linked a Visa or Mastercard in WeChat Pay but transactions show "card not supported" at checkout.
Why is DiDi not accepting my foreign card?
You linked a Visa/Mastercard in DiDi but ride payments fail or the app asks for re-verification every ride.
Why is Google Maps not working in China?
Google Maps shows your blue dot but no map tiles, or fails to load entirely.
Why is my Alipay not working?
You linked a foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay but every transaction is rejected at the merchant.
Why is my foreign phone not getting data in China?
Your foreign SIM shows signal bars but mobile data does not work, or you got an SMS saying "no data roaming agreement."
Why is my VPN not working in China?
You arrived in China, opened your VPN, and it will not connect at all or connects but no traffic loads.
Why is my VPN suddenly slow or disconnected in China?
Your VPN worked for the first 3 days and now it disconnects every 10 minutes, or pages load at dial-up speeds.
Why is the DiDi app only in Chinese for me?
You downloaded DiDi in China and the entire interface is in Simplified Chinese with no English toggle visible in settings.
Why is WhatsApp blocked in China?
WhatsApp won't send or receive messages — texts stay on one check, voice/video calls fail.
Why was I charged a deposit I didn't expect at a Chinese hotel?
At check-in the front desk swipes or pre-authorizes an extra ¥200–¥1,000 on your card beyond the room rate.
Why was I charged a tourist price at a market?
At a souvenir or street market the quoted price is 3–10× what locals pay, and the vendor insists it is the "real price."
Why was my Alipay payment declined with a foreign card?
Your foreign Visa/Mastercard is linked to Alipay but merchants see "transaction failed" with no error code.
Why was my card blocked after one China transaction?
Your first purchase in China succeeds but the very next attempt is declined, then your bank texts a fraud freeze.
Why won't WeChat Pay accept my passport verification?
WeChat Pay rejects your passport upload during the "Foreign Card" identity step with "information does not match."