I Have An Emergency Situation While Travelling in China, What Should I Do? — Payments, Getting Lost, Health (2025)
Common Questions and Answers
What can I do if my Alipay / WeChat Pay stops working? 📲
YenKid:
Check the following: VPN has been turned off (if you have it on) OR your Alipay / WeChat account has been frozen OR your bank card has been frozen.
It should be obvious if it’s your Alipay / WeChat account as it should ask you to verify your identity again. You might need to enter a verification code sent via SMS (make sure you have international roaming turned on or find a way to turn it on).
If it’s your bank card that’s been blocked, call your bank asap if you can reach them. As a last resort, get a Wise virtual debit card online (I heard from my friend allows you to use it for payments pretty instantly).
If you find this impossible, contact Alipay on 95188 or WeChat through their Help Center form. If it’s asking you to scan a friend’s QR code, see this page. It might take a while, possibly even a day or two, and you should chase them if necessary.
Don’t let this overshadow your trip. You can carry on your trip quite normally as long as you have cash! So, always have a small amount of cash in your pocket. If you don’t have any cash, locate an ATM (look for banks on Amap) and use your bank card to withdraw a suitable amount.
You may not be able to pay for things the most convenient way, but with cash, you should face no problems with paying for food, drink, or transport in most offline situations. The only big downside is that for some places especially smaller businesses, they may not have any change to give you.
Obviously for the time being, you can’t pay for things that are online only. You might not be able to use DiDi temporarily, but you can still hail a traditional taxi if you’re in the middle of the city and pay by cash. Ask reception to call a taxi for you if you need one from the hotel. Meanwhile, save the local taxi number on your phone. If you need to go somewhere rural, remember to save that area’s local taxi number - ask hotel reception using a translation app if you don’t know how to get it.
I’m lost and can’t call a taxi. 🚖
YenKid: If you’re in an urban area, ask nearby people for help, agree the amount, and tell them you will pay them with cash. If they are calling a DiDi for you, pay them before you get on the DiDi. Use your judgement as to whether it feels too much for the distance you are travelling (e.g. hundreds of yuan for a short 15 minute ride).
If you are in the middle of nowhere, have no phone signal or data, and can’t find anyone, head to a main road and flag a passing car if possible. Call 110 only if you are really desperate and might be in danger (if you have no signal, keep walking along a main road).
I ran out of battery and can’t get back to the hotel. 🪫
YenKid: Remember to have at least 100-200rmb with you at all times. If you’re in the middle of nowhere, it should be enough to get you back to the hotel or at least someone with people where you can borrow someone’s charger to charge your phone.
If people are nearby, ask to borrow a charger using hand gestures and only offer to pay if no one seems to understand.
I lost my luggage/passport. 🛄
YenKid: If you lost it on public transport, contact the operator. If you don’t know how to, use a translation app to communicate with hotel staff and ask them to help you.
If you lost in a DiDi, go back to your transaction on the app and click help to ask for assistance.
If you lost it in a shopping mall, speak to mall staff using a translation app.
If you lost your passport and it can’t be found, you should contact your nearest embassy.
I have stomach/health problems - how can I get medicine? 🏥
YenKid: Consult with hotel staff in the first instance for the best options near your hotel.
If it is relatively mild, go to a local pharmacy and tell them your symptoms using a translation app.
If you need to see a doctor, go to a local hospital or international hospital and explain your symptoms to the front desk. They will need your passport to register you. Upfront payment is likely to be needed, even if you have travel insurance (which you’ll need to claim back later). In some cases, you may be asked to go to international hospitals. Depends on your location and their experience in dealing with foreigners.
âť—this is not medical advice, you should never wait too long to see a doctor. Use your personal judgement. Nothing is more important than your health.
I can’t buy tickets to this attraction. 🎫
YenKid: Please refer to my ticket buying guide. Remember most hotels should be willing to help you book tickets, but they might charge a fee for it. Use a translation app as they might not understand - rather than mistaking them for rejecting you.
