Essential Apps and tools
- Access: Sims & VPNs
- Payments: Alipay & WeChat
- Navigation: A-map & Baidu
- Transportation: Didi, Trip, Railway12306, & Alipay
- Accommodations: Trip.com
Extras
- Food Delivery: Meituan takeout
- Coupons: Meituan
- Luggage forwarding and delivery: Jingdong
- Ride-sharing: Shunfengche (WIP)
- Online shopping: Taobao (WIP)
Etiquette and observations
- Dining (WIP)
- Noise Levels (WIP)
The most reliable luggage forwarding companies are Jingdong (京东快递) and Shunfeng (顺丰). There are other uses for these services, but luggage forwarding is the most applicable in the context of tourism.
There’s no English language support, so you can get a hotel staff to help you out; it’s a pretty ubiquitous service in China, so they’ll be able to guide you.
Jingdong (京东快递)
- Download the Jingdong delivery app and sign up (very little personal info is needed to get started). Select the “寄快递” option.
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Enter addresses for sender and recipient. This is likely the accommodation you are currently staying in, and the accommodation where you’d like to receive your bags.
- You’ll be prompted to select the time that you’d like the delivery person to pick up your package, details of your items, and payment option.
- Someone will come right to your door to grab your things. If you’re in a decently sized city, this will be very quick.
- You’ll be able to track the progress of your luggage and pay accordingly after your item is properly weighed.
The luggage will take a day or two to arrive, so have essentials with you. I’ve never had issues with my luggage being lost, but take precaution that it could certainly still happen.
For reference, my 5.6kg package of clothing that travelled across two provinces, plus packaging, costed me 50RMB; this took 2 days to deliver. Another 3kg package was 22RMB and took 2 days as well.
Hence, it’s a pretty inexpensive and reliable service that can lighten your load and maybe save some airport luggage costs.
The delivery option is right on the homescreen.
Add the sender and receiver Enter addresses.
Enter additional details of your package.
Details of your package can be rough; the weight will be remeasured after pickup. I also usually purchase a box on the app so I don’t have to go find my own.