danb Posted November 25, 2023 Report Share Posted November 25, 2023 Hello, In a few day I will be going back to China. It has been 3 years since I have visited China. I didn't give it a lot of thought about changes that might have been made in China in the past three years. Changes in banking, traveling Covid VPN, attitude, etc. I knew there might be some changes but I was hoping they would not really affect me. Access to money is starting to concern me a little bit now. Basically I need spending/ living money for the time I am going to be there. In the past I alway relied on cash and ATM mostly. I am starting to worry a little about the ATM accessibility. I guess I am going to bring a little extra cash. More than I usually do. And I also have a Discovery and American Express card. Those I hope I can use for travel and hotel. I did just have a covid booster shot a few weeks ago. Does not seem to be any travel restrictions because of covid. But as been mentioned on this site there are some issues in the north with children having some respiratory problems. As far attitude, I was wondering if at the moment is the attitude towards the USA more positive or negative? I am hoping it going more positive. What you guys think? Anything that I really need to consider or be concerned about? Danb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted November 25, 2023 Report Share Posted November 25, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, danb said: Hello, In a few day I will be going back to China. It has been 3 years since I have visited China. I didn't give it a lot of thought about changes that might have been made in China in the past three years. Changes in banking, traveling Covid VPN, attitude, etc. I knew there might be some changes but I was hoping they would not really affect me. Access to money is starting to concern me a little bit now. Basically I need spending/ living money for the time I am going to be there. In the past I alway relied on cash and ATM mostly. I am starting to worry a little about the ATM accessibility. I guess I am going to bring a little extra cash. More than I usually do. And I also have a Discovery and American Express card. Those I hope I can use for travel and hotel. I did just have a covid booster shot a few weeks ago. Does not seem to be any travel restrictions because of covid. But as been mentioned on this site there are some issues in the north with children having some respiratory problems. As far attitude, I was wondering if at the moment is the attitude towards the USA more positive or negative? I am hoping it going more positive. What you guys think? Anything that I really need to consider or be concerned about? Danb. Read the articles I posted yesterday about the "mystery illness" in China (not COVID). Hospitals in big cities are being overwhelmed by sick children. This is known in China, but has only been picked up on by the Western Media in the last few days. Sick children in hospitals won't affect you, of course, but I'm guessing that where there are sick children in hospitals there are also going to be a few (or more) sick adults. I don't know what to tell you there - it is not affecting us in Yulin. Foreign credit cards are not accepted in China - I used my Discover card (which is supposedly accepted everywhere that Union Pay is) for a couple of months before it was cut off. You will probably need to have a way to send yourself money - I posted links to those topics earlier. You MAY be able to connect a foreign credit card to your WeChat account. Attitudes toward China in America have changed, but as far as I know, the attitudes of the Chinese people toward Americans have not changed so much. Good luck with your trip - but seriously, it may be a good idea to postpone the trip until you can sort all this out. Make sure that you will be able to access the money you need. Edited November 25, 2023 by Randy W (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb Posted November 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2023 Hello. You said, "Attitudes toward China in America have changed, but as far as I know, the attitudes of the Chinese people toward Americans have not changed so much." I am very glad to hear that. Three year ago, I was able to use my credit card for most hotels that I stayed at. I also my used credit card at the travel agency in the hotel. If I cant use them now then I will adjust how things get pay. My laopo has a credit card. Not sure what her limit is. Attaching a credit card to We chat is something I will explore. I read the VPN post and also the links that you posted in there. Thank You for posting them. I can't easily change plans, I bought my tickets already and have already made some travel arrangement. I will just have to be careful. I will bring some extra cash. To be truthfully if we have to I am okay with just hanging out at home with my Lao po. Just stay local. I will have more than enough cash to do that. It should be very good to be back in China for a visit. Danb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted November 25, 2023 Report Share Posted November 25, 2023 Okay - yeah just make sure you CAN get the cash you need. A Chinese-issued credit card will work, of course, but any Western cards will be iffy at best. In China now, people are almost exclusively using WeChat or AliPay. You may hear more before you leave about the sickness going around - it's only NOW reaching the Western media. Just follow your wife's lead there and maybe bring a mask or two or three and don't worry about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb Posted November 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2023 In only the past week have I heard on CNN about WHO asking for an explanation of an outbreak among school children in northern China. Here an article that I found that gave some details: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/23/1215024992/china-pneumonia-clusters-children-who I will keep an eye on the situation. I will try to use a mask when in public. I also think I will send some more money to my lao po. Just in case. I have a question about whether I need to show TSA the cash that I have in my pocket. They are alway saying to empty our pocket. Everything! It always has made me nervous a bit. ? Danb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted November 26, 2023 Report Share Posted November 26, 2023 (edited) 5 hours ago, danb said: In only the past week have I heard on CNN about WHO asking for an explanation of an outbreak among school children in northern China. Here an article that I found that gave some details: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/23/1215024992/china-pneumonia-clusters-children-who I will keep an eye on the situation. I will try to use a mask when in public. I also think I will send some more money to my lao po. Just in case. I have a question about whether I need to show TSA the cash that I have in my pocket. They are alway saying to empty our pocket. Everything! It always has made me nervous a bit. ? Danb You might keep the cash in an envelope sso that TSA can look if they want to. WATCH them carefully if they do to make sure no one ELSE notices (and also that THEY don't take any). If you carry over $10,000USD cash, you will need to declare it at customs. No problem there, although again, they may want to look at it. Yes, it's nerve-wracking - that's why I don't carry any with me. When I went to the US, I used credit cards exclusively (no cash for the entire trip). I wire ALL money to China that I need at a cost of $50 per transfer. One thing you can do for this trip is to wire US dollars to a relative. KEEP it in US dollars and change only what you need into RMB. You can then wire the remaining US dollars at the end of the trip back to your own US account. I can do this with BofA and the China Construction Bank, but you would need to make sure you can do it with your relative's bank in China. Edited November 26, 2023 by Randy W (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted November 26, 2023 Report Share Posted November 26, 2023 You may hear things like "It may be another pandemic". This is very doubtful, but you never know. China is getting a lot of blowback against their lack of transparency. Don't worry about it, but pay attention to what you hear where you are. CGTN called it a ""Winter Respiratory Illness Season" last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted November 26, 2023 Report Share Posted November 26, 2023 8 hours ago, danb said: In only the past week have I heard on CNN about WHO asking for an explanation of an outbreak among school children in northern China. Here an article that I found that gave some details: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/23/1215024992/china-pneumonia-clusters-children-who I will keep an eye on the situation. I will try to use a mask when in public. I also think I will send some more money to my lao po. Just in case. I have a question about whether I need to show TSA the cash that I have in my pocket. They are alway saying to empty our pocket. Everything! It always has made me nervous a bit. ? Danb Like I've said, the news is OLD in China, but China has not shared information to the western media. Again - my advice is to just follow your wife's lead. You may or may not want to read what's posted on CFL - your choice. I think your main concern for this trip needs to be about transferring money to yourself in China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted December 3, 2023 Report Share Posted December 3, 2023 Dan, they ARE accepting foreign credit cards at some NEW PLACES this time around, but, like I said, I expect it will be VERY iffy. Can we use cash or foreign credit card directly to purchase train ticket in China? https://www.facebook.com/groups/going2china/permalink/6735260163268964/?mibextid=Nif5oz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted December 5, 2023 Report Share Posted December 5, 2023 "You never know" I see that you are NOW in China and can see for yourself what the situation is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb Posted December 6, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2023 Hello, Yes, I am in China now. It was a very long trip from the east coast. A couple of long layovers. I flew United and Air China. Cost rt was $2010 I think. A bit higher than what I used to pay. I am very happy to be here but had some problems with phone, computer, ATM and my leg. I am addressing them as I can and as I go. Some of the problems are my fault. I was a rush and didn't plan well enough. One issue is the the ATM. I am able to use my B of A ATM card at a big B of C that might be the main branch downtown in the old part of city. I was able to withdraw 2500 RMB. And I was even able to use my B of A mobile app to access my account. My credit Union is a different story. Same B of C, same day, and same time. I could only take out 1000 rmb. The ATM would not let me take out 2500 rmb, they said due to insufficient funds. Now that is not true , because payday was the day before. But I said ok, let me check my account. I couldnt/ and now cant check it on my mobile or my computer. The first reason is because my credit union said that China is blocked. I got that notice from them three day after I got here. Also I was warned not to even to try to sign into my account or my profile may be locked. I sent them an email about this situation and all they did was to repeat that they blocked China from their site. I am aggravated with my credit union. In less than 5 days of leaving for China I visited my CU twice. I told them that I was going to China for a month. They took down my travel plans. They said that I was all set. I went back the day before I left for China and took out more money. Sent some money to my Lao Po. And got some extra cash due to some good recommendations made here. I should be ok but will need to watch my spending a bit. I am going to try to talk to and access my CU account but that will be another story. I am happy to be here. The weather is fairly nice. It is supposed to be nicer in the next ten days. Most of the time it is overcast or I think smoggy. Well time to go. I hope all are doing ok. Danb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted December 6, 2023 Report Share Posted December 6, 2023 Wow hang in there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted December 6, 2023 Report Share Posted December 6, 2023 Let me know if I can help with anything. I'm not having any trouble here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danb Posted December 6, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2023 Thank you Randy. I am working on things as I can. I think i overworked myself before I came to China. I was going to asked about changes in China here on this forum. And I started to, but I think too little and too late. I thought I could do the same things that I had done before. Definitely ATM' and money was a bit underestimated but I think I will be okay. I have options. Another mistake is that i didnt get a VPN before I got here. Actually I did and I didn't. The night before I left I got one. Started to download one but never completed it. In part because I had many other things to do. Now I am trying to contact VPN in China without a VPN. Perhaps not the brightest idea. Years ago I had VPNs. But it didnt seem I needed it so much and it was easy to use. Things are different, now with more of a need to contact my banks. I also thought that I had a back up because I have Norton 360 and they have Nord vpn. I thought I was covered. Wrong! They dont cover certains regions. China is at the top of the list. I have a stupid question. What is a good browser to use in China. I like google but it looks like China doesnt like their product. I have tried Norton and Yahoo and they dont seem to work so well. Now if I had a working VPN I think things would work much more smoother. I finally got a VPN loaded now. But now I got to get it to actually work. I am going to get a hold of tech support tonite. Hope I can get chat on line to work. Thanks again for the offer. Time for dinner. Danb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy W Posted December 6, 2023 Report Share Posted December 6, 2023 uc browser download astrill at https://astrillcn.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now