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Living Guide

Today there are a number of useful phone apps that make life more convenient than ever. Whether you are new to China, or just recently learning how to make full use of these online services, we have listed instructions on how to use various payment and transportation apps so as to make your time in Beijing as pleasant and convenient as possible.

WeChat
Alipay
Didi
One Card for Transportation

WeChat

In China, WeChat is a commonly used App for you to connect with friends, family and colleagues. It supports sending texts, photos, videos and make online payment. It is available on iOS, Android, Windows and Mac OS X.

(1) Register an account

Open WeChat, and touch the “Sign Up” button. Register with your cell phone number and enter the SMS verification code.

(2) Add Friends

a. Go to “Me” and tap on the arrow next to your WeChat ID. Select “My QR Code”. Show the code to your friend.

b. Go to “Chats” and tap on the “+” sign on the top right. Select “Scan” and point your phone camera at your friend’s WeChat code.

c. Go to “Chats” and tap the “+” sign on the top right. Select “Add Contacts” to add friend with WeChat ID and phone number.

Alipay

In China, people don’t seem to carry cash around anymore. Wherever you go, you can either scan QR codes at the cashier or get your phone scanned by a shopkeeper. Most functions of Alipay require a registered Chinese bank account to work.

(1) Tap “To Alipay Account” and enter the cell phone number you registered your Alipay account with. Associate your bank account with your Alipay account.

(2) If the vendor has its own QR code, go to Home in Alipay and tap “Scan” on the top left. Enter your 6-digit Alipay passcode when it prompts.

(3) If the vendor requests to scan your QR code, go to Home and tap “Pay” on the top left. Show your code to the merchants.

Didi

Didi App allows the users to order a ride from there cellphone devices, which is similar to Uber. In order to use Didi , you must have a cell phone number (preferably a Chinese cell phone number)

1. The App will show your pick-up location which corresponds to the GPS location (you can also enter your pick-up location by yourself).

2. Insert your destination. Next, choose a type of riding you would like to use. The App will show the estimate cost of your trip.

3. After connecting to your ride, the App will show the time you need to wait for your ride. After the ride, the App will charge you automatically through your bank account, Alipay or WeChat payment, which you associate with your Didi-Rider App.

One Card for Transportation

One Card Pass for Public Transportation in Beijing (Yikatong)

One Card Pass App on smartphone allows you to pay the transit fare (bus; subway) with your cellphone.

1. Go to the App Store, search for 北京一卡通（Beijing Yikatong）， and download the app.

2. The first time you open the app, you will be asked to enter your phone number and a confirmation code you receive through your phone.

3. After registration, you can add a card to your phone, and select the amount of money you want to put on your card. Then, you will be processed to pay your card. You can make a payment through Apple Pay, Alipay or WeChat payment. After the payment, all you need to do is to put your phone near the reader, and it will swipe like a normal bus/subway card.