² Payment Methods (Key Tips)
1. Key tip: Download and activate Alipay or WeChat Pay before you depart. In China, mobile payment is the preferred method for most daily transactions — cash is accepted but can be inconvenient. Rest assured, these platforms are secure and widely trusted.
you can also prepare some RMB cash in different denominations for emergencies:
¥50 & ¥100: shopping malls, attraction tickets, restaurants.
¥5, ¥10 & ¥20: small street shops and local markets.
2. Note on small cafés & milk tea shops: Many accept online orders only (in-store pickup) with no cash register. You can try paying cash directly to staff, but online discounts won't apply.
3. Important: Refusing RMB cash is illegal in China, but the reporting process is complicated. If a store cannot give you change, simply choose another shop.
² Internet Access
1. Hotel & Venue: Free Wi-Fi at ITP (workshop venue) and 辽宁大厦 (Liaoning Hotel) or most hotels .
2. On the go: Activate international roaming or an e-SIM on your home number before you depart. Alternatively, get a local Chinese SIM card at the airport upon arrival.
3. Portable Wi-Fi: "畅游通 (Changyoutong)" – a portable device acting as mobile hotspot and payment tool, available at airport service points.
4. Power banks: For airport/high-speed rail security, your power bank MUST have a CCC mark and rated energy of ≤100Wh – non-compliant items will be confiscated. You can pre-order a compliant one via Taobao/Meituan and have it delivered to your hotel.
² Weather & Packing
1. Weather: Late September is mild autumn. Daytime: ~26°C (79°F); Evenings: ~15°C (59°F).
2. Pack: Layered clothing – light t-shirts/trousers for daytime, plus a jacket or windbreaker for cooler evenings. Comfortable walking shoes for sightseeing.
² Transportation: Airport → Hotel/Venue
1. Destination:
Hotel 1: Liaoning Hotel (辽宁大厦) - No. A 2, North Fourth Ring Road West, Haidian District, Beijing
Show the address in Chinese to the taxi driver: 北京市海淀区北四环西路甲2号辽宁大厦
Tel: 010-6258 9999.
Hotel 2: Beijing Wuke Hotel (北京物科酒店）- No. 8, Nansanjie, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, Beijing
Show the address in Chinese to the taxi driver: 北京市海淀区中关村南三街8号
Tel: 010-82649482.
Hotel 3: Scientist House (科苑酒店) - No. 18, No.4th Ring West Road, Haidian District, Beijing
Tel: +86 10 82628538.
Venue: Institute of Theoretical Physics (ITP), Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Show the address in Chinese to the taxi driver: 北京市海淀区中关村东路55号理论物理所南楼
Tel: 0086 13681275534
From PEK Airport: DiDi or taxi is the most convenient.
2. DiDi Ride Tips:
Register with your home country phone number (verification code via SMS).
After booking, drivers will usually call you to notify arrival. If your phone is unreachable, add an in-app note: "不方便接电话" (can't answer calls).
Before getting in, double-check the license plate matches the app.
The driver will ask for the last 4 digits of your phone number to confirm the passenger. Type it on your phone screen to show them.
After arrival, check the fare is close to the estimate, then tap Pay.
² Must-Know Tips to Avoid Hassles
1. Navigation Hack: Direct translations of hotel/attraction/restaurant names are often inaccurate. Save the exact full Chinese name in your phone notes – show it to taxi drivers or when asking for directions.
2. Pocket Tissues: Most public restrooms in China do NOT provide toilet paper. Carry a small pack at all times (available at any convenience store).
3. Always carry your passport – required for hotel check-in and identification in some venues.
