29 Sept 2025
China's pervasive advanced technology makes cash almost useless, with daily transactions and even soda purchases relying on mobile phones and proprietary apps. Despite this technological advancement, a strict digital divide exists, characterized by extensive surveillance, severe internet censorship, and a unique, unified payment ecosystem.
Technology has deeply infiltrated everyday life in China, making cash almost useless, with even simple purchases like soda relying on mobile phone apps.
China employs extensive surveillance, with approximately 490 cameras for every 100 citizens monitoring movements.
International internet services, apart from Apple and Microsoft, are largely inaccessible; popular VPNs are ineffective or very slow, making tasks like uploading videos extremely difficult.
Apple Maps provides directions and accepts payments via Apple Pay, and Microsoft services like Bing operate within China.
Communication with locals is challenging due to a significant language barrier, making translation apps essential, preferably not Google-based due to service restrictions.
Despite external restrictions, China boasts one of the world's fastest internet services, accessible almost everywhere, even in remote parts of large cities like Shanghai.
Alipay, an Alibaba subsidiary, is China's most important application for tourists, facilitating everything from supermarket payments and bus tickets to taxi ordering and even supporting digital alms for beggars via barcodes.
Taxis are primarily hybrid or fully electric, contributing to a quiet urban environment, and can be ordered swiftly via apps like Alipay, arriving within minutes.
Native navigation apps offer integrated features like real-time red light timers and third-person views, while bus systems are punctual and provide exact arrival times.
Foreign payment methods like MasterCard are often not accepted, with taxis and many stores requiring Alipay or WeChat Pay, posing difficulties for international travelers.
China operates with a highly unified payment system, contrasting with countries that have not achieved similar integration.
China is a place of beautiful but strange contradictions, being modern yet traditional, and creative while maintaining uniformity.
China is a country full of contradictions, and maybe this contradiction makes it beautiful, but experience has proven that everything is more beautiful in the free world.
| aspect | observation | impact |
|---|---|---|
| Cashless Society | Cash is almost useless; all daily transactions are mobile-based. | High convenience for locals, potential difficulty for unprepared foreigners. |
| Extensive Surveillance | Approximately 490 surveillance cameras exist for every 100 citizens. | Constant monitoring of individual movements and activities. |
| Internet Censorship | Most international services, popular VPNs, Google, and Mega are blocked or severely restricted. | Isolation from the global internet, requiring complex workarounds for external communication. |
| Working Western Tech | Apple (Maps, Pay) and Microsoft (Bing) services function within China. | Provides limited access to some international digital tools for navigation and search. |
| Alipay Ecosystem | Alipay is a super app for all payments, e-government services, transport, and even digital begging. | Essential tool for navigating daily life, demonstrating pervasive digital inclusivity. |
| Electric/Hybrid Transportation | All taxis are hybrid or electric, making cities exceptionally quiet. | Reduced noise pollution and environmental benefits in urban centers. |
| Payment System Unification | The entire country operates on a unified payment system (Alipay/WeChat Pay). | Streamlined transactions for locals, creating hurdles for foreign cardholders. |
| Language Barrier | English proficiency is very low, necessitating reliance on translation apps. | Significant communication challenges for non-Chinese speakers. |
