Why Traveling in China Was Harder Than We Expected

Traveling in China comes with a lot of assumptions - both good and bad. In this video, we share our 2025 trip experiences, from our pre-trip thoughts to the lessons we learned on the ground. This isn’t a highlight reel - it’s real talk about what surprised us, what challenged us, and what we’d do differently next time. More from our China trip → https://youtu.be/10Uz5HNAVcs?si=H6jNu-oH1MaiM5kF → https://youtu.be/m9uaeAFEp3Q?si=LIX0NuHx6ssLML8q → https://youtu.be/I_kWBErqVw4?si=mBfYvKaiokWoN49y What’s in this video: 00:00 Preview 00:20 Pre-trip thoughts and plans 03:45 China trip montage 04:06 Post-trip debrief 05:09 Is China tough for foreigners? Angel vs Jason 08:17 Culture shock moments for Jason 10:06 Steep learning curve 10:51 Super apps vs mini apps 11:16 General advice 12:47 The bathroom situation 14:33 What we would do differently next time 15:33 Airport pickup and Didi mishap 17:11 Huge Didi tip that no one tells you 17:55 Preview of our hotel discussion Whether you’re planning a trip to China or just curious about the realities on the ground, our experience will give you a more honest, practical view - what’s easy, what’s tricky, and what’s worth knowing before you go. Note: This is just our experience, not a definitive guide. We’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, or experiences in the comments! Thanks for watching and engaging thoughtfully. If you want more China content, you can check out our Park Hyatt Suzhou review here: https://youtu.be/m9uaeAFEp3Q?si=MMT1eqA7RNP-cU0m We'll also be putting out a Part 2 soon discussing all of the Chinese hotels we tried as well as an in-depth review of Alila Shanghai. So stay tuned!