Everything a first visit to Yiwu needs sorted before the plane lands: whether you need a visa, where to get a SIM, how to pay when your card does not work, what to do about WhatsApp, and where to pray.
China has expanded visa-free entry for many countries and offers a transit visa-free scheme for others; the list changes. Check the official source for your passport before booking, not a forum post.
Official: your nearest Chinese embassy website or the National Immigration Administration.
Business visitors often still use an M visa with an invitation from a Yiwu company.
Hotels register you with the police automatically; private rentals do not.
Country-specific visa-free list is not reproduced here to avoid publishing out-of-date rules; the kit links to the official page.
02
SIM & internet
Getting online
Local SIM
China Mobile / China Unicom / China Telecom counters at the airport or in town; passport required. Data is cheap.
eSIM / roaming
An international eSIM bought before travel gives you Google, WhatsApp and Maps without a VPN, because the traffic routes abroad.
Blocked services
WhatsApp, Google, Instagram and Facebook are blocked on Chinese networks and hotel wifi; use roaming/eSIM or a VPN installed before arrival.
03
Paying
Alipay, WeChat Pay, cash, cards
Set up Alipay before you land
Install Alipay, register with your foreign number, add a Visa/Mastercard under Bank Cards. Works for taxis, restaurants, market shops and Didi.
WeChat Pay as a second option
Same idea; some vendors accept only one of the two.
Carry cash
RMB notes are accepted everywhere, and some drivers and stalls prefer them. Exchange at the airport bank counter or withdraw from a bank ATM with a foreign card.
Do not rely on your card
Foreign cards work at international hotels and few other places.
04
Prayer
Where to pray
Yiwu Mosque is an option to investigate; confirm access before travelling. Prayer-room locations inside the market have not been verified. Prayer times for Yiwu and Jummah details are on the mosque page. Many hotels serving Muslim traders can show you the qibla.
05
Phrases
Ten lines to screenshot
你好 / 谢谢
Nǐ hǎo / xièxie
Hello / thank you
多少钱？
Duōshao qián?
How much?
太贵了。
Tài guì le.
Too expensive.
请打表。
Qǐng dǎbiǎo.
Please use the meter.
我不会说中文。
Wǒ bú huì shuō Zhōngwén.
I don't speak Chinese.
这是清真的吗？
Zhè shì qīngzhēn de ma?
Is this halal?
厕所在哪里？
Cèsuǒ zài nǎli?
Where is the toilet?
可以刷卡吗？
Kěyǐ shuākǎ ma?
Can I pay by card?
我要发票。
Wǒ yào fāpiào.
I need a receipt/invoice.
帮帮我。
Bāngbang wǒ.
Please help me.
06
Yiwu Errand Service
Short on days? Hand the errands to a local
One-off tasks at a fixed price, paid per errand — no contract, no commission on your orders. Photos and video for everything.
Yes. Register Alipay with your foreign phone number and add a Visa or Mastercard; it then works in taxis, restaurants and market shops across Yiwu.
Is Yiwu visa-free?
Visa-free entry depends on your passport under China's national rules, which change; check the official embassy or immigration website before booking.
Where do I buy a SIM card in Yiwu?
At the airport counters or any China Mobile / Unicom / Telecom shop in town, with your passport. An eSIM bought before travel is the easier option for keeping WhatsApp and Google.
