[jiehong]

Sadly true in every country.

Recently been to China, and now that everything requires WeChat, it's extremely convenient if you're local, but as a tourist things are very difficult when you don't have:

- a Chinese phone number;

- a WeChat account with payment activated;

- a Chinese ID card.

Wanna read the menu? Only if you have wechat and an internet connection to scan that QR code (many places have no physical menus).

Wanna pay with cash you've just exchanged at the airport? Sorry, nobody uses cash anymore (many shops won't accept cash at all).

Wanna book a train ticket online before you reach China to plan your trip? Sorry, you've got to be Chinese for that and have a local number.

Wanna pay with your credit card something in a big mall? They might accept it, but their IT system might not always manage to communicate with your bank and it may fail for no reason.

Albeit, the opposite problem is true in Germany: many places only accept cash, or only accept EC cards, aka special credit cards issued by German banks only.

[arrowsmith]

> many places have no physical menus

I hate this trend so much

[voytec]

My simplest solution - changing restaurants. I absolutely don't trust the security of mobile devices, won't be scanning unknown QR codes, opening websites with unknown 3rd party spying garbage nor installing spyware-infused apps in order to get a glass of wine.

[Dalewyn]

I can understand why it's happening, at least:

* Don't need to purchase paper.

* Don't need to purchase or contract a printer.

* Can change the menu willy nilly.

* It's in line with the current environmentalism fad.

But that said: If the restaurant can't be arsed to provide me with requisite-free information on what god damn food they serve, I can't be arsed to provide my god damn money for their time.

[robjan]

Different eating culture. In China it's not uncommon to eat out every day whereas in the west it's usually an experience (unless you are eating out in McDonald's). Hence, cheap eats places tend to automate to save on costs.

[Saigonautica]

Yeah, this is the main reason I haven't been to China in a while. It's quite nearby for me, but just too difficult. In principle, I would love to go to Chengdu or Shenzhen, but end up going to Singapore instead because I don't have the time to deal with the logistics.

On the other hand, I do glean some amusement that the region where cash was invented, no longer accepts cash.