Experiencing China [#2]
I recently got a question about communication technologies in China. I didn't have to think much, WeChat instantly popped into my head.
WeChat is a hybrid between Facebook and WhatsApp and is the most popular social and communication app in China (it connects more than a half billion people).
Speaking from my experience to live in China without using WeChat is very hard. Let's do the math…
According to www.internetlivestats.com, China has around 650MIL internet users. WeChat itself has more than 500MIL users (a vast majority of them in China). That implies that almost everybody is on this platform.
Moreover, I haven’t met anybody (neither Chinese nor foreigner) who isn’t on WeChat in China.
Using WeChat, you can not only communicate with your friends and business partners but also pay at the grocery store (QR codes and mobile payments are widely adopted standards in China), order taxi or get a ticket to your favorite cinema.
Even Elon Musk is on WeChat and uses it for communication with his Chinese partners, as he mentioned during the recent conference in Hong Kong.
This is given by the fact that services such as Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. are still blocked in China.
Red Envelopes (Hóng Bāo)
In China (and other Asian societies), red packet (or 红包) is a monetary gift given during holidays or special occasions such as weddings, graduation or the birth of a baby.
As you might have guessed, WeChat plays a big role when it comes to this ritual in China. You don't have to bother with physical envelopes anymore, you can just send them via WeChat to all of your friends if you wish to do so.
Yesterday I came across a fascinating infographic about the Spring Festival 2016 on WeChat. The numbers are mind-blowing, check them out!
Key Takeaway
Do you plan to travel in China? Do you have friends in China? Do you want to do business in/with China?
Get WeChat.
It will make your life MUCH easier.
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