The kuaidi – delivery – business is booming in China, but if you’re only using it to order things to you, then you’re missing out on half the fun. It’s time to discover the wonderful world of Didi-for-stuff courier services.

Forgot your keys? Ask your SO to send a spare set to you! Too sick to get to your friend’s birthday party? Send the cake you lovingly prepared anyway! Going on a hot date but need a clean shirt? Delivery guy to the rescue!

While there are a few different apps which offer similar services in China such as Shunfengtongcheng 顺丰同城 and Meituan 美团 (yes, the food ordering app, they kinda do everything), one of the most reliable companies for rapid delivery of almost anything under the sun is Shansong 闪送. Shansong usually promises to deliver goods within an hour, and the app is pretty easy to navigate. It’s also fast: claiming to need only 23 minutes for a 5km delivery, 33 minutes for a 10km delivery, and 39 minutes for a 15km delivery.

Before we begin, it’s worth noting that like Didi, the service relies upon drivers, and if there are no delivery “little brothers” (小哥) in your proximity, well, you’re out of luck. For that reason, we don’t recommend using this service in emergencies (say, delivering insulin to your diabetic friend), unless you really have no other option.

It’s also important to note that the delivery man will usually give you a call when he’s waiting for you downstairs, so if you really don’t speak any Chinese, this may not be the service for you.

How to place an order on Shansong

After you download and open the Shansong app, a page with a sending and receiving address will show up. Your current location will be pinned, giving you an estimate in minutes for how long it is likely to take for you “little brother” to show up after you pay (although in our experience, it usually takes longer).

Enter your address

After you enter the pickup and delivery address, you will be taken to a second page where you can add extra information about the order as well as details about the sender and receiver (name and phone number).

Enter information about the item you are sending

To confirm your order, you need to indicate what it is that you’re sending. Options range from documents to flowers to an actual cake, though sadly no glitter bombs as of yet (though we would assume that they fall under ‘miscellaneous’). You also need to indicate the weight of the item, using the + and – symbols to adjust as necessary. Don’t wrap up the item yet, because the delivery man will need to inspect it first.

Pay

The very last step includes the final price of your package (shown on top) as well as your preferred method of payment (Apple pay is included!). For deliveries under 5kg and within 5km, the price is RMB 16. After that, RMB 10 is added for every additional 5km.

Await pickup

Now, just wait for the delivery guy to show up. When he arrives, he’s likely to call you. A typical exchange would go like this:

• 您好，闪送，我到楼下了。Nín hǎo, shǎn sòng, wǒ dào lóu xià liǎo. Hello, It’s Shansong delivery, I’m downstairs.
• 好的，谢谢，我现在下楼。Hǎo de, xiè xiè, wǒ xiàn zài xià lóu. Okay, thanks. I’ll come downstairs now.

All being well, he’ll inspect the item to make sure it is what you say it is, and be on his merry way.

Receipt

You can track the delivery progress on the app, and the order will close when the delivery is completed. Easy!

READ: How to Use China’s Food Delivery Apps for (Hungry) Dummies

Images: Expertise.com, Shansong

It’s often said that scooters are the most convenient means of transport in the capital, especially if you live a little further afield. China also happens to be the world’s largest electric bike manufacturer (and exporter), with an estimated 200 million e-bikes on the country’s roads, according to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. That means you’ll be in good company should you decide to saddle up, but it also means that there’s a hell of a lot of choice when it comes to deciding which ride is best for you.

Below we’ve listed a few things you should consider below before you drop RMB 2,000-4,000 and join the ranks of China’s e-bike riders.

Battery range

Depending on the model of the e-bike, the range – the distance the battery allows for you to drive it – can vary by quite a margin. For example, a typical smaller e-bike with a basket will have a shorter battery life than a larger model. Usually, unless you’re a waimai driver, covering the entire city on your e-bike, you will typically need to charge it every 2-3 days. The good thing is that batteries are much lighter than they used to be, even compared to just a few years ago. Inevitably, brands also matter when it comes to battery quality, and the top five trustworthy brands are often considered to be Yadi, Lvyuan, Xinri, Aima, and Xiaoniu.

Remember to always take your battery out of your bike – if you don’t, you may soon find that your battery has plenty of range but this time in the hands of a thief.

Size 

The size of your e-bike matters. Before purchasing a bike, you should take into consideration whether you’ll largely be riding solo or if you will often have a second person riding pillion, which can slow down less powerful bikes significantly. There are also foldable e-bikes, which are much easier to secure in your apartment or office.

Price

Below is a rough approximation of prices for the top five e-bike brands mentioned above:

Yadi (雅迪 yǎ dí): RMB 2,700-9,000
Aima (爱玛 ài mǎ): RMB 2,400-7,000
Xiaoniu (小牛电动 xiǎo niú diàndòng): RMB 3,100-20,000
Lvyuan (绿源 lǜyuán): RMB 2,000-7,000
Xinri (新日 xīn rì): RMB 2,000-6,700

Sites like JD.com often run sales on bikes like these with significant savings, so keep an eye out.

Maintenance/repair 

An e-bike will usually last you around 3-5 years with a few minor repairs. After that amount of time, replacement parts may be harder and more expensive to get hold of. However, using an e-bike is definitely still cheaper than relying upon taxis and Didis, and if you use your bike for an extended period of time, it may even come out cheaper than riding the subway – huzzah!

License 

Sadly, the days of buying a scooter on the black market and riding off into the sunset are long gone. Sensibly, the government has since decided to limit the number of vehicles on the street, which means you will need to register your bike upon purchase. If you have no idea how, fear not, just follow our instructions right here.

Safety

Now you’re full-throttle on what to consider when buying an e-bike, don’t forget the most important factor of all: safety. Always wear a helmet, be extra cautious while riding in the dark, slow down at intersections, and never ride an e-bike under the influence!

Wanna drop the ‘e’ from e-bike? Here are four reasons why cycling in Beijing is way nicer than you think.

Photo: Wikicommons

As the weather warms up, flowers blossom, and green buds begin to unfurl on the tips of tree branches, it’s the perfect time to get hiking. There are many excellent places to hike around Beijing, but a great day out can be spoiled but not being prepared.

As such, here are some essentials to pack before you go on your hike:

Food and water

Food items and bottled water at major touristy destinations are often hyper-inflated and lacking in the nutritional qualities you’ll need after a long day of walking. For that reason, we suggest packing your own food and drinks so as to save money and your health. Don’t forget to bring your picnic supplies either: reusable cups, plates, utensils, reusable cloth napkins and a small pocket knife will all make your lunch break much more civilized. For chic, reusable supplies, check out The Bulk House.

A trash bag

“Leave only footprints, take only photographs”. Sadly, many people hiking in the Beijing area are unaware of this sacred hiker’s philosophy, discarding their trash without a thought, and ruining the beautiful scenery for others. Don’t be one of these people. Take a trash bag with you, so you can easily collect any food scraps and containers to dispose of later. Many hikers also make it a habit to pick up trash that they find along the way too, doing their bit to protect the natural environment and wildlife as they go.

Layers/sunscreen/a mask

Even in Spring, it can get chilly out there in the wilderness, so be sure to bring adequate layers. Additionally, don’t forget your favorite sunscreen, and a face mask depending on the air quality on the day of your expedition.

A portable charger

After filling up almost half of your phone storage with pictures before you even get to the peak, your phone battery will most likely be under 50 percent. In order to capture all the Insta-worthy moments on the peak, bring a fully-charged portable charger with you.

READ: Feast Your Eyes on Fall Foliage at These Beijing Mountain Parks

If you’re looking for a hiking buddy, here are three hiking group websites:

Beijing Hikers

Beijing Hikers set out on several walks of varying difficulty levels all around the city suburbs per week. Their tour guides are knowledgeable and bilingual so you’re in good hands. Prices range from around RMB 390-500 per hike and include transport.

China Hiking

China Hiking offer multi-day hikes, which include night stays at farmhouses so you can truly escape the Beijing sprawl. Prices for single-day hikes cost around RMB 600.

Pacer

Pacer Outdoors is a hiking and camping club run by popular fitness app Pacer Pedometers. The group makes for a fun way to meet and hang out with fellow hikers and tackle various hiking routes on the Great Wall and elsewhere around Beijing. They organize weekly hiking day trips for around RMB 200 as well as small group day trips (2-6 participants) for around RMB 700.

Meetup

If you don’t want to pay for a tour guide like with the previous two groups, Meetup allows you to discover organized hiking adventures between Beijingers. Many of these groups are non-for-profit and solely for the purpose of getting together and exploring Beijing.

With the essentials packed and your hiking buddy by your side, you’re all set to travel outside of the city to enjoy some peace and quiet. Do keep in mind that there will still be a lot of tourists at major hiking spots, so be mentally prepared to face some human traffic while trekking up the mountains!

Got everything you need? Now check out these hikes once you’ve exhausted Mutianyu and Badaling.

Images: mylittleadventure.com, rangermade.net, yarnspirations.com, travelandleisure.com, courtesy of the organizers

As the peak of autumn is arriving, venturing on hikes around the city of Beijing to observe the turning leaves is a popular activity for foreigners and locals alike. Since the autumn days are rather short, the last thing you’d want is to be underprepared once you reach your hiking destination. As such, here are three essentials to pack before you go on your hike:

1. Food and water
Food items and bottled waters at major touristy destinations are often hyper-inflated and lacking in the nutritional qualities you’ll need after a long day of walking. For example, if you’re looking to much on a nourishing, all-natural bowl of instant noodles at the Fragrant Hills, you’ll pay RMB 15 for the pleasure. For that reason, we suggest you pack your own food so as to save money and can temper your intake of salt.

2. Gloves/mittens/a mask
Make sure you layer up and bring extra sweaters and scarves for your hike. The temperatures on the mountain peaks can get very low and gloves are an essential part of taking photos comfortably throughout your hike – if all you can think about is how to get down the mountain and escape the cold, the scenery will definitely be compromised. For that reason, you should also choose gloves that are warm, flexible, and touchscreen friendly. Additionally, take a face mask depending on the air quality on the day of your expedition.

3. A portable charger
After filling up almost half of your phone storage with pictures before you even get to the peak, your phone battery will most likely be under 50 percent, especially with the chilly weather too. In order to capture all the Insta-worthy moments on the peak, bring a fully-charged portable charger with you.

READ: Feast Your Eyes on Fall Foliage at These Beijing Mountain Parks

If you’re looking for a hiking buddy, here are three hiking group websites:

Beijing Hikers

As one of the most popular Beijing hiking groups hikers, Beijing Hikers set out on several walks of varying difficulty levels all around the city suburbs per week. Their tour guides are knowledgeable and bilingual so you’re in good hands. Prices range from around RMB 390-500 per hike and include transport.

China Hiking

China Hiking offers a similar concept to Beijing Hikers but with fractionally higher prices. They also offer more multi-day hikes, which include night stays at farmhouses so you can truly escape the Beijing sprawl. Prices for single-day hikes cost around RMB 600.

Meetup

If you don’t want to pay for a tour guide like with the previous two groups, Meetup allows you to discover organized hiking adventures between Beijingers. Many of these groups are non-for-profit and solely for the purpose of getting together and exploring Beijing.

With the essentials packed and your hiking buddy by your side, you’re all set to travel outside of the city to enjoy some peace and quiet. Do keep in mind that there will still be a lot of tourists at major hiking spots, so be mentally prepared to face some human traffic while trekking up the mountains!

Got everything you need? Now check out these hikes once you’ve exhausted Mutianyu and Badaling.

Images: mylittleadventure.com, rangermade.net, yarnspirations.com, travelandleisure.com, courtesy of the organizers