Thanks for the explanations about mini-programs. I hate instant messages and have resisted using things like WeChat or even Line. I still live in the e-mail world - can't stand having the phone going off all the time. I guess I should start learning these things.

I think for me, part of travelling is to observe and figure out technology in other places - North America is really not in the forefront in a lot of these places. To do that in China, it seems local phone and payment system are an important part.

The biggest "hit" on me for this trip from the no local phone problem is I could not make a reservation to visit Peking University. Since they allow 1 number 1 reservation per year, I did not want to see if people at the hotel could help me by using their number.