Preparation Tools

Preparing for Your Trip: Essential Pre-Departure Checklist

Guides for setting up Alipay/WeChat/cash payments, a prescription format conversion chart, bilingual eyewear communication cards, time planning based on trip length, and essential Chinese phrases for the entire glasses-getting process.

Payment Settings

Payment Methods: Set Up Before Departure

China's eyewear market mainly accepts four payment methods. It is recommended to set up your preferred payment method at least 3 days before departure to avoid delays at the store.

💵

Cash

Almost all stores accept it. The most reliable payment method: no setup, no fees, no technical issues. Especially suitable for small shops in Danyang and Beijing. It is recommended to exchange RMB 500–1,000（USD 74.33–148.66 / GBP 55.18–110.37） at the airport or bank as backup.

✓ Widely accepted · No fees · Instant payment

✗ Requires currency exchange · Risk of loss

💚

WeChat Pay

Widely accepted. China's most popular payment app. Can link international Visa/Mastercard/JCB credit cards. Overseas card payments: no fee for single transactions of RMB 200（USD 29.73 / GBP 22.07） or less; transactions over RMB 200（USD 29.73 / GBP 22.07） incur a 3% fee on the total transaction amount. Single transaction limit RMB 6,000（USD 891.96 / GBP 662.19）, monthly cumulative RMB 50,000（USD 7,433 / GBP 5,518.25）; it is recommended to test in advance. Setup path: Download WeChat → Me → Services → Wallet → Bank Cards.

✓ Widely accepted · No cash needed

✗ 3% fee over RMB 200（USD 29.73 / GBP 22.07） · Limits apply

💙

Alipay

Widely accepted. You can link international Visa/Mastercard/Diners/Discover credit cards. Overseas card payments: no fee for single transactions of RMB 200（USD 29.73 / GBP 22.07） or less; a 3% fee on the total transaction amount applies above RMB 200（USD 29.73 / GBP 22.07）. Limits vary by card type and identity verification level, so confirm in advance for large payments. Setup: Download Alipay → My → Bank Cards → Add an international card.

✓ Higher limits · Widely accepted

✗ 3% fee above RMB 200（USD 29.73 / GBP 22.07） · Passport verification required

💳

Visa/Mastercard Direct Card Payment

Acceptance is limited. Mainly large stores in major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing support direct card payment. Small stalls and wholesale markets usually do not. It is recommended to ask whether card payment is accepted before choosing frames.

✓ No app installation required · Familiar process

✗ Large stores only · May charge 1-3% processing fee

Set Up a Timeline

7 days before departure: Download Alipay and WeChat, register with your phone number, and upload your passport to complete identity verification.
3 days before departure: Link a Visa/Mastercard credit card and test it with a small transaction (e.g. a RMB 1（USD 0.15 / GBP 0.11） phone top-up).
1 day before departure: Confirm transaction limits. Prepare RMB 500–1,000（USD 74.33–148.66 / GBP 55.18–110.37） in cash as backup.
After arrival: If you need more cash, you can exchange money at the airport or a bank.

Important Notice

💡 No tipping required: Merchants in China do not accept tips, and no additional tip is needed for eyewear fitting services. Prices are clearly marked; simply pay the agreed amount.
💰 Refunds are returned proportionally: After paying with WeChat Pay or Alipay, if a refund is needed, the amount will be returned through the original payment method on a proportional basis. If a 3% international card processing fee was charged at the time of payment, the fee will also be refunded. Refunds usually arrive within 1-7 business days, depending on the card issuer.

Prescription Tools

Prescription Format Conversion Chart

Convert your eye prescription from your home country to the Chinese format. Chinese optometrists use: Sphere, Cylinder, Axis, and Pupillary Distance (PD).

Western term	Abbreviation	Chinese term	Pinyin	Meaning
Sphere (right eye)	OD / SPH	Right eye sphere	yòu yǎn qiú jìng	Myopia (-) or hyperopia (+) power
Sphere (left eye)	OS / SPH	Left eye sphere	zuǒ yǎn qiú jìng	Same as above, left eye power
Cylinder	CYL	Cylinder	zhù jìng	Astigmatism correction power
Axis	AXIS	Axis	zhóu wèi	Astigmatism direction (0-180°)
Add (for progressive lenses)	ADD	Add	xià jiā guāng	Near vision addition power
Pupillary distance	PD	Pupillary distance	tóng jù	Distance between the pupil centers of both eyes (mm)
Pupillary height	FH	Pupillary height	tóng gāo	Height from the lower edge of the lens to the pupil center (for progressive lenses)

Prescription Validity

U.S. prescriptions: valid for 1-2 years (varies by state). UK: usually 2 years. China: no legal validity period, but if the prescription is more than 2 years old, some stores may require a new eye exam. If your prescription has expired, you can get a free eye exam in China. It usually takes about 15 minutes (it is recommended to confirm whether it is free before entering the store).

Communication Tool

Bilingual Eyewear Communication Card: Show to the Optometrist

Fill in the information below, save a screenshot of the card, and show it to the optometrist after you arrive in China. No translation app needed.

Eyewear Needs Communication Card

Age: ______

Occupation: ______

Daily screen time: ______ hours

Do you drive: □ Yes □ No

Current prescription (if any):

Right eye OD: SPH ______ CYL ______ AXIS ______
Left eye OS: SPH ______ CYL ______ AXIS ______
Pupillary distance PD: ______ mm

Special requirements:

□ Blue light blocking

□ Photochromic lenses

□ Progressive lenses

□ Polarized sunglasses

□ Pure titanium frame

□ Thin lenses (1.67 or above)

Budget: ¥______ | Pickup time: ______

📸 Screenshot this card and show it to the optometrist. No internet needed.

Time Planning

Time and Itinerary: Fitting Eyewear Shopping into Your Trip

Plan your eyewear shopping time wisely according to the number of days you stay in China.

📅 1-Day Stay

Suitable for: standard single-vision prescriptions
Schedule: morning (9-11 AM) eye exam + frame selection → lunch nearby → afternoon (1-2 PM) pick up glasses → remaining time for sightseeing
Tip: arrive when the market opens (usually 9 AM, subject to the specific market) to avoid crowds and ensure same-day pickup.

📅 Stay for 2 days

Best for: high prescriptions, astigmatism, or high-end lenses
Schedule: Day 1 morning: eye exam + choose frames + place order → Day 1 afternoon: sightseeing → Day 2 morning: pick up glasses + check → Day 2 afternoon: continue sightseeing
Tip: Allow buffer time in case the lenses need to be reprocessed.

📅 Stay 3+ Days / Dedicated Itinerary

Best for: progressive lenses, brand-name lenses, ordering 2+ pairs, a trip to Danyang
Schedule: Day 1: eye exam + place all orders → Day 2: pickup + try-on + adjustments → Day 3: buffer time to handle re-processing or add-on purchases
Tip: If you are ordering 2+ pairs, consider a day trip to Danyang for maximum savings.

Important Reminder

Never schedule getting your glasses on the day you leave.If there is a production delay, a prescription error, or the lenses need to be remade, you will not have time to deal with it. Be sure to arrange this on Day 1 or Day 2 of your trip, leaving a buffer before your departure.

Language Help

Useful Phrases: English → Chinese

Essential phrases for each step of the eyewear process. Simply show the Chinese text to the store staff.

📱 Communication Prep: Download a Translation App in Advance

For easier communication, it is recommended to download a translation app on your phone before departure and also download the Chinese offline language pack in advance. In some parts of China, Google services may be inaccessible, so it is advisable to also prepare a local Chinese translation app as a backup. Here are 4 recommended translation apps:

Google Translate

The world's most popular translation app, supporting 100+ languages. Comprehensive features: text translation, camera translation (photo recognition), conversation translation, and handwriting translation.

⚠️ Note: Google services cannot be accessed in China. Please download the Chinese offline pack before leaving your country (Settings → Offline Translation → Download Chinese).

Microsoft Translator

A translation app from Microsoft that works normally in China. Supports offline translation for 70+ languages, camera translation, and multi-person conversation translation (up to 100 people in a conversation at the same time).

✓ Recommended: Works normally in China without VPN. It is recommended to download the Chinese offline pack in advance as a backup.

Youdao Translate

A China-based translation app from NetEase Youdao with high accuracy for Chinese-English translation. Supports offline translation, camera translation, conversation translation, and real-scene AR translation.

✓ Recommended: A China-based app with no VPN required and good Chinese-English translation quality. Available on both the App Store and Google Play.

Baidu Translate

A China-based translation app from Baidu that supports 200+ languages. Features include offline translation, camera translation, conversation translation, and object translation.

✓ Backup option: A China-based app with no VPN required. Supports recognition of multiple Chinese dialects, suitable as a backup translation tool.

💡 Usage Tips

Before departure: Download at least 2 translation apps (a Google Translate + Youdao Translate combo is recommended), and download the Chinese offline language pack while on WiFi.
After arrival: Most shops in the eyewear market have staff who can speak simple English, but for complex communication (such as prescription, materials, and after-sales service), it is recommended to use a translation app. The camera translation feature can be used to identify Chinese information on lens packaging.
Offline use: If the network is unstable, use the downloaded offline pack for translation; no internet connection is required.

English	Chinese	Pinyin	Scenario
I want to buy prescription glasses.	I want to buy prescription glasses	wǒ xiǎng mǎi pèi dù shù de yǎn jìng	When entering the store
Do you speak English?	Do you speak English?	nǐ huì shuō yīng yǔ ma?	Starting a conversation
I need an eye exam.	I need an eye exam	wǒ xū yào yàn guāng	Requesting an eye exam
Is the eye exam free?	Is the eye exam free?	yàn guāng miǎn fèi ma?	Before the eye exam
Can I get a written prescription?	Can I get a written prescription?	kě yǐ gěi wǒ yàn guāng dān ma?	After the eye exam
How much is this frame with lenses?	How much is this frame with lenses?	zhè ge jìng kuàng jiā jìng piàn duō shao qián?	Asking about the price
Is this the total price? Any hidden fees?	Is this the total price? Are there any other fees?	zhè shì zǒng jià ma? yǒu qí tā fèi yòng ma?	Confirming the price
Can you give me a better price?	Can you make it a bit cheaper?	néng pián yi diǎn ma?	When bargaining
When will it be ready?	When can I pick it up?	shén me shí hòu néng qǔ?	After ordering
Can I get it today?	Can I pick it up today?	jīn tiān néng qǔ ma?	Requesting same-day pickup
Do you accept Visa/Mastercard?	Can I pay with Visa/Mastercard?	kě yǐ shuā Visa/Mastercard ma?	When paying
Can I pay with WeChat/Alipay?	Can I pay with WeChat/Alipay?	kě yǐ wēi xìn/zhī fù bǎo zhī fù ma?	When paying
Please verify the prescription with a lensometer.	Please use a lensometer to check the prescription	qǐng yòng jiāo dù jì hé duì dù shù	When picking up glasses
It feels dizzy. Can you adjust the prescription?	I feel a bit dizzy. Can you adjust the prescription?	yǒu diǎn yūn, kě yǐ tiáo zhěng dù shù ma?	When picking up glasses
Can I get a receipt with all details?	Can I get a detailed receipt?	kě yǐ gěi wǒ xiáng xì de shōu jù ma?	After payment
What is your return/adjustment policy?	What is your return and adjustment policy?	tuì huàn hé tiáo zhěng zhèng cè shì shén me?	Before purchasing