WeChat Mini-program

Question

Going to China next october and there's a lot of places to visit that needs reservation and sometimes, the only way to make the reservation is to use a WeChat mini-program (Which I somehow manage to install succesfully :))

Since most of those mini programs are in chinese, it's hard/long for a non speaking foreigner like me to be sure I'm doing the right thing.

Lots of times, when people in forums ask questions about mini-programs, one of the solution is often to ask your hotel staff to help you.

I'm ok with that but my question is: Do they have to use my phone to help me?

The "problem" is, when I open any text box on my phone, the only available caracters are the latin alphabet.

Will a only chinese speaking person be able to help me?

Is there a special fonction that I am not aware where you ca use chinese caracters? Something to install?

Thanks for your help.

Answer

WeChat mini-programs are designed to work within the WeChat app, and many of them are primarily in Chinese. For foreigners who do not read or write Chinese, it can indeed be challenging to make reservations.

1. Using hotel staff for help:

Hotel staff can assist you in two ways: they can either use your phone to make the reservation directly, or they can make the reservation from their own device and provide you with confirmation.
It is not strictly necessary for them to use your phone. Often, they can enter the details in a computer or a staff WeChat account and then send you a confirmation via WeChat or email.

2. Entering Chinese characters on your phone:

To type Chinese characters, you need a Chinese keyboard installed on your phone. Both iOS and Android have options for Chinese input, such as Pinyin keyboards, which allow typing the phonetic pronunciation and selecting the correct character.
Once installed, you can switch between your Latin alphabet keyboard and the Chinese keyboard within any text field.
This allows hotel staff or even yourself to input Chinese characters without needing a separate device.

3. Tips for smooth use:

Install a Chinese keyboard on your phone before traveling; iOS: Settings → General → Keyboard → Add New Keyboard → Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), Android: varies by manufacturer but generally in Language & Input settings.
If possible, provide your hotel with the QR codes or reservation links ahead of time so they can help efficiently.
Consider using translation apps or WeChat’s built-in translation for understanding menus or text within mini-programs.

In summary, a Chinese-speaking hotel staff does not have to use your phone—they can use their own device. Installing a Chinese keyboard on your phone is recommended if you want to type or confirm details yourself. This setup makes navigating mini-programs much easier for a non-Chinese speaker.

WeChat Mini-program

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