I work with Chinese people and use WeChat. What interesting things are there if you are from Russia?

I work for a logistics company that transports goods from China to Russia. China is a separate world that is in no way similar to ours. Doing business in the Russian or European way does not work here. It also exclusively has its own services and applications.

Yes, a kind of technological import substitution in Chinese style. Due to the work on the smartphone, there are also applications from China. But not some banal Aliexpress (although that too), but a bunch of others. For example, just 5 years ago I installed WeChat on my smartphone. It is not just a messenger – it is a whole ecosystem that includes many functions that simplify communication, work and entertainment.

Now I’ll tell someone that some people might like it or not like it.

How to register for WeChat from Russia

Until November 2023, logging into WeChat outside of China was possible, but with its own tricks. To register in the service, it was necessary to receive confirmation from an existing user via a QR code. This procedure corresponds to the Chinese term “Guanxi”, which can be translated as “friend or foe”.

But now everything is much simpler. See how it works.

▪ Go to the application store on your phone, install, launch and select registration by phone number.

▪ Fill in the data, come up with a password, agree to the terms of use and click on the button. A simple security check is carried out.

▪ Enter security check codes and confirm your consent to use WeChat.

What’s in the app

It would be easier to say what No in Wechat. This is the world’s first “super app”, and others have been following it for many years.

You can connect text messages, voice messages and videos with other people. Call not only mobile phones, but also landline phones. Use stickers and animated GIFs.

WeChat supports group chats with up to 500 people. Games and mini-applications are available to users. Directly from the messenger you can pay for goods and services in stores that support this function. You can even transfer money to other users; Telegram is not the first here (like iMessage many years ago).

You are allowed to send files up to 100 megabytes in size, share current locations with others, and create events to which you can then invite friends and acquaintances. Finally, a bank card is linked to the account.

I’ll tell you in more detail about what you can do in WeChat, including the functions that I use at work and not only.

1. Meet people and practice the language.

Mostly you can meet Chinese people here. Not only with those who are now in China, but also just being nearby.

Why do you need it? At least to practice and learn the language.

In the application, go to the section Detection and click on the tab Shake. Afterwards, shake the smartphone thoroughly.

We find a person who is doing the same thing at this moment. We go to his account and click To greet. Then we wait for a response (if the person wants to do this) and communicate.

What I would highlight separately here. There is a function “People nearby” (“People nearby”). Thanks to it, you can find those who are nearby and try to get to know them. But personally, this option raises privacy and security concerns for me.

Also, when I just started using WeChat, I immediately noticed: the style of communication and dating here is different from what we are used to. Then I realized that this was due to cultural differences in communication between Russians and Chinese.

2. Watch videos like on TikTok, but directly in the messenger.

Videos in the section Channel.

Reminds me of a mixture of videos from VKontakte and videos from TikTok. In chapter Popular You can watch trending and top videos. In the tab Friends collected as your subscriptions, as well as just fresh videos from users.

In general, the section helps to understand how the population of China lives. Here’s a reason for you to take a tour and brush up on your Chinese skills.

What else can you do here? Of course, post your videos. Comment and like, view friends’ posts. Filter the feed, configure privacy settings. Use hashtags and search for videos using them to make it easier to find and organize topics. Share content from external sources, other applications or sites.

Otherwise, this is a regular time killer, like most similar applications.

3. Watch and read Chinese news.

There is a section for this Best stories. News appears in the tab VERTEX.

Everything here is exclusively in Chinese. Most often, news and articles relate only to China itself, so it will be difficult to find something in other countries, although it is quite possible. The downside is that everything is in Chinese, there is no English translation, let alone English. Therefore, I advise you to copy the text that interests you and provide it to the translator. Top choice – DipL.

You can also watch some new products live. To do this, go to the news and click on the “On Air” button.

Other WeChat tabs contain news stories and simply funny videos. But honestly? I don’t think there’s anything particularly exciting there. You look and think: “Well, ok, not bad,” but there is no wow effect. It’s like when you go to your feed and expect something fiery, but there you are mortally bored. But everything is individual, maybe it will suit someone.

4. Pay via QR codes, like in bank applications.

In Russia, the payment and transfer function in WeChat is like a fifth leg for dogs. Because we already have the same feature in every banking application. But, if you suddenly find yourself in China, there this function will be conditionally obligatory, a must-have. You can pay for purchases or send money to friends in a second.

Most people pay this way everywhere, and not with any cards. Based on the system, target industries are built in the country! I’ll tell you specifically about this phenomenon another time; there’s a lot of interesting stuff there that goes beyond WeChat as an application.

5. Listen to music just like on Apple Music.

It is available in the section Poesk. There you can find anyone, from cool Chinese performers to bands from all over the world, including from Russia. But here’s the catch: sometimes there are songs that you can’t listen to – copyright, you know. When I go to the group, for example, I find “Alice,” and there listening is prohibited. It’s a little offensive, but nothing can be done.

6. Read official communications from local companies.

Opens WeChat, scroll to the “Search” and “Bang” sections! You come across a bunch of accounts of official Chinese companies and bloggers you haven’t even heard of. In general, of course, this will only be useful if you are located in China or run a remote business there.

To find someone, enter the name into the search and go to the “Official Accounts” section. Subscribe – and continue to follow your posts. The profiles are laconic and stylish, pleasing to the eyes.

Since I work in a logistics company, this function turned out to be very useful for me. You can find out the latest information about the market in a timely manner, each time increasing your effectiveness in negotiations, because you begin to better take into account local cultural characteristics. For me personally, getting information directly from companies creates the risk of misrepresentation that often happens in traditional media.

About calls and messages

WeChat is an ordinary messenger: you chat, call, share videos and voice messages, send files – everything is as usual. From personal experience, I will say that the quality of calls is good, but the Internet connection of you and your interlocutor also plays a big role.

Also, if you are in sales, take note: a bunch of Chinese sellers are moving their business to WeChat with different marketplaces. For example, in 1688 or in the hype clothing store Poizon, the chats themselves are inconvenient. Therefore, you resolve issues in Vichat.

WeChat’s main problem solved in 2023

The old WeChat was the worst. You go there and you immediately want to close it and forget it, like a bad dream. This interface… Oh, don’t remind me! It’s as if Viber, in its darkest and saddest times, decided to make a comeback.

But it’s coming to the end of 2023 and all the good things have changed. WeChat is now as if WhatsApp and Telegram have become one. The chats are comfortable, the eyes do not get tired of seeing. What about the functions you need? Finding them is as easy as shelling pears, everything is at hand. In general, now this is not just an application, it’s a real bomb!

What’s the result? Is it worth using this application in Russia?

I believe that WeChat in Russia can be used for different purposes. For example, for business communications with Chinese partners. For example, this is exactly what we do at the company – we transfer suppliers from other messengers to this one. Many sellers decide to do this themselves, because… they feel comfortable communicating here.

Brands can use WeChat to promote their products and services to all countries of the world, including Chinese tourists in Russia. Some Russians with friends or relatives in China use WeChat as a way to keep in touch.

Another option for installing a messenger is to access Chinese news. The application is not suitable for any other purposes. For Russians who do not speak Chinese, using WeChat can be difficult.

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