China Internet, Phone & App Guides
Your phone is your wallet, map, ticket and translator in China, so connectivity matters more than on most trips. Decide how you will get data, understand which services may be restricted and install the key apps before departure.
- eSIMs and local SIM cards
- Accessing the internet
- Essential travel apps
- Phone setup before departure
AppsBest Apps for China Travel: The Complete Setup List
The apps you actually need in China, what each one is for, whether it works in English with a foreign number, and the order to set them up.
InternetChina eSIM vs Local SIM Card: Which Should Tourists Get?
Travel eSIM, roaming or a Chinese SIM: which keeps your apps working, what you need to buy each, and which is best for your trip.
MapsDoes Google Maps Work in China? Best Map Apps to Use Instead
Google Maps is blocked and inaccurate in China. Install Amap in English as your main map and keep Apple Maps as a backup.
Internet & appsCan You Use WhatsApp, Gmail, Instagram and ChatGPT in China?
WhatsApp, Instagram and ChatGPT are blocked on Chinese networks. Roaming or a travel eSIM usually keeps them working; WeChat covers the rest.
AppsBest Translation Apps for China, and Is English Spoken There?
Translation apps that work in China, offline setup, camera and conversation modes, how much English is spoken and the phrases worth knowing.
Phone & appsDo You Need a Chinese Phone Number as a Tourist? What Works Without One
What works with a foreign number, what asks for a Chinese one, how to get a Chinese SIM with your passport and the workarounds if you do not.
AppsIs Trip.com Legit and Reliable for China? Hotels, Trains, Flights and eSIMs
Trip.com is legitimate and useful for China. Here is what it does well, where travelers get caught out and when to book somewhere else.
InternetUsing a VPN in China: Is It Legal and What Actually Works
What Chinese law says about VPNs, the practical risks and limits, and the easier alternatives for tourists: roaming and travel eSIMs.
Explore other China travel topics.
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