The short version
Many foreign apps are blocked on Chinese internet connections: Chinese Wi-Fi, hotel Wi-Fi and Chinese SIM cards. Visitors still use them every day. The key is how your phone connects.
- Blocked on Chinese networks: WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, X (Twitter), YouTube, Telegram, Google Search, Gmail and Google Maps.
- Not available in China: ChatGPT. Mainland China is not on OpenAI’s list of supported countries and territories.
- Usually works: the same apps over international roaming with your home SIM, or a travel eSIM that routes data outside mainland China.
- Works everywhere in China: WeChat, Apple iMessage and FaceTime, and Chinese apps such as Alipay, Amap and DiDi.
Plan: get a roaming plan or a travel eSIM that says it supports WhatsApp, Instagram and Google in China. Install WeChat as well for talking to people inside China.
What works and what doesn’t
| App or service | Chinese Wi-Fi or Chinese SIM | Roaming or travel eSIM routed outside China |
|---|---|---|
| Blocked | Usually works | |
| Instagram, Facebook, Messenger | Blocked | Usually works |
| X (Twitter) | Blocked | Usually works |
| YouTube | Blocked | Usually works (can be slow) |
| Telegram | Blocked | Usually works |
| Google Search, Gmail, Maps, Drive | Blocked | Usually works |
| ChatGPT | Not available | May load, but mainland China is unsupported |
| Works | Works | |
| iMessage, FaceTime | Generally works | Works |
| Alipay, Amap, DiDi, 12306 | Works | Works |
Blocking can change, and access is sometimes tighter around major political events or dates. Test your setup on the first day.
Why roaming and travel eSIMs work
When you use international roaming, your data usually travels back through your home mobile network before it reaches the internet. Chinese blocking does not apply to that route, so WhatsApp and Instagram behave as they do at home.
Many travel eSIMs do the same thing through servers in places such as Hong Kong or Singapore. Not all of them do, so check before buying:
- Look for wording such as “works with WhatsApp, Google and Instagram in China” or “no VPN needed”.
- Check the data allowance and speed. Video calls and Instagram stories use a lot of data.
- Install the eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
Our China eSIM guide compares the options. Internet in China explains Wi-Fi, SIM cards and roaming in more detail.
What about VPNs?
Some travelers install a VPN. China’s cybersecurity rules require VPN services to be licensed by the government, and VPN connections can be unreliable. Roaming or a travel eSIM is the simpler option for a short trip. If you do use one, set it up before you arrive, because VPN websites and app store pages are hard to reach from inside China.
WhatsApp in China
- Messages and calls work over roaming or a suitable travel eSIM.
- They do not work over hotel or café Wi-Fi, even though the Wi-Fi is faster. If a call drops, check that your phone is using mobile data and not Wi-Fi.
- Verification codes: WhatsApp sends login codes by text message. Keep your home number active if you might need to log in again.
- Backups: back up your chats before you leave. Google Drive (Android) may not be reachable during your trip.
For contacting your hotel, tour guide or driver inside China, expect them to use WeChat.
Instagram, Facebook and other social media
Over roaming or a suitable eSIM, you can post, browse and upload stories as usual, though large uploads may be slower. On Chinese Wi-Fi, the apps will not load.
A reminder: posting or sharing political statements critical of the Chinese authorities can be treated as illegal in China. That includes content posted from your own accounts while you are there.
ChatGPT and other AI assistants
OpenAI does not list mainland China among the countries and territories where its services are supported, and ChatGPT is blocked on Chinese networks. Other Western AI assistants are generally unavailable too.
What to do:
- Do the research you need before you travel. Save itineraries, translations and notes offline.
- Use a translation app with offline languages for menus and signs, rather than an AI chatbot.
- Chinese AI assistants are available in China and some support English. They are run by Chinese companies under Chinese rules, so think about what you type into them.
WeChat: the app you need inside China
WeChat is how most people in China message, call, share locations and pay. You will use it to:
- Message your hotel, guide or driver
- Scan QR codes to follow a restaurant, museum or tour operator
- Share your live location with travel companions
- Pay with WeChat Pay, if you link an international card
Setting it up:
- Download WeChat before you travel and register with your home mobile number.
- New accounts may ask for extra verification, sometimes including help from an existing WeChat user. Do this at home, where you have time to sort it out.
- Link an international card to WeChat Pay if you want a second mobile wallet besides Alipay.
Checklist before you fly
- Choose roaming or a travel eSIM that supports WhatsApp and Google in China
- Install and test WeChat, and tell family how to reach you on it
- Back up WhatsApp chats and photos
- Download offline maps, translations and important emails
- Make sure you can receive login codes on your home number
- Save bookings as PDFs or screenshots
You can reach us on WhatsApp while you plan your trip. Once you are in China, WhatsApp keeps working if you have roaming or a suitable eSIM. If you would like a trip plan with the phone setup included, our free trip planning service can help.
- UK FCDO: China travel advice (internet access, blocked services and VPN licensing)
- OpenAI: Supported countries and territories
- App Store: WeChat
Editorial update: . Check the linked source for current provider terms or official rules.