eSIM & Staying Online
Get Google Maps, WhatsApp and Instagram working on arrival — and pick the right way to stay connected.
Why a normal Chinese SIM blocks your apps
On mainland networks, Google Maps and Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and X are not directly reachable, and a local China Mobile/Unicom SIM keeps you on those networks. A travel eSIM that roams on a foreign carrier routes your data abroad, so those apps keep working with no VPN. Hotel Wi-Fi does not help — it goes through the same networks.
Three ways to get online
| Option | Google / WhatsApp | Typical cost | Your number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roaming travel eSIM | Works | ≈ ¥40–90 / 5 GB | Keep your home number |
| Local SIM (China Mobile / Unicom) | Blocked | ≈ ¥30–100 / month | New Chinese number |
| Roam on your home carrier | Works | Usually the priciest | Keep your home number |
Buy and activate before you fly
① Buy the eSIM online and install it by scanning the QR code in Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM. ② Keep your home physical SIM in the phone; set the eSIM as “Cellular Data” and your home SIM as “Voice & SMS only”. ③ Turn on Data Roaming for the eSIM when you land — roaming is what makes the bypass work. ④ You need a dual-SIM phone (iPhone XS or newer, most modern Android flagships).
While you are at it: set up payments
Link your Visa/Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay. Foreign cards are accepted with caps — roughly ¥5,000–6,000 per transaction and ¥50,000–60,000 per year, with a ~3% fee above ¥200 and none at or below it. P2P transfers and red packets are not allowed. Carry a little cash for small stalls and temples.
Carrier rules and app availability change. Treat this as guidance, not a guarantee, and have a backup connection plan.