Internet & Apps
Internet in China: how to use Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram (eSIM vs VPN)
Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram are blocked in China. Why a travel eSIM is the easiest fix, how to set one up before you fly, and what still won't work.
Many apps you use every day don’t work in mainland China, including Google (Search, Maps, Gmail), WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and most Western news sites. They’re blocked by the national firewall, and that includes hotel and café Wi-Fi.
The good news: for a short trip, this is easy to solve before you leave home.
The easy fix: a travel eSIM
A travel eSIM from a foreign provider connects to Chinese mobile networks, but your data is routed through a roaming connection outside mainland China. In practice, Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram keep working over mobile data, without a VPN.
Airalo, one of the largest eSIM sellers, says that with its China, Asia, and Global eSIMs a VPN is not needed. Other providers such as Nomad, Holafly, and Saily work the same way.
How to set it up:
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and isn’t locked to your carrier. Most iPhones since the XS and recent Android flagships do.
- Buy a China (or Asia) plan and install it at home, over Wi-Fi. Installing needs internet, which you may not have on arrival.
- When you land, switch your phone’s mobile data to the eSIM and turn on data roaming for it.
- Keep your home SIM on for calls and texts from your bank if you need them, but turn off its data roaming to avoid charges.
How much data? Maps, messages, and payment apps use little: 1 GB lasts several days. If you upload photos and videos or use your phone as a hotspot, pick a larger or unlimited plan. “Unlimited” plans usually slow down after a daily allowance.
Data only. Travel eSIMs give you mobile data but no Chinese phone number. Call and message people through WhatsApp, FaceTime, or WeChat instead. A few Chinese services want a +86 number to sign up, but Alipay, DiDi, and Trip.com work with a foreign number.
What about roaming with your own SIM?
International roaming on your home plan works the same way and isn’t blocked either. It’s often far more expensive, so check your carrier’s daily rate for China before relying on it.
What about a Chinese SIM card?
A local SIM from China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom is cheap and fast, and gives you a +86 number. But because it’s a mainland connection, the same blocks apply: no Google, WhatsApp, or Instagram without a VPN. You’ll also need your passport to register it. It’s worth it for long stays; for a holiday, an eSIM is simpler.
What about a VPN?
A VPN on hotel Wi-Fi is the other common workaround. Be aware that:
- Using an unapproved VPN is a legal grey area in China. Tourists are rarely bothered, but it’s not officially allowed.
- Many VPNs are unreliable inside China and can stop working without warning. Install and test one before you arrive, since VPN websites and app-store pages are blocked once you’re there.
For most visitors an eSIM avoids the problem altogether.
Apps that work fine in China
Some Western services aren’t blocked: Apple Maps, iMessage and FaceTime, Microsoft Outlook and Bing, LinkedIn, and most banking apps. Booking sites such as Trip.com and Klook also work normally. See our list of apps to install before you go.
Quick checklist
- Buy and install an eSIM at home, over Wi-Fi.
- Download offline maps and a translation app with offline languages before you fly.
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay. They need mobile data to work.
- Save your hotel’s address in Chinese to show taxi drivers.
