Connectivity
Stay connected in China: eSIM and SIM cards, VPNs, Wi-Fi, and keeping Google, WhatsApp and your usual apps working.
Connectivity4 min read2026-10-18Getting a SIM Card in China: Airport Counters, Carrier Store Rates, Real-Name Requirements, and Key TipsWhat a Chinese SIM card gets you: cheap high-volume data, sign-ups for food delivery and local services, and the freedom to receive all kinds of registration verification codes. The three major carriers' sign-up rules, the process at airport counters and downtown stores, indicative tourist plan prices — and the situations where you don't actually need a Chinese number.
Connectivity3 min read2026-10-18VPNs in China: The Rules, the Realistic Risks, and Legal AlternativesUnauthorized VPN services have no legal protection in mainland China, and administrative penalties against individual users are a documented reality. The boundaries of the rules, the real scale of enforcement, and the two fully compliant alternatives: international roaming and overseas-routed eSIMs.
Connectivity4 min read2026-10-18Which Apps Work in China and Which Are Blocked? The State of Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram (2026)Google's full suite, Meta's apps, X, and Telegram cannot be accessed directly from mainland China; Apple services, Bing, Booking, and more work normally. A complete list plus “what you can still do without a VPN” to help you prepare alternative tools ahead of time.
Connectivity5 min read2026-10-18Getting Online in China: How to Choose Between Roaming, eSIM, and Pocket WiFi (2026)A head-to-head comparison of four ways to stay connected in China: home-carrier roaming (bypasses the Great Firewall), international eSIM (depends on exit routing), a local Chinese SIM card, and pocket WiFi — costs, speeds, best-fit scenarios, and what to do if you land with no connection.