China travel guide
Emergency numbers, how to stay online, and the apps locals use. Save this page before you fly.
Emergency numbers
Tap a number to call it.
Before you go
- On local Chinese SIM cards and Wi-Fi, Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and many other apps are blocked. On TripoSIM, WhatsApp, Google and Instagram usually work without a VPN, because the eSIM connects as international roaming. We cannot guarantee every app, so a VPN installed before the trip is a good backup.
- iPhones sold in mainland China usually do not support eSIM.
Mobile data in China
- Very fast 4G and 5G in cities.
- Your eSIM connects as international roaming, so many apps you use at home keep working.
- Your eSIM connects as roaming on local networks, so turn on Data Roaming for it when you land. There are no extra roaming charges.
Useful apps
- Alipay: pay almost everywhere; you can link a foreign card
- WeChat: messages and WeChat Pay, used by almost everyone in China
- DiDi: book rides (also inside Alipay)
- Amap or Apple Maps: more accurate maps than Google Maps in China
Good to know
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you go. Many places prefer mobile payment.
- Hotel and cafe Wi-Fi uses the local internet, so Google and WhatsApp are blocked on it. Use your eSIM data for these apps.
China eSIM plans
See all China plans →Stay online from the moment you land
Install your eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. Your plan only starts when it first connects to a network in China.
Get a China eSIMChecked on 2026-10-22. Numbers and rules can change, so please check locally when you arrive. In a life-threatening emergency, call the local emergency number right away.