eSIMs and VPNs境外eSIM与VPN
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube are blocked on Chinese networks. There are two ways to keep using them. Both are easiest to set up before you arrive.
Travel eSIM
Best for a visit, or your first weeks here.
Most foreign SIMs and travel eSIMs route your data outside mainland China, so everything works as it does at home, with no VPN.
- Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked.
- Install it at home; switch it on when you land.
- Mobile data only. Wi-Fi here is a Chinese network.
- No Chinese number, so longer stays need a local SIM too.
Breeze
Buy a China plan in the app, install it in a few taps, and top up from the app if you run low.
China eSIMs
Nomad
A strong alternative with a similar app. Prices and plan sizes differ, so compare them before you buy.
China eSIMs
Saily
From the makers of NordVPN. China plans are bought and installed in the app, with 24/7 chat support if something goes wrong.
China eSIMs
VPN
Best if you live here, or use a Chinese SIM or Wi-Fi.
On a Chinese SIM or any Wi-Fi in China, blocked services need a VPN.
- Install and test it before you arrive: VPN sites and app store listings are hard to reach from inside China.
WannaFlix
Apps for iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows and Linux, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Get WannaFlix
Proton VPN
From the Swiss team behind Proton Mail. Its Stealth protocol is built for networks that block VPNs, and paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Get Proton VPN
NordVPN
One of the largest VPNs, with obfuscated servers meant for restrictive networks. Apps for every major platform and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Get NordVPN
These are suggestions, not endorsements. All of the links above are affiliate links: if you buy through one, SZSTUFF may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It is your responsibility to make sure a VPN provider is properly authorised to offer its service in China, and that your use of it complies with local law. See the disclaimer.