Key takeaways
- Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube do not work on Chinese mobile networks or hotel Wi-Fi.
- Roaming with your home SIM or using a travel eSIM usually keeps them working, because your data is routed outside mainland China.
- Install before you fly: Alipay, WeChat, Apple Maps or Amap, DiDi, Trip.com and an offline translator.
- Emergency numbers: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire.
Our team keeps in touch with guests on WhatsApp throughout their trip, so staying online matters. This is the set-up we recommend.
The first question many guests ask us is: "Will my phone work in China?" The short answer is yes — but some of the apps you use every day are blocked on Chinese networks, so a little preparation before you fly makes the trip much easier.
What works and what doesn't
On a Chinese SIM card or on hotel and café Wi-Fi, Google services (Search, Gmail, Maps, YouTube), WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and X are not accessible. Apple services such as iMessage, FaceTime and Apple Maps, Microsoft Outlook and most banking apps generally work normally.
Option 1: roaming with your home SIM
When you roam, your mobile data is routed back through your home carrier, so blocked apps usually keep working. It is the simplest option — but check your carrier's daily price for China before you travel, as it can be expensive.
Option 2: a travel eSIM (most popular)
A travel eSIM bought online before departure is usually the best value. Most international eSIMs for China use roaming partners, so WhatsApp, Google and Instagram work as they do at home.
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
- Choose a plan that clearly lists mainland China coverage, not only Hong Kong.
- Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi and switch it on when you land.
- Keep your home SIM active for bank verification text messages.
Option 3: a local Chinese SIM
China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom sell SIM cards to visitors at Pudong Airport — bring your passport. Data is cheap and fast, but blocked apps will not work on it, so it suits travellers who are happy to use WeChat and local apps.
Apps to install before you land
| Need | App | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Payments | Alipay, WeChat Pay | Link a Visa or Mastercard |
| Messaging | How Chinese people — including guides and hotels — keep in touch | |
| Maps | Apple Maps or Amap (Gaode) | Far more accurate in China than Google Maps |
| Taxis | DiDi (also inside Alipay) | English interface, pay with a foreign card |
| Trains & hotels | Trip.com or 12306 | Book high-speed trains with your passport |
| Translation | Google Translate (offline pack), Microsoft Translator | Download the Chinese language pack before you go |
Setting up payments? Follow our step-by-step Alipay and WeChat Pay guide.
Getting around the city
Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou all have excellent metro systems with English signs. Buy tickets at the machines or use the metro QR code in Alipay. Taxis are metered and affordable; save your hotel addresses in Chinese characters to show the driver. For longer journeys, see our high-speed train guide and Shanghai airport transfer guide.
Power, plugs and emergencies
- Voltage is 220V, 50Hz. Common sockets are types A, C and I — a universal adapter covers them all.
- Power banks must go in hand luggage, and on domestic flights they need the Chinese 3C certification mark.
- Emergency numbers: 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire.
How we help
On our tours your guide handles tickets, taxis and payments, and our Shanghai team is reachable 24/7 on WhatsApp — which works on roaming and travel eSIMs. Before you fly, we send a checklist of apps to install and your hotel addresses in Chinese.
Frequently asked questions
Does WhatsApp work in China?
Is Google Maps accurate in China?
Can I buy a SIM card at Shanghai Pudong Airport?
Written by our Shanghai-based trip planners, who have been arranging East China journeys for international travellers since 2012.
