Connectivity · install before departure
eSIM setup, before you land
China's network blocks Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Gmail the moment you connect. A travel eSIM routes your data around the block, so the apps you already use keep working, but only if you install and test it before you fly.
What stops working on arrival
- Google Maps
- Gmail
- X
These are blocked on Chinese networks without a VPN. A travel eSIM with international routing goes around the block, so no VPN is needed on the eSIM line.
Picking and installing a plan
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- Updated Oct 16, 2026China eSIM Setup: Do It Before You LandWhy a China travel eSIM keeps your usual apps working, how to choose a plan, and the exact setup steps to finish before your flight lands.
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- Updated Sep 16, 2026China Apps Checklist: What to Install Before You FlyThe apps you actually need for a China layover (payments, maps, ride-hailing, translation, and trains) plus what to set up at home versus on arrival.