Maps don't load. WhatsApp won't send. Now what?
Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked in China, SIM cards need passport registration, and after the April 2026 crackdown VPNs mostly don't work. Here is what actually does — tested first-hand, no affiliate spin.
Compare eSIM, SIM & roaming
First-hand, ad-free: which option bypasses the firewall and which gets the SMS codes Chinese apps send.
Compare optionsGet online: the setup that works
The combo most visitors actually need — home SIM on roaming + a travel eSIM. Step-by-step, where to buy, SIM-on-arrival fallback.
Set up dataWhy WhatsApp & Google fail
Exactly what is blocked, what still works, and why the block follows the network not your phone — the 2026 answer.
Understand the blockDo you need a VPN?
The honest 2026 verdict after the April crackdown: most are dead — don’t plan around one. What to do instead.
Get the verdictEverything else before you fly
Payments, apps, foreigner-accepting hotels, real-name tickets, the airport flow — the full pre-trip list.
See the checklistSomething broke on the ground
Alipay frozen, hotel won’t check you in, VPN dead, maps wrong — the 12 common snags and the actual fix.
Troubleshoot it
Why ad-free matters: the eSIM vs VPN comparison deliberately carries no affiliate links — it is the neutral reference. The how-to guides note where a link may be an affiliate link.