China eSim and VPN

[gotoPzero]

Anyone with recent experience?

I have android and my mrs has Apple.

Not fussed about loads of data, just regular use, maps, translate etc.

VPN, want access to UK accounts, google, bank etc.

Cheers

[RizzoTheRat]

Not been to China, but I've use Airalo in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand with no issues. Easy to set up and once you've installed their app you can just add different SIMS for different regions.

I've used PureVPN all over Europe, ZA, Aus and NZ and the phone app works really well. I also have Nord VPN, which works a lot better on a Chromecast/firestick but the phone integration isn't as good. However China has laws about VPNs and you may need specific configurations for it, so check whatever you go for definitely does work in China and you know how to set it up.

[Mr Pointy]

Take an old phone & burn it when you get back.

[CSR Performance]

I used Holafly when I was out there at the end of last year. Built in VPN, worked the minute I landed, unlimited data. Not the cheapest I don't think but will use them again when I next go.

[jinkster]

My EE contract works in China and i've never needed a VPN on the phone or tethering to the laptop.

[Tagteam]

For China you need to download the eSIM before you get to the country. I used Airalo. If you haven’t done it before it can be blocked . With the eSIM you can then use google and WhatsApp

[gotoPzero]

Mr Pointy said:

Take an old phone & burn it when you get back.

LOL

[gotoPzero]

Cheers all will have a look at those.

For VPN does it really matter?

If I go with Airalo is it better to use a certain VPN?

[MaxFromage]

Mr Pointy said:

Take an old phone & burn it when you get back.

I know of two UK employers who issue employees with new clean phones when they travel to China. They then destroy them on their return.

[Griffith4ever]

gotoPzero said:

Cheers all will have a look at those.

For VPN does it really matter?

If I go with Airalo is it better to use a certain VPN?

Install a few, because once you are there you will struggle to search for any, let alone download. My phone already had VPN.lat in it, which worked once I changed one of the VPN settings. My laptop did not, and it was a totaly pain in the arse, the great vpn of china is very real. I was only there for 6 hours (transiting) so it wasn't a deal breaker, and it was why I was unprepared.

They certainly block some VPNs as my "Open Vpn" client back to my house in the UK would not work at all.

Edited by Griffith4ever on Thursday 26th March 07:07

[gotoPzero]

MaxFromage said:

Mr Pointy said:

Take an old phone & burn it when you get back.

I know of two UK employers who issue employees with new clean phones when they travel to China. They then destroy them on their return.

I am retired so I am not so fussed - but I get why some might need to be wary.

[Sea Demon]

Lots of apps & social media platforms that are blocked by the chinese government so you'd need a VPN if you wanted to use WhatsApp, Netflix, Facebook etc etc - just ask chatgpt for the full list.

[superpp]

Never been to China, but I do have a couple of VPN accounts.

VPN Unlimited has proven to be very reliable and they have a dedicated page use in China which may help
https://www.vpnunlimited.com/help/countries/china-...

[Shaoxter]

You either use an esim, roam on your UK contract (~£7 a day unless you have some global roaming bundle), or get a Chinese sim and use a VPN. You don't need an esim and VPN.

An esim from trip.com seems best value compared to Airalo etc and will be the easiest method. If you want a VPN recommendation then V1VPN works, the mainstream ones like Nord, Express etc do not.

Google maps is useless (co-ordinates are off), download Amap which is available in English. Or use Apple maps if you're on iOS.

I'm sure you know this already but main thing to sort out is your payment method (WeChat or Alipay) and some translation app. Travelling in China is not nearly as daunting as people make it out to be, and it might be nice to detox from your social media apps anyway.

[gotoPzero]

Cheers I have amap, alipay and wchat already.

Trip might be a good shout actually for the VPN.

As for the VPN, will the likes of google not be blocked if I dont run a VPN? (Gmail etc)

[Shaoxter]

The esim will route traffic to HK/Singapore etc, so all your usual apps should be accessible.

[gotoPzero]

Ah ok. Thanks for that.

[UK_Scat_Pack]

As others have said, do NOT take your own phone. Get a burner and destroy it on your return.

[Griffith4ever]

UK_Scat_Pack said:

As others have said, do NOT take your own phone. Get a burner and destroy it on your return.

christ! the 4 of us that used our phones in Shanghai airport are doomed!

Do you seriously think the chinese government hack every phone of relative "nobodys" in the airport and install some kind of spyware?!?

Best every single iPhone and Android phone user bins their phones NOW - as not only have they "been" in china, they were made there. OMG!

[Chucklehead]

a lot of scaremongering in this thread.. I travel to China with an eSim (1Global) on my work phone. My personal phone is EE with a good roaming package and worked flawlessly while i was there.

I didn't burn any of my devices when i got home.