Mainland China blocks Google, Gmail, Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook by default. The right eSIM routes your data through an international gateway instead of a local one — so those apps keep working, no VPN needed. Here's how to get it right before you land.
Data exits through a domestic gateway — same restrictions as everyone else. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram won't load.
Connects to a Chinese tower for signal, but your data is routed back through an overseas gateway (often Hong Kong or Singapore). Blocked apps just work.
Works, but must be installed and tested before you arrive — VPN app stores and websites are themselves blocked once you're inside mainland China.
The most widely used travel eSIM store, with the broadest range of plan sizes for a first-time China trip.
Unlimited-data plans priced by day. Its China plan is built specifically to keep blocked apps working, no separate VPN.
From NordVPN's team. Clean app, built-in ad blocking, solid multi-carrier coverage outside major cities.
Pay-per-GB plans are frequently the cheapest option, with a strong reputation for reliability on trains and in smaller cities.