Great Firewall of China and Facebook

[Flyerwin]

If you use international roaming instead of a local SIM, FB, WhatsApp, Google all work fine. Still worth installing WeChat and using that for payment etc though.

 

[SYD]

If you use international roaming instead of a local SIM, FB, WhatsApp, Google all work fine.

That includes eSIMS that are "roaming" (ie not China based - but HKG based ought to work)

Still worth installing WeChat and using that for payment etc though.

and/or AliPay. Also has the virtual metro travel cards.

 

[markis10]

That includes eSIMS that are "roaming" (ie not China based - but HKG based ought to work)

China based esims work just as well, and tend to be a lot cheaper.

 

[SYD]

China based esims work just as well, and tend to be a lot cheaper.

China telco issued or an eSIM for “China” based outside? The later definitely.

I thought I bought a China telco eSIM last visit but it was actually routing through HKG.

Surprised a Chinese issued eSIM would bypass the GFW when pretty much all hotel wifi is useless.

 

[jase05]

I’m flying to Chongqing on Sunday and will just go with my Telstra roaming, has served me well in the past

 

[kpc]

I have now been in China for 11 days, with a week to go.

Based on my personal ewperiences so far, if intending to use a VPN, setup before arriving. If buying a non Chinese data SIM, by at least double the anount you would normally use.

Set up both WeChat Pay and AliPay linked to your credit card before arrival. Wechat pay seems a little more popular than AliPay. Have seen locals pay for things in cash so have some cash handy when the bloody apps mentioned above for paying don't work.

If you don't speak and read Mandarin, I wish you well! My +1 is a native speaker, and I xould be completely at sea without her!

 

[kpc]

My VPN cannot penetrate the Great Firewall through the Hilton Xi'An wifi...only my data SIM card can...have ~ 5 GB left for remaining 6 days in China
Somehow the Hilton WiFi disconnecrs my VPN

 

[cove]

At least you have that orange sweater back in use so we can easily identify you.
It is good that your travelling partner really knows Mandarin.
I didn’t know that there are cities that are so high up from sea level.

 

[SYD]

My VPN cannot penetrate the Great Firewall through the Hilton Xi'An wifi...only my data SIM card can...have ~ 5 GB left for remaining 6 days in China
Somehow the Hilton WiFi disconnecrs my VPN

That was our experience in Beijing and Xian ie turning on VPN would disconnect hotel wifi… Only work around was using phone data.

As mentioned earlier, oddly our Shanghai hotel routed through HKG and worked without VPN (mostly).

 

[kpc]

Just to wrap up....Interesting, on connecting to the Conrad Guangzhou WiFi, there was no Firewall at all! Had lunch in a Dim Sum place in city, and there was no Firewall on their Wifi either...was able to post on FB using their WiFi

Have just over 2 GB left on my foreign registered SIM card for my last 2 days in China so am fine for rest of this trip