Decide which of your usual apps you need while you are away, then prepare a connection that reaches them and an offline fallback for when it does not.
What happens to your usual apps?
Internet access in mainland China works differently from home, whichever passport you hold. Google, Facebook, YouTube and X are among the services the UK government lists as blocked, and WhatsApp and Instagram are usually unavailable on Chinese networks too. That affects email, cloud storage and account logins as well as social media.
Do you need a VPN?
Probably not. If you only need Chinese travel apps, maps and ordinary browsing, you can travel without one. The more useful question is how your phone connects. Data roaming on your home SIM, and most travel eSIMs bought abroad, route through networks outside mainland China, so many travellers find their usual apps keep working that way. Hotel Wi-Fi and a Chinese SIM card do not. Ask your provider how its China plan connects before you buy it, and see our internet and eSIM guide for the options.
VPN services are regulated in China. UK travel advice says VPN products and services need to be licensed by the Chinese government, so Voyage East does not recommend a particular provider.
Download these before you fly
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China travel apps: set up Alipay, WeChat, AMap Global, 12306 and an offline translation tool.
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Offline languages: download English and Simplified Chinese, then test translation in airplane mode.
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Your first hotel in Chinese: save its name, address, telephone number and map pin as screenshots.
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Offline documents: keep bookings, insurance, itinerary, emergency contacts and account-recovery codes securely available.
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A low-tech backup: carry some RMB cash, a second card and your hotel address on paper. Keep your physical passport with you when required.
Sources & checking details
App access and features can change. Check the providers' current guidance before you travel.
