Hey, friend! Welcome to China!

You've probably packed your bags, booked your flights and hotels, and are buzzing with excitement for the upcoming adventure of the Great Wall, amazing food, and fascinating culture. But before you take off, there's one very, very, very important little thing I need to tell you—about how to get online here.

You may have heard that in China, some of the apps and websites you use every day—like Google, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and more—are not directly accessible.

Don't worry, this is definitely not the end of the world, and it won't ruin your trip. You just need to spend 5 minutes on a little preparation beforehand, and you'll be able to share your travel photos, navigate with Google Maps, or relax with YouTube videos at night, just like you do at home.

This guide is your "peace of mind" for staying connected.

Why Does This Happen? Meet the "Invisible Wall"

You can think of China's internet as a large, walled garden (often called The Great Firewall or GFW). This garden is incredibly convenient and has everything you might need inside it, but it's separated from the outside world by an "invisible wall."

So, when you're in China and try to open Google on your phone, you'll find that you've just run into this wall.

This can cause some real-world problems:

• Navigation: Your go-to app, Google Maps, won't load.
• Social Media: You can't post that awesome photo you just took of the Terracotta Warriors on Instagram or Facebook.
• Staying in Touch: You can't use WhatsApp or Telegram to contact friends and family back home.
• Work: You can't log in to Gmail to check that important work email.

So, how do you easily get over this wall? You need a "special key."

The "Special Key": VPN or "Airport" Services

The professional name for this "key" is a VPN. Here, we also often call them "Airport" (Jīchǎng) services.

You don't need to understand the complex technology. You just need to know what it does:

It works like a magic underground tunnel. When you open its app on your phone and tap "Connect," all your internet traffic goes through this tunnel to another country first (like Japan, Singapore, or the US) before heading to the website you want. Because the other end of the tunnel is outside the "wall," everything works normally!

Sounds simple, right?

The Most, Most, MOST Important Advice: Get It Done BEFORE You Leave!

If you only remember one thing from this entire article, let it be this:

You MUST buy and install your VPN service BEFORE you fly to China!

You MUST buy and install your VPN service BEFORE you fly to China!

You MUST buy and install your VPN service BEFORE you fly to China!

Why? Because once you land in China, you'll discover:

1. The websites that sell these "keys" (VPN services) are themselves blocked by the wall.
2. You won't be able to find or download these apps from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

You'll be caught in a classic catch-22: needing a tool to get over the wall just to download the tool itself. It's a huge hassle.

A Three-Step Internet Prep for Tourists

Step 1: Choose and Buy a Service (Before You Leave)

There are many options out there. For a tourist, I recommend choosing a service that:

• Has a good reputation and has been around for a long time.
• Offers a monthly payment plan, since you might only need it for a month or two.
• Has responsive customer support, just in case you run into any issues.

How to choose? Before you leave, you can choose one from my recommended services, or simply search on Google for "Best VPN for China" or "VPN reviews for China." Check the latest review articles, pick one that's highly rated, and buy a one-month plan. That will be more than enough.

Friendly Tip: Please stay away from any so-called "Free VPNs." They are not only slow and unstable but may also steal your personal data. It's not worth the risk.

Step 2: Install the App on All Your Devices (Before You Leave)

If you bought an "Airport" service, it usually doesn't have its own app. You'll need to download a third-party app like Clash Mate (for Android) or Shadowrocket (for iPhone) to use it.

If you bought a VPN, simply download and install its official app. Log in with your account and make sure the app opens correctly.

Step 3: Connect Easily After Landing in China

When you arrive in China and connect to your hotel's Wi-Fi or a local SIM card's data, getting online is super easy:

1. Find the VPN app you installed earlier and open it.
2. You'll see a big "Connect" button and a list of servers.
3. From the list, pick a server location. I recommend choosing one close to China, like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, or Hong Kong, as they usually offer faster speeds.
4. Tap the "Connect" button.
5. Wait a few seconds. When the app shows "Connected," you're all set!

Now, you can leave the app running in the background. Go ahead and open YouTube, Instagram, and Google Maps. See? Everything works just like it does at home!

Two More "Backup Plans"

1. Activate International Roaming This is a very convenient but potentially expensive "lazy option." Using your home country's mobile data plan for roaming can often bypass the "wall" directly. You can think of this as a solid backup plan.

2. Download Offline Maps in Advance Before you leave, open Google Maps and download the offline maps for the cities you plan to visit (like Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an). This way, even if your internet has a temporary glitch, you won't get lost.

And that's it! It's that simple. Don't let internet issues cause any anxiety for your trip to China. Prepare in advance, and then go and enjoy exploring this beautiful and amazing country!

Have a wonderful trip!