If you’re thinking about accessing the internet in China be prepared for a few hiccups. Whether it’s to let loved ones know what you’re up to or street directions, accessing the internet in China is not straightforward like it is in the USA, UK or Australia.
Picture this – You just landed at Beijing Capital International Airport, and you’re keen to let your family back home know you made it to China safely. You switch your phone back on from airplane mode, connect to the airport wifi, and type in Facebook.com, only to be redirected to a “page blocked” error, displayed in Mandarin.
What?! You panic and think something’s happened to Facebook. But let’s reassure you. Facebook is still going strong.
The internet in China
What’s really going on here is you’ve just hit the ‘Great Firewall of China”.
Probably the largest and most sophisticated online censorship operation in the world, this firewall prevents you from accessing all places on the internet you take for granted. In this bucket of no-go zones, you’ll find your beloved Facebook, Google, Twitter, and many more western websites. While traveling in China, they are off limits – at least if accessing the internet the way you would at home.
However, it’s not all bad news. Fortunately, there are still ways to connect with people back home and access the internet when holidaying in China.
Let’s look at the ways so you’re ready to click on arrival.
Internet access in China (It’s a BYO affair)
The best way to stay connected in China is to bring your own wifi equipped smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Across China generally, but particularly in hotels, cafes, restaurants, and bars, internet access is good. However, you can improve your access by obtaining a Chinese phone number to login to these free wifi hotspots.
Most travelers planning to stay in China for a longer period of time, usually buy a local SIM card. These can be purchased at service booths, supplier shops, and phone stores, which are on just about every street corner.
Even though the internet is available throughout China, not all internet is available for tourists. In fact, many internet cafes only accept customers with Chinese ID, preventing foreign travelers from accessing what they’d take for granted normally.
The great firewall of China (It’s real!)
With more than 700 million internet users, China has the largest online population in the world. While strict censorship is common in China, online restrictions have increased since the arrival of the internet there in 1996. These regulations mean people in China are blocked from using social networks, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
For travelers, using Facebook to document travels, or Gmail for staying in touch with people back home you must find others way to access these sites when you’re in China.
Use a VPN to access the internet in China and stay in touch
The easiest way to access western websites, such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter, is by installing a Virtual Private Network, or VPN. A VPN can be used to access restricted websites in China by shielding your browser activity.
The key to a VPN is that it lends you a temporary IP address and hides the actual IP address from every website or email you connect with.
VPNs are hard to find within the country, so make sure you buy and install a VPN before you arrive in China. You should opt for a paid service, rather than a free one, as free ones can easily be blocked by the Great Firewall.
Auto-forward emails to China-approved email providers
If the only thing you want to access the internet for in China is to check emails, and you use Gmail as your email service provider, there’s another way to get connected to your email without having to purchase a VPN.
Before traveling to China, you can set up auto-forward to automatically forward all of your emails to another, China-approved, email provider, such as Hotmail, Yahoo, or Sina.
Apps that will improve your China experience
Besides a VPN, there are a few mobile apps that are worth downloading before your journey starts.
Waygo, for instance, is a visual translator app, that can scan a Chinese text and automatically translates it into English, without needing an internet connection. Another one of China’s most popular translator apps is Pleco, which is also useful for those interested in learning the Chinese language.
Want to stay in touch with your newly made friends? Make sure to download WeChat, China’s everyday mobile app. WeChat is a text and voice messaging app, just like WhatsApp. However, unlike WhatsApp, WeChat comes with a range of mini-apps inside the platform.
China would come to a halt without WeChat! Chinese people use WeChat for anything, from playing games to paying bills, and from finding local hangouts to hailing taxis. Even local street vendors use WeChat for accepting payments. It literally is the way China stays connected.
Since Google Maps is not an option in China, it is a good idea to download a web mapping app that is accessible in China. CityMaps2Go offers many Chinese city maps that are available offline as well. All you have to do is download your desired city map while connected to the internet, and then you’re good to go.
ChinaTours.com
Are you looking to book a tour in China? We at ChinaTours.com provide many different tour options from the different cities in China, why not have a look at our Panda tours, our Great Wall of China tours, or select one of our Yangtze River cruise options, or you can customize your own tour. Our dedicated team of China travel consultants is here to help. From planning the China tour of your dreams to making sure you are connected to the internet, ChinaTours.com has got you covered.
Wondering which cities to visit on your upcoming China tour? Don’t let confusion and overwhelm stop you from planning and designing a China tour that makes for beautiful travel memories. With over a decade of experience at creating tours to twenty unique and interesting cities in China, we can help you finally cross those must see destinations and sights off your bucket list. Let’s get you organized and on the road to a real experience of China. Enquire now.
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TestimonialsReviewed: July 30, 2024
My family and I loved our recent private tour with China Tours! We started by working with Lora to plan our itinerary first. We let her know which cities we wanted to visit and what we wanted to see in each city. She was so responsive to my many questions and requests from providing information necessary to get our visas to making recommendations of when we should see the Terra Cotta soldiers based on our travel schedule to letting me know we were able to get entry tickets to see the Forbidden City. I felt very comfortable in a country where I didn't speak the language because Lora was always available to provide assistance. When we arrived in each location, the guides and drivers were fantastic. I was able to connect with each guide prior to reaching the destination and they were always waiting for us. The guides, Chas in Hong Kong, Helen in Xi'an and William in Beijing were fabulous!!! They were all so accommodating and helpful. They knew their cities well and made great food recommendations! Since we were on a private tour, they were very willing to make adjustments based on what we wanted to do or see when prior reservations were not required. My husband, daughter and I are very grateful to Lora, Chas, Helen and William for providing us with such a wonderful experience in China! Thank you!
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We had a great experience with China Tours. We traveled to the cities Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai. The organization was impeccable, the guides and drivers very professional. We would recommend the agency to others!
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We had a great time in Beijing and surroundings. Guide Maggie was very knowledgeable and speaks English really well. She was flexible and proactive as we had some last minute requests and some sites were crowded and she did a good job navigating that.During our preparations, office person Martha responded fast and accurately.We stayed at the Novotel which we liked as it has a good location for an evening stroll and mall.
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TestimonialsReviewed: July 30, 2024
Our trip was delayed from 2020 with no problems. Martha responded to changes in our itinerary brilliantly.There were two of us on our small group tour and the service was exceptional. Hotels were of a high standard and we were happy with them. All guides were enthusiastic and helpful, we only had to ask.In the end we took high speed trains within China which we enjoyed as we got to see more of the country.Highly recommend this tour group
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The small group tour of Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai organised by China Tours was a great way to see these 3 fantastic cities of China. Each of the local guides Nancy (Beijing), Elysha (Xi’an) and Lucy (Shanghai) were very friendly, knowledgeable and interesting and had a passion for their jobs. They were all super helpful answering any questions and offering advice and tips for navigating each city in our own free time, including recommendations for places to eat and other attractions to see not covered by the tour. All the main attractions and sites were visited with plenty of time spent at each. The main highlights for me were the Forbidden City and Great Wall (Nancy took us to a great part of the wall that was not overcrowded) in Beijing and the Terracotta Army in Xi’an (including meeting the farmer who made the discovery in the 1970’s). It was not a rushed tour and was also flexible. In Xi’an because of the weather the itinerary order was changed to suit the group. Being a small escorted tour meant that you were not just one of many in the usual large group tours which made it more personal and enjoyable. A special mention for Nancy and Elysha who made suggestions, with no hidden agenda, in Beijing and Xi’an respectively to see live shows as add-ons which turned out to be unexpected delights. Martha of China Tours was very easy to deal with and was patient with all my requests and queries when booking the tour. Overall I can highly recommend China Tours if you plan to visit China and wish to arrange a tour. From start to finish everyone was extremely helpful and communicated in very good English.
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