China Digital Survival Guide: VPN, eSIM & Essential Apps for Travelers
Stay connected in China without the stress — which VPN actually works, eSIM vs SIM, and the apps you need before you land.
vpn esim apps
VPN, eSIM, Payments & Apps
China Digital Survival
3 articles in this series
About this series
China's internet works differently. WhatsApp, Google, Instagram — all blocked. Cash is almost extinct, replaced by Alipay and WeChat. Your foreign SIM won't work the way you expect. But none of this is hard once you know the setup.
This series covers every digital tool you need before landing: which VPN actually works, how to set up mobile payment with a foreign card, which eSIM to buy, and the apps that make daily life in China frictionless. Each guide is self-contained — read the ones you need, skip the rest.
Articles in this series (3)
📋 Practical
How to Pay in China: Alipay, WeChat Pay & Cash Guide for Travelers
The complete guide to cashless China — setting up Alipay and WeChat Pay with foreign cards, avoiding fees, and what to do when payment fails.
payment alipay wechat
Digital Nomad in China: The Guide Nobody Wrote Because Nobody Thought It Was Possible
China is not on any nomad top-10 list. It should be. How to work remotely from China: visas, VPNs, coworking, costs, and why the infrastructure beats Bali.
digital-nomad remote-work coworking
17 min read
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