China operates a national filtering system often called the Great Firewall. On arrival, most international services will not load: Google Search and Gmail, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X, Telegram, and many Western news sites. That does not mean the internet is unusable — local alternatives are fast and well-built. It does mean you need a plan before you switch on your phone at Tianfu airport.
What works without a VPN
- Browsers: Bing is partially accessible; Baidu and Sogou are the local search engines.
- Messaging: WeChat is the default chat and voice app for locals and travelers alike.
- Navigation: Amap (Gaode) and Baidu Maps are excellent inside Chengdu.
- Short video and news: Douyin, Bilibili and Xiaohongshu dominate local feeds.
- Ride hailing: Didi Chuxing works with an English interface and accepts overseas cards.
Buying a local SIM card
Foreign passport holders can buy a prepaid SIM at the airport or at any flagship store of the three state operators:
- China Mobile: widest rural coverage, slightly higher prices.
- China Unicom: good balance of speed and price in cities.
- China Telecom: strong broadband-to-mobile bundling, popular with business travelers.
A tourist SIM with 10-30 GB of data for 30 days typically costs ¥50-100. You will need your passport for registration. Activation takes about 15 minutes in store.
Roaming vs local SIM
Your home carrier\\\\\\\\「s roaming usually works but is expensive, especially for video. A local SIM is cheaper and gives you a local Chinese number (+86), which is required to register on many local apps, pick up Didi calls and receive verification codes from hotels.
The VPN reality
Virtual private networks are used by foreign residents and some businesses to reach global services. In practice, many travelers rely on commercial VPN apps they install before arrival; their reliability changes over time. Be aware that publishing or selling VPN services inside China is restricted by local law. The safest approach is to bring your own subscription, test it before you travel, and use it discreetly.
Practical Information
- Wi-Fi: Hotels, malls and cafes offer free Wi-Fi; public metro Wi-Fi usually requires a Chinese phone number.
- Phone numbers: Chinese mobile numbers start with 1 and have 11 digits; landlines include a 028 area code for Chengdu.
- Emergency calls: 110 (police), 120 (ambulance), 119 (fire) — these are toll-free and work without SIM credit.
- Power: Type A/C/I plugs, 220V; bring a small universal adapter.
- Tips: Download WeChat, Didi, Amap and a translation app (Pleco, Google Translate offline pack) before you land.
Offline Apps and Tools That Actually Work
Before boarding, download WeChat, Alipay, Didi, Amap, Pleco, and offline Google Translate packs for Chinese. Save your hotel address and the panda base address as WeChat favorites so you can send them to a taxi driver in one tap. Offline maps on Amap are surprisingly good for the metro. If you need to call a Chinese number from abroad or receive verification codes, keep your home SIM roaming for the first 48 hours until your local SIM is active.
- WeChat lets you send voice messages in English; most young staff will type back slowly.
- Use the translate lens inside WeChat to photograph menus and signs.
- Public Wi-Fi at malls asks for a Chinese phone number; skip it and use your data.
- Buy a small portable charger; winter phones lose battery fast in cold, humid air.
- Save the emergency numbers 110, 120, 119 as contacts before landing.
