Internet Access in China

Since internet was introduced into China in 1994, the number of the internet users has been dramatically roaring over 800 million till recent years. Over 98% users get access to the internet via their mobile phones. However, when you arrive in China, no longer will you be able to search on Google or type in Facebook, Twitter or Instagram that you get accustomed to using at home. A great number of websites and apps are still blocked by the Great Firewall of China. How to access to internet in China might be the first concern for many foreign travelers, and here we would inspire you on the current internet restrictions and solutions in China.

Apps like WhatsApp, Yahoo, Skype and Tripadvisor are not banned in China yet, but you will need a Chinese SIM card first to make phone calls and stay connected to internet. Getting a pre-paid SIM card is as easy as a breeze. Upon your landing at most gateway airports like Bejing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, you will find counters to buy a Chinese SIM card with your passport. Cheap, fast and easy to recharge, SIM card enables you to get connected in a couple of minutes as long as your phone is unlocked and applicable to a Chinese card.

There are 3 major mobile internet providers in China, including China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. China Mobile takes up the largest market share up to 70 percentages, and China Unicom is the second largest mobile carrier. You can find their shopfronts at every corner of the country including the most remote and rural areas. 4G LTE has been rolled out in most major areas and cities in China, covering 90% of Chinese population. China Telecom applies to a CDMA network, and nearly all the foreign phones outside China are incompatible with it. So Skip it.

Different packages are offered by these two providers. You shall choose the data plan according to your length of travel, and the ratio between phone calls and network connections. If travelling with Elysian Tour, your guide will be glad to help you with the purchase catering to your need.

Everyone loves free Wi-Fi. In China, nearly all the hotels, restaurants, cafes, malls and bars are accessible for free Wi-Fi service. Wi-Fi accessibility in hotels are the best, which allows customers to get connected without code. In some restaurants, bars and cafes, there will be signage of Wi-Fi with password on the walls, or you could ask the waiter/waitress to help with the login.

Wi-Fi accessibility in airport and train stations is all-pervading, but most likely the free Wi-Fi could only be connected by typing in a login code received via your Chinese phone number. Because of massive users, Wi-Fi in airports and railway stations might be slow and unstable sometimes.

Gradually, many tourist areas and public places in big cities are available for free WiFi, too. For example, in Shanghai, you can connect to WiFi in scenic spots like the Bund, Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai Museum, and Xin Tian Di. Beijing also allows passengers to use free WiFi on many city buses, and Hangzhou people enjoy free outdoor WiFi in most urban areas.

Moreover, some airlines like China Eastern have allowed the passengers to use inflight WiFi with their portable electronic devices including mobile phones, pads, laptops and e-book readers. Meanwhile, Chinese Fuxinghao train (the best and fastest high-speed train in the world) running between Beijing and Shanghai also provides passengers with free and speedy onboard WiFi service.

Chinese government maintains strict controls on internet censorship by building up a great firewall. Most foreign sites and apps are blocked, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps and Gmail. However, there are ways always to circumvent the internet censorship of China via proxy servers outside the firewall.

The easiest way is to buy an VPN before your arrival in China, so that you can access your email or social medias feeling like home. Breakdowns happens a lot on free VPN, so you are suggested to buy one with a small amount of fee. The ExpressVPN is the most popular and reliable one offering stable and fast connection.