Traveling in China is an exciting adventure, full of amazing sights, delicious food, and vibrant culture! While some visitors may encounter language or digital connectivity differences, a little preparation can make your journey smooth, fun, and stress-free.

(Pricing of mobile SIM Card in Pudong Airport, 2025)

Mobile SIM Card

Activating international roaming is a common step when traveling abroad. However, when using data via roaming, the long routing path can sometimes cause delays or even occasional failures in China. Instead, many travellers choose to purchase an eSIM to improve data connectivity in China.

If you plan to drive in China, a stable and fast local network is even more essential to ensure a smooth and hassle-free journey. When you use an eSIM, due to the uncertainty of its IP routing and network path, you may still encounter issues in certain situations—such as parking payments or EV charging—where pages fail to load or connections cannot be established. Please also note that eSIM cards purchased outside China cannot be used to make phone calls.

Using a local Chinese SIM card helps you avoid these inconveniences and makes navigation, payments, and other services faster and more reliable. In addition, a Chinese SIM card allows you to register for and access more local services, such as food delivery and other everyday apps.

Recommended network setup for your Road Trips in China:

Phone 1: Your primary phone (VPN enabled, if needed)
→ For car rental SMS verification and accessing Google, WhatsApp, and social media via VPN

Phone 2: A second phone with a Chinese SIM card
→ For Chinese apps and services (e.g., Meituan), local calls and SMS, and as a hotspot for your primary phone

You can pre-order a local Chinese SIM card or purchase one upon arrival at major airports. The three main carriers are: China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.

(Scan to pay through Wechat)

Payment Methods

Mobile payments are ubiquitous in China. Alipay and WeChat Pay are accepted almost everywhere—from restaurants and shopping malls to public transport and attraction tickets.

  • Before arrival, link your international credit card to Alipay or WeChat Pay.

  • Still, carry some cash, as small shops, local services, tips, or rural eateries may not accept digital payments made with international credit cards.

Alipay (Alipay):
China’s most widely used mobile payment platform. Be sure to download, register, and activate it before your trip.

WeChat (WeChat):
Beyond messaging, WeChat is essential for payments and accessing services. Install and set it up early.

Note: Dragonroads’ service packages include assistance with WeChat/Alipay setup. 

Important: Notify your bank in advance that you’ll be traveling to China and making international transactions to avoid payment blocks or card freezes.

Maps & Navigation

Local Chinese Maps:

  • Amap (Gaode Maps) – Offers the most accurate real-time traffic and turn-by-turn navigation. An English-language version became available for download in early 2025.

  • Baidu Maps and Tencent Maps are also popular but primarily in Chinese.

Google Maps:
Requires a VPN* and offers limited accuracy in China, despite bilingual labels in some areas.

Apple Maps:
Available on Apple devices, but street names are mostly in Chinese (except in major cities like Shanghai). Apple Maps in China uses Amap’s underlying data.

Tips

  • Most of the tools we suggest can be set up before you even leave home, so you’ll be ready from the moment you arrive.

  • Take some time to download and explore these apps ahead of your trip—they’ll help you get around easily and save you time and stress.

By preparing these simple essentials, you’ll travel with confidence and enjoy all the incredible experiences China has to offer. Dragon Roads wishes you a joyful, inspiring, and unforgettable journey through China!