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on the contrary, it allows you to enjoy it with greater peace of mind, leaving the more complicated aspects of travelling in China to people who know the country well.
TECHNOLOGY AND THE INTERNET
Once you arrive in China, one of the first things likely to strike a foreign traveller is the extent to which technology is integrated into everyday life. Public transport, private mobility, road infrastructure, services and payments are all closely linked to smartphone use.
For travellers, this means that many activities that would normally require several different tools are instead handled through a handful of digital platforms. Booking a service, paying a bill, calling a taxi, buying a ticket, communicating with a hotel or finding a restaurant are all activities that in China are now handled almost exclusively through a smartphone and a number of dedicated apps.
For this reason, arriving digitally prepared is almost as important as having a valid licence and a good map. A smartphone with a data connection and the right apps becomes one of the most important tools of the journey, especially when travelling independently by motorcycle.
eSIM, VPN AND THE WEB
Staying connected in China naturally requires a mobile data connection. For foreign travellers, the simplest solution is to use an eSIM, allowing you to activate a data plan without having to buy and physically install a local SIM card.
Simply purchase the plan before departure and, following the provider’ s instructions, activate it once you arrive in China. This is what we did, using Holafly eSIMs, which kept us online from the moment we arrived.
There is, however, an important point to consider. China restricts access to a number of international websites and internet services, including some of the social media platforms and search engines most widely used in the West. This system is commonly known as the Great Firewall, which restricts access to many of the Western online services most widely used around the world. For travellers, continuing to access their usual online services may therefore require a solution that allows them to do so through a VPN.
Some eSIM plans designed for international travellers already include this functionality, meaning that a separate VPN does not have to be configured. In our case, our Holafly eSIM included this service and allowed us to use our smartphones normally throughout the journey, accessing the apps and online services we needed. The advice, therefore, is simple: do not wait until you arrive in China to sort out your internet connection. Install and configure your eSIM before departure and make sure that the plan you choose actually allows access to the
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