Internet in China without surprises: what an eSIM solves and what to prepare at home

On a regular Chinese SIM card and on hotel Wi-Fi you can't open Google (Search, Gmail, Maps, YouTube), WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram, Facebook and many other Western sites. A tourist who buys a local SIM at the airport ends up hunting for workarounds on the spot.

A travel eSIM works differently: traffic on these plans is typically routed through an operator outside mainland China. That is why on most such plans WhatsApp, Telegram, Google and Instagram usually work without any extra setup. The word usually matters here: before buying, read the description of the specific plan on the China page, which explains how it handles these services.

In Chinese cities almost everything is paid by QR code through Alipay or WeChat Pay, from the metro and coffee to street food. Foreigners can link an international bank card to these apps, but it's best done calmly at home rather than at a checkout with a queue behind you.

Both apps need a stable mobile connection: without data the payment QR code won't generate. That is the strongest reason to have your eSIM installed and tested before departure.

Even when Google Maps opens over the eSIM, in China it often shows outdated data and shifted pins. Locals use Amap (Gaode) and Baidu Maps, which have accurate public transport routes, current addresses and metro station names. Amap is partly available in English.

The easiest way to get a taxi is DiDi, which is built right into Alipay and WeChat, so a separate app isn't required. Copy addresses in Chinese from the map app: the driver sees the pin and nothing needs translating.

A camera translator helps with menus and signs. All these apps, maps, taxi, translation and payments, constantly pull data, so for a week of busy city travel plan on several gigabytes with a margin, and noticeably more if you post videos.

Urumqi is the closest big city to Kazakhstan, with flights from Almaty and Astana for short trips and shopping. For two or three days a small package is enough, but you will still pay and call taxis through apps.

Beijing and Shanghai mean a lot of navigation: huge distances, metro transfers, high-speed trains between cities. Connectivity on trains is generally stable, though short drops in tunnels are possible.

Guangzhou and Shenzhen attract many business travelers: chats with suppliers, product photos, video calls. This is where data usage is highest, so look at larger plans or unlimited ones with a fair-use speed cap. If you are also heading to Hong Kong or Macau, check whether the plan covers them: they are separate destinations and a regional plan may be more convenient.

Make sure your phone supports eSIM and isn't carrier-locked. Buy a plan, no passport required, and install the eSIM at home via the QR code or the Quick install button. Turn on data roaming for the eSIM line only after landing in China, so the validity period doesn't start early.

Check the entry rules for Kazakh citizens shortly before the trip, as they can change. And download an offline translator with Chinese: it will help if the connection drops for a minute.