China articles
Every China article on the China eSIM blog, newest first.
Shanghai Pudong: the Visa-Free Transit Counter, Step by Step
Visa-free transit at Shanghai Pudong as of September 2026: the 240-hour rule, the transit entry check, checked bags and getting back in time.
Does Google Maps Work in China With an eSIM?
An international eSIM gets you past China's firewall, but Google Maps still falls short there for a separate reason. What to use instead.
Chinese New Year 2027: The Rush You Can Plan For Now
The 2027 Spring Festival dates aren't set yet, but the rail crush, closures and demand shift around it are predictable. Here's what to plan now.
West Kowloon Rail: Crossing Into the Mainland Inside a Station
How the co-located checkpoint at Hong Kong West Kowloon works, and the moment your phone actually switches from a Hong Kong network to a mainland one.
China's M Business Visa vs the L Tourist Visa, for US Travellers
What separates a Chinese business (M) visa from a tourist (L) visa in 2026, why the invitation letter exists, and how to keep a work line reachable on the trip.
Canton Fair 2026: A Practical Trip Plan for Attendees
How the Canton Fair's phased structure shapes a business trip to Guangzhou in 2026, and what to arrange for connectivity, payment and paperwork before you fly.
Using the 12306 App in English as a Foreign Traveller
How to book China's high-speed rail on the official 12306 app with a passport and a foreign card: the fields that trip people up and how to avoid them.
Linking a Foreign Card to WeChat Pay: What to Expect
WeChat Pay accepts foreign cards, but it is an account inside a messaging app. What that changes about setup, limits, and when Alipay cannot stand in for it.
Alipay With a Foreign Card: Fees and Limits, Explained
What kinds of fee and spending cap apply when a foreign Visa or Mastercard is linked to Alipay in 2026, and how to see the real number before you tap confirm.
China's 240-Hour Transit Rule and the Greater Bay Area
How the 240-hour visa-free transit that replaced the 144-hour rule works in 2026, and why Greater Bay Area cities can count as one permitted stay.
144-Hour Transit Visa: What Replaced It and Who Qualifies
China's 144-hour transit rule was replaced by 240 hours on 17 December 2024. What that means as of September 2026 and where to confirm your passport and port.
A First-Timer's Connectivity Checklist for Beijing and Shanghai
A practical, week-by-week phone checklist for a first China trip: what to install and set up before you fly, and what to check in your first hours in the city.
Why Your Home Apps Keep Working on a China Travel eSIM
A travel eSIM for China is a roaming line: its data routes through an international network, so the apps you use at home behave the way they do at home.
Hotel Wi-Fi vs Your eSIM in China: Which One to Trust
Hotel Wi-Fi in China is a local connection under local network rules; a roaming eSIM is not. Why the two behave differently, and the one switch to remember.
Install Before You Fly: Why App Stores Come First
For a China trip the order matters: update your apps and install the eSIM at home, over Wi-Fi, because app stores are the first thing to get hard to reach.
Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau: What Your eSIM Covers
What "mainland China" means on an eSIM plan, why Hong Kong and Macau run separate networks, and how to plan data for a trip that crosses between them.