Staying connected while in China
China's internet ecosystem differs from the rest of the world: many international sites and services are blocked. Before traveling, install a reliable VPN on your devices, or consider using roaming from your home carrier which often routes through your home network.
For local connectivity, you can buy a Chinese SIM card or eSIM at airports and mobile carrier stores. Major carriers — China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom — offer tourist-friendly data plans with reasonable rates for short stays.
Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, airports, and many cafes, but public Wi-Fi often requires a local phone number for the one-time SMS verification. Having a working Chinese number, or your home roaming active, solves most connectivity issues.