How to Get Data in China Without VPN Issues

Brimming with ancient wonders, futuristic cities, and Avatar-esque landscapes, it’s not hard to see why China is booming as a tourist destination. But there’s one thing Aussie travellers don’t love – the heavily restricted internet. 

Whether you’re working remotely or just want to access social media, China’s excessive internet censorship can make day-to-day life a chore. Here’s how to slip through the Great Firewall without resorting to a slow and expensive VPN. 

UNDERSTANDING THE GREAT FIREWALL OF CHINA

China has some of the strictest internet censorship on earth. To promote domestic tech innovation and shape political narratives, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) blocks a wide range of foreign websites and apps. 

An army of around two million “internet police” works around the clock to fortify the Great Firewall, blocking IPs, corrupting DNS, and monitoring traffic. The result is an alternate online universe that champions Communist Party ideals and shuns Western influence. 

For the average Aussie holidaymaker, that means zero access to your most important websites and apps.

• Search engines: Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo
• Email: Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook
• Work: Gdocs, Slack, Teams, Zoom
• Social media: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X, Pinterest, Discord, Reddit
• Streaming: YouTube, Netflix
• Messaging: WhatsApp, Slack, Messenger, Signal, Telegram, 
• News: ABC, News.com.au, Sydney Morning Herald, BBC, New York Times, etc. 

The internet starts looking bare once you take these names out of the equation. Luckily, we can make like Genghis Khan and break through the Great Firewall of China – legally, of course. 

THE PROBLEM WITH A LOCAL SIM AND VPN IN CHINA (A MAJOR HASSLE)

The old-school approach was to buy a local SIM on arrival and use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to cloak your location and access foreign apps. This method still works today, but it's a major pain in the neck. 

First off, obtaining a Chinese SIM card is a hassle in itself. Grabbing one from a random shop means grappling with language barriers, as your vendor must verify your ID and link the plan to your device. Cellphone kiosks at major international airports often have English-speaking staff, but don’t expect to find any bargains – airports are always overpriced. 

After wrangling a local SIM, you must use a pre-installed, pre-paid VPN to hide your browsing from Mr Jinping. Why pre? The Great Firewall blocks access to known VPN websites, making it nearly impossible to download or subscribe after arrival. 

Many VPNs don’t work well in China anyway, so you’ll need to select one that supports your favourite sites. And don’t even bother with free VPNs, as they’re easy to detect and have super low download limits. 

Finally, once you activate your premium pre-paid VPN on your local Chinese SIM, you can start browsing the wider web – incredibly slowly. The VPN/local SIM combo is notoriously unreliable in China.

USING GLOBAL ROAMING IN CHINA (THE EXPENSIVE CHOICE)

Global roaming bypasses the Great Firewall by routing your traffic to a foreign mobile carrier’s gateway. 

Your phone first connects to a local Chinese network, then uses “virtual tunnelling” to immediately send data offshore. The Great Firewall classifies this encrypted data as authorised international traffic, giving you the green light to browse the wider web at will.

While it sounds sneaky, global roaming is perfectly legal. China is fine with foreigners using social media on its shores. The main downside to this method is price.

Most Aussie telcos have low global roaming data limits and high fees, making on-the-ground internet use prohibitively expensive. eSIMs only take 5 minutes to install and generally offer waaaay better rates than global roaming. 

USING AN ESIM FOR TRAVELLING IN CHINA (BEST OPTION)

eSIMs also skirt the Great Firewall, but through a slightly different approach to global roaming. 

Upon connecting to a Chinese network with a foreign IP address, your eSIM bypasses domestic content restrictions to provide access to foreign apps and websites. Think of it like having a data plan with a built-in VPN – without the monthly subscription fee.

The tech works so well that China has effectively banned its own citizens from buying eSIM-compatible phones. Almost all smartphones sold in mainland China don’t support eSIMs, forcing domestic consumers to use censorship-prone physical SIM cards instead.

Again, there are no laws prohibiting visitors from browsing the wider web using foreign eSIM plans on an overseas-purchased smartphone. Travelling in China with an eSIM is entirely aboveboard.

The benefits of an eSIM in China

The big eSIM advantage in China is price. Low-cost providers like ZenSim offer affordable plans for a fraction of the cost of global roaming, giving you extra Yuan to spend on TsingTao and dumplings. 

eSIMs are a cinch to install and don’t require handing over sensitive personal details like your passport. As there’s no need to swap numbers or remove your current SIM, they’re also pretty convenient. Also, should you run out of data on the road, you can easily top up through a mobile app. 

Just remember to grab your plan before you touchdown in China. That way, it will automatically activate as soon as your plane hits the tarmac. 

While it’s theoretically possible to purchase an eSIM using a Chinese WiFi and a pre-installed VPN, the process is fraught with challenges – we don’t recommend it.  

ZENSIM: THE BEST ESIM FOR CHINA

As one of the best eSIMs for Aussies travelling in China, ZenSim offers an exceptional product for a wallet-friendly price. 

Fast and reliable connections come courtesy of our partner network, China Unicom. This giant state-owned operator has extensive nationwide coverage, with over 2 million 5G base stations. Unlimited tethering lets you harness your high-speed connection for work or streaming.

Installing ZenSim is a breeze. Head to our China travel eSIM page, choose a plan, then follow the instructions – no tech skills required. Our user-friendly app lets you add extra data, days, or countries on the go. 

Got a question? Our friendly support team responds quickly to questions via WhatsApp.

See our affordable China travel eSIM pricing for 10-day… 

• 5GB – 10 days A$23 (USD $14)
• 10GB – 10 days A$35 (USD $21)
• 20GB – 10 days A$55 (USD $33)
• Unlimited – 10 days A$57 (USD $37)

Or 30-day trips. 

• 5GB – 30 days A$25 (USD $15)
• 10GB – 30 days A$39 (USD $24)
• 20GB – 30 days A$59 (USD $36) 
• Unlimited – 30 days  A$139 (USD $89)

Psst. I’ll let you in on a little secret. Due to some strange contractual quirks, we offer better prices on our ZenSim Asia plan (which includes China) at the 20GB and Unlimited tiers. You get all the same great benefits and can take a sneaky side trip on the same plan (hello Japan!). 

• 20GB – 10 days A$50 (USD $32)
• 20GB – 30 days A$55 (USD $36) 
• Unlimited – 10 days A$55 (USD $36)
• Unlimited – 30 days  A$109 (USD $70)

As you can see, the savings on the 30-day unlimited plan are huge. Just don’t tell the boss I told you this, okay?