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City guides, how-tos, and honest advice from people who actually went.

July 14, 20263 min readTopics

China High-Speed Rail Map: All Routes Visualized (2026)

China High-Speed Rail Map: All Routes Visualized (2026) China's high-speed rail network is now over 50,000 km long , about two-thirds of all the HSR track on Earth. If you unrolled it end to end, it would wrap around the equator 1.25 times. And yet, most first-time visitors look at a china train...

July 07, 20263 min readHow-To Guides

China High-Speed Rail Guide: Routes, Speed & How to Ride (2026)

China High-Speed Rail Guide: Routes, Speed & How to Ride (2026) China has built more than 50,000 kilometers of high-speed rail in 15 years , more than the rest of the world combined, and you can book a 350 km/h G-train from Beijing to Shanghai for about ¥553 ($77) . The fastest run does 1,318 km...

June 30, 20263 min readTopics

China Visa Types Explained: L, S, F, M & More (2026)

China Visa Types Explained: L, S, F, M & More (2026) China has 16 visa types. But 90% of travelers only need one of three letters: L, M, or F. A china l category visa is for tourism, an M is for business, and an F is for non-commercial exchange like research or volunteering. Pick wrong and your...

June 29, 20263 min readHow-To Guides

eSIM vs VPN for China: Which Do You Actually Need in 2026?

An honest 2026 comparison of roaming eSIMs versus VPNs for getting around China's Great Firewall, including which one to use on your phone, when you still need a VPN for your laptop, and the WiFi gap that catches most travelers.

June 29, 20263 min readHow-To Guides

Do You Need a VPN for China in 2026? An Honest Answer

Whether you need a VPN for China in 2026 depends on your device and how you connect. A roaming eSIM lets your phone skip the Great Firewall with no VPN, while laptops, hotel WiFi, and heavy Google users still need one despite the April 2026 crackdown that made VPNs less reliable.

June 29, 20263 min readHow-To Guides

Does WhatsApp Work in China? (2026 Answer + How to Fix It)

WhatsApp has been blocked in mainland China since 2017 and was pulled from the China App Store in 2024. The two reliable 2026 ways back in are a roaming eSIM (no app, most reliable) and a pre-installed VPN (works but increasingly unreliable since the April 2026 crackdown) — both set up before you land.

June 29, 20263 min readHow-To Guides

What Apps Are Blocked in China? The Complete 2026 List

A scannable 2026 reference of which apps are blocked in mainland China (the entire Google suite, Meta, X, WhatsApp, YouTube, Google Maps) versus what works, the Chinese alternatives, and the most reliable fix after the April 2026 VPN crackdown.

June 29, 20263 min readHow-To Guides

Does Instagram Work in China? (2026 Traveler's Guide)

Instagram has been blocked in mainland China since 2014 and isn't downloadable on the China App Store. This guide covers the two ways to get back online in 2026, a roaming eSIM versus a VPN, why you must set up before you land, and the hotel-WiFi trap that silently kills your uploads.

June 29, 20263 min readHow-To Guides

Does Google Maps Work in China? (and the Maps That Actually Do)

Google Maps is blocked in mainland China, and even through a VPN its street layer is shifted 100-700 meters by China's GCJ-02 coordinate system. Apple Maps (which auto-switches to Amap data), Amap, and Baidu all work with no VPN. This guide explains why Google fails, which alternative to pick, and how to get online before you land.

June 29, 20263 min readHow-To Guides

Does Facebook (and Messenger) Work in China?

Facebook and Messenger have been blocked in mainland China since 2009, the longest-running major ban. This guide explains why, and walks through the two ways back online in 2026, a roaming eSIM and a VPN, plus the setup steps and traps that catch most travelers.

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Top authors

J

Jenny Wang

Travel Planning Expert, MyChinaGuide

M

Michael Chen

Transport & Connectivity Editor, MyChinaGuide

S

Sarah Liu

Senior Travel Writer, MyChinaGuide

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