Get a 3HK eSim. Cheap and dependable.

The ubiquitous malatang is just getting started at 10pm in Sichuan ;)

Gmail -> forward to Hotmail
Voice -> I don't really see a need to use it. Text messages sent to email, which gets forwarded to Hotmail. For Google Voice calling, yes need VPN. I have a local China number which I use for everything in China. You can just call out on FaceTime Audio to anyone with an iPhone (or iCloud account set up with email) and this is not blocked. Except if you buy an iPhone in China, you can't use FaceTime Audio. Sad
Drive -> VPN

The VPN software works well nowadays, I had no interruptions, this isn't really an issue. I didn't even bother forwarding my Gmail to Hotmail this trip

for this one, I've found that I can say that I don't have WeChat and they'll dig out a paper menu from somewhere
not disagreeing with your overall point (for short-term visitors, at least), though

I used to insist on paper menus because I disliked the shear idea of using my phone as a menu, but I've now almost completely succumbed to this trend (marginally better than being forced to order from a tablet, I suppose).

The paper menu at the Korean restaurant I go to most often is now about 8 months out of date and it really is just a piece of paper (i.e. not book style with pictures). Meanwhile, the WeChat version contains all information and condiment options you could possibly imagine. Plus, it's synched up with whatever dianping promotion they happen to be offering and their loyalty program, so I can do everything at once.

On a slightly related note, my biggest beef with Chinese apps in general is that they try to incorporate tons of features (e.g. you can book plane tickets on baidu maps) that render them hopelessly confusing (our UI guy tells me the market demands this style btw). The menu miniprograms aren't really an exception, but once you get used to the lay of the land (they are more or less the same), it's pretty easy to focus on the core mission.

This drives me CRAZY!
Totally a cultural thing of course. We/I prefer a clean, clutter-free UI, whereas in China it needs as many bells and whistles and bright, flashing pop-ups as possible.

I am always fascinated when traveling with someone else (friend, taxi, etc.) and they use Baidu for guidance....with the 6-year old girl voice, and they never shut up. It's yapping constantly, never a brake...yap, yap, yap for the whole drive. My Sygic 'talks' maybe 10% of the Baidu amount.

It indeed is cultural. I was born and grew up in the west, but my parents are used to having apps with lots of icons and whistles (which I don't understand). They're not aware of what Baidu is (they're from Taiwan), but whenever I visit my relatives in the Taiwan region, their apps and sat navs are constantly also talking, flashing items, they've ripped out the stuff on their vehicles for something aftermarket that alerts them of pedestrian crossings, etc.....

Is there a thread about these cultural differences?

Congratulations, you have unlocked pet peeve #2!

This one probably isn't China specific (i.e. all countries have clueless people), but it's something I've yet to encounter outside of China. Basically, a lot of Didi (and similar) drivers have become so completely reliant on map apps that the "common sense" area of their brains has seemingly been vacated. It's frustrating because most Chinese cities (especially the newer ones) feature idiot proof layouts. I occasionally find myself pointing out my destination to drivers and advising them to avail of obvious shortcuts or streets that don't have a lot of traffic. They typically respond by simply saying “导航”, sometimes twice for emphasis. This is often an unwinnable battle.

My pet peeve with those apps is that the characters are usually so tiny as to be unreadable. This is actually true across the board for Chinese websites.

+1

VPN works well and is fast. I use VEEE+ for several years now.

I still need Gmail. My company uses it.

I suspect native speakers read Chinese by mentally running a 2D Fourier transform on an entire phrase at a time (looking at the contours and density distributions of the characters along with context), so they know what tiny text says without having to recognize and decode each individual character.

My theory has always been that the sites are designed by those in their 20s who still have perfect eyesight.

Slightly OT, but is it only me or Flyertalk is blocked in China as well? Never managed to open it from wifi/mobile data.

Flyertalk is an odd one. I have some ISPs where it's blocked, and others not. Also, with my VPN, Flyertalk works with some locations, but not with others. It's usually just a matter of trial and error to find one that works.

This is the dreaded BLOCKED message:

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...fd5b4310e0.png