Travelling in China
Sep 17, 2018, 6:44 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: AA LT Gold
Posts: 3,644
Hubby and I went to China in Nov 18, when we arrived in PEK, we both got messages asking if we wanted to pay $10/day to access our data plan, I said Yes, and hubby said no. The whole trip I had access to Facebook, was able to post live feed without any problems. So it's possible to get around the Chinese when I got back to the states the following month there was a $10 fee per day on my statement.
https://money.cnn.com/gallery/techno...hina-10/4.html
https://startuplivingchina.com/list-...blocked-china/
https://www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/...ewall-of-china
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/06/t...-internet.html
etc.
Whether your particular combo of device/plan /carrier/apps-installed allowed you to access Facebook is irrelevant as things may have changed from last year and/or the OP or those interested won't be able to replicate exactly your combo of circumstances that allowed you accessing Facebook (which was not the original question, btw)
My advice for people traveling to China: be prepared with a good VPN and international plan before you depart, but do expect to possibly being disappointed of not being able to access certain apps. It is China. They are not loosening but toughening up on its restrictions. It is what it is.
Sep 22, 2018, 2:32 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Motown
Programs: DL, WN, AA, IHG Diamond, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,408
Hubby and I went to China in Nov 18, when we arrived in PEK, we both got messages asking if we wanted to pay $10/day to access our data plan, I said Yes, and hubby said no. The whole trip I had access to Facebook, was able to post live feed without any problems. So it's possible to get around the Chinese when I got back to the states the following month there was a $10 fee per day on my statement.
Nov 3, 2018, 3:25 pm
#20
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9
We didn't have any issue applying for the visa as a couple. Since we have a toddler, the consulate requested for the marriage license and the birth certificate of our kid as well.
We didn't have any issue traveling within China either. we were in sanya, hongkong and chengdu.
We didn't have any issue traveling within China either. we were in sanya, hongkong and chengdu.
Nov 5, 2018, 3:25 pm
#21
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
My advice for people traveling to China: be prepared with a good VPN and international plan before you depart, but do expect to possibly being disappointed of not being able to access certain apps. It is China. They are not loosening but toughening up on its restrictions. It is what it is.
As noted, some apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, and anything Google related, mostly don't work. If I wanted to use maps, I simply used the Apple maps (which works well for me, since that is integrated with my Apple Watch).
I never had any problems using WhatsApp, nor with sending SMS messages (mostly through iMessage). Prior to leaving, I briefed family that I would be mostly incommunicado, and I would contact one sister (who has an iPhone) who could pass the word around.
Expecially in 2016, I found that sometimes it can be a good thing to disconnect from social media (I left for Beijing the day after the 2016 election
)Any map app is handy; I took a bus from PEK to my hotel, and I was able to follow along and make sure I didn't miss my stop (some stops were very brief, and announcements weren't in English). When using the metro to visit tourist sites, the app will tell you specifically which exit to use (either numbered or lettered), and mostly step-by-step from there (with my watch I didn't have to take my phone out of my pocket, simply look down and follow along).
Some hotels have a VPN in place so you are able to use some things while at the hotel. I mostly stay at Hilton properties, and the Doubletree in Shanghai did allow me to use Google while on hotel WiFi.
I'm heading back to China in a few weeks, just for a quick mileage run (3-nights). This time I have our home VPN set up on both my iPhone and laptop...it will be interesting to see what happens. It certainly won't be the end of the world if I can't use Facebook for a few days.
There's several threads in both the Technology and China forums with more info on using phones and computers in China.
Nov 5, 2018, 9:42 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Motown
Programs: DL, WN, AA, IHG Diamond, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,408
I came home from Shanghai last Monday, and ExpressVPN worked great to get onto blocked websites. I noticed that in order to get on a China based webpage, I had to turn off the VPN. It did run kind of slow, but I have an older iPhone (5S), so that may have been why.
Nov 9, 2018, 9:37 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Washington DC USA
Posts: 429
When I was there two weeks ago, I put my phone in airplane mode and used the app OsmAnd. I downloaded maps for the three cities I visited (you are allowed seven downloaded area on the free version of the app). It was quite helpful when roaming around Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou.