China - never a dull moment!

[Cruiser Elite]

Yep Intl sim will bypass virtually all blockages - but as for VPN Astrill is best bet TBMK

 

[mini2]

I might be heading to Guangzhou at the end of the year. Any hotel recommendations?

How bad is the economy at the moment?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I might be heading to Guangzhou at the end of the year.

Holiday? Business?

 

[mini2]

Holiday

 

[woodyren]

Hi heading to Shanghai soon,

Wondering what VPN services are actually functional right now in China?

Also I've read somewhere if you use an international roaming sim, it can work to get pass the great firewall too?

I am currently in Nth China.

Using an AirAlo e-sim. Expensive. $100 USD for 50gb for 90 days but it works fine. Using surf shark VPN. Not so good.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Any hotel recommendations?

TBH I have no idea re GZ but if you give some idea of accom rqmts / budget etc I will ask the FT China group for suggestions

How bad is the economy at the moment?

Not sure where you are heading with this - first time in China? If it helps I have been to China >100s times in last 25 years and would never pay any consideration to what might or might not be state of play when I am there - it’s a huge diverse ever changing country and it will knock your socks off one way or another - just go and enjoy - the Chinese people are just lovely and so welcoming

 

[elanshin]

Yep Intl sim will bypass virtually all blockages - but as for VPN Astrill is best bet TBMK

Cheers, heard about Astrill, just seems a bit pricy. Still deciding on what I'll use given im only there for 2 days+ 4 days with 3 days in tokyo in between.

Probably will travel more next year to Shanghai for work as well as my cousin's wedding.

 

[Buzzard]

Hi heading to Shanghai soon,

Wondering what VPN services are actually functional right now in China?

Also I've read somewhere if you use an international roaming sim, it can work to get pass the great firewall too?

NORD VPN is apparently one of the few that works in China.
Just be sure to download the app and sign in before you go.

 

[elanshin]

NORD VPN is apparently one of the few that works in China.
Just be sure to download the app and sign in before you go.

There's a lot of conflicting information on nord and express vpn.

 

[daft009]

15 of us went to Shenzhen in late 2018. Some did local Sims with VPN, others roaming.

VPN guys always had issues. Roaming guys just worked every time

I used the starhub prepaid SIM from Singapore which I picked up on the way there

 

[Cruiser Elite]

From the guys on the ground in China through FT Group Astrill is the go - forget the others

 

[anyonebutqantas]

Does ProtonVPN work?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Does ProtonVPN work?

I have no idea - but don't waste your time on ands ifs buts or maybes - the experts on the ground living in China have tried every VPN imaginable - ATPIT Astrill is the only effective one to use.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Not being difficult but not intending to post in multiple threads so follow here for China info

China uses new Health Declaration for cross-border travelers

Follow Expat Focus

mp.weixin.qq.com

 

[woodyren]

A little bit of Venice in the east. Huge fake Venice. Virtually empty apart from numerous brides and grooms taking pre wedding photos.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

A little bit of Venice in the east. Huge fake Venice. Virtually empty apart from numerous brides and grooms taking pre wedding photos.

View attachment 344098

View attachment 344099

If not Macau, then where?

 

[woodyren]

If not Macau, then where?

Dalian. Sorry I should have posted the location.

 

[TheEmu]

Dalian. Sorry I should have posted the location.

I don't think it's on many tourists' radar but Dalian is quite a beautiful area to visit (in summer...), lots of history, the Russian street, old school trams, the Russian/Japanese prison in Lushun, etc.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

I don't think it's on many tourists' radar but Dalian is quite a beautiful area to visit (in summer...), lots of history, the Russian street, old school trams, the Russian/Japanese prison in Lushun, etc.

I went to Qingdao once and loved seeing the old German architecture. Have heard very nice things about Dalian too...

 

[TheEmu]

I went to Qingdao once and loved seeing the old German architecture. Have heard very nice things about Dalian too...

They weren't there very long but some Russian architecture in Dalian.