Your apps go quiet at the border
Gmail, Maps, WhatsApp and X stop loading the moment you join hotel Wi-Fi or a local SIM. Work, family and directions all disappear at once.
What works in China →For travelers heading to China
Land in China.
Stay yourself online.
Keep Gmail, Google Maps, WhatsApp and X working the whole trip, with free, practical guides on taxis, mobile payments, healthcare and the food you shouldn't miss.
Free plan available. No card needed to try.
9:415G
GotoChina
Connected
Tokyo · 48 ms
- GmailVia Tokyo
- WhatsAppVia Tokyo
- Google MapsVia Tokyo
- AlipayDirect, China
Works again in China
- Gmail
- Google Maps
- X
- YouTube
- ChatGPT
- Netflix
- Telegram
Stays direct and fast
- Alipay
- DiDi
- Amap
- Meituan
- 12306
The real problems
China is easy to love and tricky to start
We built GotoChina around the three things that trip visitors up most in their first 48 hours.
Cards and cash don't work like home
Street food, taxis and ticket machines expect a QR code. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your own card in ten minutes.
Set up mobile payments →
Getting sick abroad feels daunting
China's big-city hospitals are fast and surprisingly affordable once you know how registration and payment work.
How to see a doctor →How it works
Three minutes at home. Zero hassle in China.
- 01
Install at home
Download the app on your phone and tablet before you fly. China's app stores don't carry VPNs.
- 02
Tap connect once
Sign in and test it on your home Wi-Fi. Pick the free plan to try, upgrade any time.
- 03
Land and carry on
Turn it on in China. Global apps route abroad, local apps like Alipay stay direct and fast.
Free travel guides
Know how China works before you land
Short, step-by-step guides written for first-time visitors, with phrases you can show a driver, cashier or nurse.
Money6 min read
Paying with Alipay and WeChat Pay as a foreigner
China runs on QR codes. Link your foreign Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay and pay almost anywhere, even street stalls.
Read guide
Getting around4 min read
How to get a taxi or DiDi in China
Street taxis are cheap but drivers rarely speak English. Ride-hailing with DiDi is easier: English app, set destination, pay automatically.
Read guide
Health7 min read
Seeing a doctor in China: fast, affordable care
Public hospitals in big cities are well equipped, fast and inexpensive by international standards. Here's how registration and payment work.
Read guideFood & places
Then go and enjoy it
Six dishes to hunt down and six cities worth the train ride.
Pricing
Simple plans for every kind of trip
Explorer
Test everything at home before you fly.
Free
- 1 device
- 2 GB per month
- Basic servers (JP, SG)
- All travel guides
Most travelers pick this
Traveler
Everything you need for the whole trip.
$9.99/month
- 5 devices
- Unlimited data
- All servers (JP, SG, US and more)
- Smart split tunneling for China apps
- Priority support
- All travel guides
Expedition
Families, tour groups and business teams.
$19.99/month
- 10 devices
- Unlimited data
- All servers
- Smart split tunneling
- Team dashboard
- Dedicated support
Prices in USD. Cancel anytime.
FAQ
Questions travelers ask us
Why do I need to install it before arriving?
Inside mainland China, app stores don't list VPN apps and our website can be hard to reach. Install, sign in and test at home, then just tap connect after you land.
Will Alipay, WeChat and DiDi still work while connected?
Yes. Smart split tunneling sends China apps on a direct local route and everything else through the VPN, so payments, maps and ride-hailing keep working without switching off.
Is it legal to use a VPN in China?
China restricts unapproved VPN services. In practice, many visitors and international businesses use them to reach work and home services, but we can't give legal advice. Use it for normal personal and business communication, and respect local laws.
My phone plan includes roaming. Do I still need this?
Home-carrier roaming usually reaches blocked apps, but it is often expensive and only covers that phone. GotoChina covers hotel Wi-Fi, local SIMs and up to five phones or tablets on one plan.
Which devices are supported?
iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets. One Traveler plan covers up to five devices.
Are the travel guides free?
Yes. All guides on the website and in the app are free for everyone, including the Explorer plan.
Before you fly
Pack your passport. Install GotoChina.
Two minutes at home means Gmail, Maps and WhatsApp work the moment you land.