topic Re: Visiting china in Sky Mobile

Visiting china

1Smacgowan — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:00:21 GMT

Hi, I am soon to be visiting China and I'm concerned that my phone may not work over there especially certain apps like WhatsApp and instagram etc... what is the best way to make sure my phone works and also to make contact with family in the uk whilst I'm away.
many thanks.

Re: Visiting china

caesarome — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:06:17 GMT

@1Smacgowan

China is a Roaming Plus country so it should work there as it will be £2 per day or free if you are a Diamond VIP member. Data is restricted to 25 GB per billing period.

Re: Visiting china

Daniel0210 — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:08:50 GMT

@1Smacgowan

For that destination it should cost you £2 for each 24 hours use of your home allowance ~ but if you are a Diamond VIP member the daily roaming is free in Roaming Passport Plus destinations.

You need to ensure roaming and mobile data are turned on in your phone settings and it will kick in when you send a text, make a call or use a small amount of data. Set any spend cap to cover the total number of days you are there. Remember that calls to local numbers are charged extra at international rates and there is now a limit on data use of 25GB per billing period, after which Sky can charge you an extra £2.50 per GB or even suspend your useage due to overuse.

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-mobile-roaming-destinations-and-charges

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-moblle-tair-usage-policy.

Re: Visiting china

1Smacgowan — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:24:33 GMT

So you don't think there is any need for an eSIM? I've read that WhatsApp is blocked and Chinese apps are needed to communicate back home to the uk?
it all seems a bit different to when I've travelled to other destinations.

Re: Visiting china

Daniel0210 — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:29:30 GMT

@1Smacgowan

No idea on what China may or may not block and obviously Sky have no control of coverage abroad.

Re: Visiting china

PandJ2020 — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:33:40 GMT

@Daniel0210 wrote:
@1Smacgowan
No idea on what China may or may not block and obviously Sky have no control of coverage abroad.

AIUI anything with end-to-end encryption is blocked (as it cannot be intercepted), i.e. WhatsApp.

SMS and standard calls should work but assume they may be monitored and/or blocked.

it all seems a bit different to when I've travelled to other destinations.

That might be the communist Government...

Re: Visiting china

TimmyBGood — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 11:16:46 GMT

@1Smacgowan wrote:

So you don't think there is any need for an eSIM? I've read that WhatsApp is blocked and Chinese apps are needed to communicate back home to the uk?

it all seems a bit different to when I've travelled to other destinations.

Choosing to visit a non-democratic state which fundamentally restricts its own citizens freedom of expression (and communication) does bring some inevitable consequences.

Typically you'll find this being discussed (outside China) on travel and other websites.

Perhaps note that eSIM providers are extremely vague about whether their products can actually evade the notorious 'Great Firewall'.

Re: Visiting china

Mo.hit — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 21:20:12 GMT

I have visited china a few times and am visiting soon again. Most of the things will work if you have a foreign sim with international roaming activated on it. I always made sure to activate international roaming plans on my non chinese sim and I had no issues.

Make sure to download transaltion app e.g. Mr. Translator by tencent or something similar as its very difficult to find English speaking people at china. Actually very very difficult. Even at big hotels like Hilton and others I barely managed to find any English speaking person.

Don't forget to download and register for wechat. 🙂

Re: Visiting china

Mo.hit — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 21:28:59 GMT

If you have foreign sim with international roaming then almost everything works including what's app, Google etc.