Just got back from my trip to China in July of 2024, hopefully this is helpful to some of you. I did a lot of research before I went, this is my experience.
VPN: I used Mullvad which was not bad. Worked most of the time, speed was ok. Sometimes it was slow and needed to reconnect to another server. It is cheap and can be used by 5 devices. I also installed LetsVPN as a backup in case needed. In the end I didn’t need it.
Esim: I have Verizon ultimate plan which has 10 GB of global data for free. I also purchased the 3hk 30gb esim which was easy to use. Just activate it before the trip and no need to register real ID to use the data outside HK. Roaming in mainland was fast.
Payment: cash is still accepted everywhere although some may not have change. You can add international credit card to wechat which can be used most of the time without registering real ID. Anything over 200 yuan has a 3% fee. You can use Didi (similar to Uber) in WeChat.
Final random thoughts, China is so clean comparing to some of the larger cities in the US, people are a lot more friendly than people in the US in general. It was so hot in Shanghai!
Edit1: security cameras everywhere which seem have eliminated most physical crimes and privacy in public. Services are generally good because complaints are handled seriously at most places.
Edit2: forgot to mention that the requirement to register with local police as a foreigner seems to be a thing of past. Local police said it was no longer needed. No trouble at the Custom when leaving China.
Any questions, feel free to ask.
forgot to mention that the requirement to register with local police as a foreigner seems to be a thing of past. Local police said it was no longer needed. No trouble at the Custom when leaving China.
This is absolutely not the case. Registering is essential. I assume you were staying in hotels, where they register for you as soon as you check in.
security cameras everywhere which seem have eliminated most physical crimes and privacy in public.
This is Asia: physical violence isn’t as common in this part of the world as it is in the west, which is refreshing.
My understanding is, if you use international roaming you don’t need a VPN. So free 10Gb could keep you going for many many month.
It’s a very American thing to assume service is good because people would cause trouble otherwise.
A lot of countries have good service even without tipping (I know, shocker! /s) because it’s their job and they pride themselves in doing it well.
Way better than having to do a song and dance for tips that should be part of their base salary.
Be good to post this on r/travelchina
One thing that kept biting me. I registered my US debit card with wechat pay and it worked mostly for a while. I also used a Singapore eSim through CMLink. That means no text messaging came through to the cell number my bank has. But then, my US card issuer started sending text links with validation codes to enter into wechat to confirm payment. That broke the entire thing down to the point where I just said screw it and started using cash everywhere.
Aren’t there services that can forward txt messages into an internet app so that you can receive them even without that phone number’s esim active? I think there are, and I’ll look into these for next time.
I’m in Ningbo at the moment (our family comes every summer) . I echo much of what you said with a few exceptions.
1.Weixin Pay/AliPay ability for visitors is a MUST if you are visiting the larger cities. Legally, a vendor must accept paper RMB, but most of the time, there is no cash register to give you change. In some cases, you also need to download, register, and use the store’s own app in order to pay for anything. (Found this out the hard way yesterday at MixC mall in Ningbo.)
2. Yes, you still need to register with the local PD within 24hrs when visiting. It’s still the law as of June 2024. Now, whether visitors follow the law and if there is any enforcement by local PD is a different story.
3. For many weixin services, you will also need china phone number to use for registration and receiving sms 2FA codes. Most cheaper eSIM products are data-only and won’t include a phone number. Better to buy one that includes a Chinese phone number.
Regarding police registration, if you only come to travel, it’s not necessary. It’s mandatory if you come as a student or to work here.
Free VPN Super also works ! It’s free and works most of the time, speed is good enough for multiplayer video games
You still have to register. It says so on your entry card in really big letters and that there is consequences if you don’t.
How did you setup your VPN? did you download, register and pay before leaving the country? or did you just download and register and then paid when you landed?
Also, how good is Mullvad for some mobile games? any lag?
Physical violence wasn’t that common before cameras in China 
It was always pretty safe (beside theft)
I never register with the police and no one cares. I think for a few weeks vacation it’s not important. They do ask for a phone number of someone you know there though. At the airport
Correct, however, when you are visiting and going out to places without WiFi 10Gb isn’t a lot.
I have the Verizon ultimate plan, so no problem for me to receive text from credit card companies. I don’t know any text forwarding service. I doubt there is.
As long as you have data roaming, you should be fine. Either Alipay or WeChat can be used.
you werent in big dongbei my friend
Arguable
Least according to my parents in 80s and 90s even beginning of 00s physical crime, gun control and drug dealing is somewhat common depending on which part of country you are. Thieves and hijacking are especially common around major train stations.
With roaming, you don’t need VPN to climb the great firewall.
Correct, mainly the south. Pickpockets where common, and various types of cheats. I believe the tea ceremony still goes on.
It was always pretty safe (beside theft)