Internet and Payments in China

hi! Is it easy to use for paying for all the small purchases at the markets? INSTALLATION AND USE WITHOUT ISSUES—do you also need a VPN for China? Secondly, for using phone and internet, I have Orange—is it reliable, or should I go with Airalo instead?

You need internet to pay with WeChat and Alipay. Free works well without a VPN—probably the same for the Sosh plan—but I don’t know about Orange. If you’re staying long-term, get a VPN (install a few before you leave) and a Chinese SIM card.

Airalo is expensive.

I was in China from February to March 2026. I’m heading back this Monday, April 13, 2026. I have a reservation. To use the Free mobile plan, you need to get a phone signal! I traveled with a Brit to some "off-the-beaten-path" villages in the Guizhou mountains. In some of those villages, we couldn’t get any signal at all. We had Chinese-brand phones (Xiaomi and Huawei) but bought in Europe—he even had a Chinese SIM card. The locals had no trouble getting a signal. So it seems that in some parts of China, the technology used isn’t compatible with our European phones. For payments, it’s best to have cash on you.

In remote areas, yes. Since WeChat was quickly blocked, I also withdrew some cash. It’s reassuring.

Or in Guizhou?

In remote areas, yes. WeChat was quickly blocked, so I also withdrew some cash. It’s reassuring.

Or in Guizhou?

In Qiandongnan.

Okay, but then it's really about isolated villages because in Kaili and the touristy villages, it works without any problem

Okay, but really only in isolated villages because in Kaili and the touristy villages it works without any problem

That’s exactly what I was saying. No problem in the touristy villages.