diff --git a/source/_posts/facebook-instagram-whatsapp-china.md b/source/_posts/facebook-instagram-whatsapp-china.md index 3f9acd1..e783f1a 100644 --- a/source/_posts/facebook-instagram-whatsapp-china.md +++ b/source/_posts/facebook-instagram-whatsapp-china.md @@ -1,6 +1,7 @@ --- title: Access Facebook/Instagram/Whatsapp/Google in China date: 2018-12-31 00:00:00 +lastUpdated: 2019-01-13 00:00:00 tags: --- Facebook/Instagram/Whatsapp/Google are blocked in China. You can either use data roaming or VPN to access them. Roll your own VPN if you don't trust commercial VPN provider. @@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ Facebook/Instagram/Whatsapp/Google are blocked in China. You can either use data Data roaming using a foreign SIM is the easiest and most reliable method. You don't need to install any app, just pop the SIM, enable data roaming and you're good to go. Any foreign SIM would work, as long it's not Mainland China. Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan's SIM is considered as a foreign SIM, so it works as well. -However, this method is also the most expensive. Unless your telco offers a cheap global roaming plan, following are your best options: +However, this method is also the most expensive. Unless your telco offers a cheap global roaming plan (e.g. [Google Fi](https://fi.google.com/about/international-rates/)), following are your best options: 1. [StarHub Internet-only SIM](http://www.starhub.com/personal/mobile/mobile-phones-plans/prepaid-cards/internet-sim.html) @@ -21,24 +22,31 @@ Screenshots: 2. China Unicom Data-only SIM Screenshots: -[7-Day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-7-day.jpg), [8-Day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-8-day.jpg), [15-Day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-15-day.jpg), [30-Day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-30-day.png) +[3-day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-3-day.jpg), [5-day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-5-day.jpg), [7-Day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-7-day.jpg), [8-Day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-8-day.jpg), [15-Day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-15-day.jpg), [30-Day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-30-day.png) StarHub | China Unicom HK ---|--- Pros:
- Support [more countries](http://www.starhub.com/personal/mobile/mobile-phones-plans/prepaid-cards/happy-roam.html#hr_plans)
- Can be kept active | Pros:
- Widely available online
- Does not require ID -Cons:
- Only available at Singapore Airport | Cons:
- One-time use only
- Support only Mainland China.* +Cons:
- Only available at Singapore Airport | Cons:
- One-time use only*
- Support only Mainland China.* -*Some plan includes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. +\* Except for [this product](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-cross-border.jpg).
+**Some plans include Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan. StarHub SIM is available at the Singapore Changi Airport, so it's a good option if you transit over there. You can top-up the prepaid value to keep it active. However, I think this SIM is not available online, so if you're not transiting through Singapore, your next option would be the China Unicom SIM. China Unicom SIMs shown here are provided by its Hong Kong subsidiary, so they are considered as foreign SIM and use data roaming. They are widely available online, you can easily purchase it through eBay, Amazon or your local online shopping. You don't need an ID to purchase it, and the seller won't request it either. It works all over the Mainland, unlike some China domestic SIMs that only work in the originating city or state. This benefit applies to any roaming SIM. -Do note the SIM package cover must be one of four examples provided above, otherwise the SIM could be China Unicom domestic SIM. The SIM is one-time use only. The SIM is activated once you start using it and when you reach the validity period, it can no longer be used. +Do note the SIM package cover must be one of four examples provided above, otherwise the SIM could be China Unicom domestic SIM ([example](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-domestic.jpg)). The SIM is one-time use only. The SIM is activated once you start using it and when you reach the validity period, it can no longer be used. If you haven't noticed, the SIMs I mentioned here (including Starhub and China Unicom) are **data-only**. So you can't make/send/receive calls and SMS. +**Edit**: I found China Unicom SIMs that can call (not sure about text) between Mainland and Hong Kong; [3-day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-3-day.jpg) and [5-day](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-5-day.jpg) SIMs. They are Hong Kong SIMs, so they should work. They include data but the SIMs are one-time use only. + +For regular SIMs that include call and text, I found this [Hong Kong SIM](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-cross-border.jpg). The seller usually also sells prepaid voucher, so you can keep it active like StarHub's. + +For the purpose of this article, you should *avoid* this [domestic SIM](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-domestic.jpg) (which is subjected to local censorship) and this [Asia SIM](https://res.cloudinary.com/curben/image/upload/20181231/unicom-asia-8-dau.jpg) that doesn't include Mainland. + ## VPN Data roaming can be exorbitantly expensive, especially if you're going to stay there for more than a month. Not to mention the data plan that is puny to the data-hungry. The next option, which is more well-known, is VPN.