Will mobile data while roaming used through travel add-on in China bypass the great firewall

Baobao8

I am travelling to China and would like to buy the travel add-on to use mobile data while roaming. However, will I be able to access apps like gmail, messenger, banks...etc using the mobile data or will that be blocked? Will I need to use a VPN instead? Thank you

BradDoell

Good morning @Baobao8

Many VPN’s are blocked by the “Great Firewall of China”. The last time I was in China, I did not use a VPN and was able to access Gmail through my IOS email client. Apple messages and access to my banking web sites was also not blocked.
And “what works and what doesn’t “ seemed to change depending on what part of China I was in.
Part of a discussion on a recent podcast I listened to was about the disappointment the speaker experienced using a VPN in China.
Cheers,
Brad

Use_code_VGTIB

Roaming uses local networks to provide connectivity.
Since Google services aren't available in China, those won't work without a VPN.

MobileFizzer_VBMV6

Roaming also often sends data back to the home carrier for real-time billing purposes before sending it out on the Internet. For example, I was perfectly able to access Canada-only services while in the Netherlands with my Fizz roaming data because the data was first sent to Montréal and services thus geolocated me in Canada.

Whether that works in China though, no idea.

alexanderluo10890

Yes, you need install a VPN to use google and messenger. I don't think they block banks access.