Internet, Apps & Payments at the Canton Fair — WeChat, Alipay, VPN & SIM Guide

The Great Firewall — what is blocked in China

China operates an internet censorship and filtering system known as the 'Great Firewall' (防火长城). It blocks access to most major Western internet services and social media platforms without a VPN. Services that are blocked in mainland China include: Google (all products — Search, Gmail, Maps, Google Drive, Google Translate, YouTube, Google Meet), WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Telegram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Reddit, the New York Times, BBC, and many other Western news sites.

This is not a temporary restriction or a technical glitch — it is permanent and enforced by Chinese law. Many visitors discover this only after landing in China, when they find their email (Gmail) is inaccessible, their team communication (WhatsApp, Slack, Teams) has stopped, and Google Maps shows nothing.

The solution is a VPN — but you must download and set it up BEFORE arriving in China. The App Store and Google Play within China do not carry VPN apps, and VPN provider websites are themselves often blocked from within China. This is the most time-sensitive piece of digital preparation you can do for a Canton Fair trip.

VPN guide — how to stay connected to the rest of the internet

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) routes your internet traffic through a server outside China, bypassing the Great Firewall. When you connect via a VPN on your phone or laptop, your device behaves as if it is connected to the internet from whichever country your VPN server is in — typically you choose a server in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan or the US.

Download and install a VPN before you leave home. Recommended providers with a proven track record in China include ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark and Astrill. All have apps for iOS and Android. Subscribe to one, install the app, and test it by connecting to a Chinese server from your home country before you travel — this confirms it is working and you understand how to use it.

Once in China, connect to the VPN immediately after arriving. The VPN server location matters: Hong Kong servers often give the best speed and reliability from southern China (Guangzhou is very close to Hong Kong). Keep the VPN on at all times when you need to access blocked services.

VPN performance varies. During Canton Fair season, VPN connections can slow or drop at times due to increased traffic and occasional enforcement cycles. Have a backup VPN app (from a different provider) installed in case your primary one struggles.

Corporate VPNs (enterprise solutions used by large companies) generally work in China. If your company provides a VPN, test it from home first and confirm it connects to a server outside China.

WeChat — the essential business platform

WeChat (微信, Wēixìn) is China's dominant all-in-one communication and payments platform, used by virtually every person and business in China. For Canton Fair buyers, it is the primary way exhibitors will follow up with you after the fair — more important than exchanging business cards or email addresses.

Set up WeChat before you arrive. Download the app (WeChat is freely available on the App Store and Google Play outside China) and create an account using your phone number. Fill in your profile with your real name and a professional photo.

At the fair, scan each exhibitor's WeChat QR code (displayed at their booth or on their business card) to add them as a contact. Share your own WeChat QR code in return. A connection made on WeChat is a live channel: you can message, call (voice and video, which works through the Great Firewall without a VPN), send files, photos, PDFs and voice messages.

WeChat groups are widely used for Canton Fair buyer communities, industry networks and supplier follow-up groups. You may be invited into groups by exhibitors or fellow buyers — these are useful channels for market intelligence.

WeChat Pay (微信支付) is one of China's two dominant cashless payment systems. Link a Chinese bank card (not straightforward for foreigners) or — easier for overseas visitors — link a foreign Visa or Mastercard to WeChat's international payment function. This allows you to pay for meals, transport, small purchases and some supplier payments directly from WeChat.

Alipay — payments for foreigners

Alipay (支付宝, Zhīfùbǎo) is China's other dominant cashless payment platform, operated by Ant Group (part of the Alibaba family). Alongside WeChat Pay, it is accepted virtually everywhere in China — restaurants, supermarkets, taxis, metro stations, street vendors, and inside the Canton Fair Complex.

Alipay now has a dedicated international version that allows foreign visitors to link a foreign Visa, Mastercard or American Express card directly. Download the Alipay app before arriving, create an account, and link your card. The international version allows payment at all Alipay QR code terminals in China — the same system Chinese users use.

Alipay is also used for metro payments (tap to enter with the Alipay mini-program), DiDi ride-hailing (link Alipay as a payment method), and food delivery. Once set up, it is the most versatile single payment tool for a Canton Fair visitor.

Note: The transaction limit on the foreign card-linked Alipay account is typically RMB 50,000–200,000 per year, which is more than sufficient for a sourcing trip. Large B2B payments to suppliers are always done via bank transfer (TT) — Alipay is for everyday expenses.

SIM card options — which one to get

Your phone connectivity at the Canton Fair depends entirely on which SIM card you use. There are three main options: a Chinese SIM card, a Hong Kong SIM card, or international roaming on your home carrier's plan.

Chinese SIM cards: Available at airports, China Mobile/Unicom/Telecom stores and some convenience stores. Data speeds are fast (4G/5G) and coverage is excellent. However, Chinese carrier SIMs operate under the Great Firewall — meaning your VPN may be restricted or throttled, and some VPN protocols are blocked at the carrier level. Chinese SIMs are the cheapest option per gigabyte but least compatible with VPN use.

Hong Kong SIM cards (RECOMMENDED): This is the favoured option for international buyers. Buy a Hong Kong SIM card at Hong Kong International Airport (multiple carriers in the arrivals hall: 3HK, SmarTone, CMHK, CSL) before crossing into mainland China. Hong Kong SIM cards often include mainland China data roaming — meaning you get Chinese mobile data coverage while remaining on a Hong Kong-registered carrier, which is outside the Great Firewall. VPNs work freely on Hong Kong SIMs, data speeds are fast (4G/5G), and you can typically use WhatsApp, Gmail and all your usual apps without the VPN constantly needed. Prices range from HKD 80–200 for 8–30 day plans. This is the single best digital preparation investment for a Canton Fair trip.

International roaming: Your home carrier's roaming plan will work in China, but costs are typically very high (often USD 5–15 per day for a data add-on, or per-MB charges if on legacy plans). Check with your carrier before travelling. Roaming on your home carrier's SIM gives you internet access outside the Great Firewall (same as a Hong Kong SIM) but is significantly more expensive for extended stays.

WiFi at the Canton Fair — helpful but unreliable for video calls

The Canton Fair Complex provides WiFi throughout the halls. The network is available to registered buyers and exhibitors. Connection speeds during off-peak hours are reasonable for messaging, email and browsing. However, during peak daytime hours (10 am to 5 pm) the network is used by tens of thousands of concurrent users and speeds drop significantly. Video calls on the fair WiFi during peak hours are often unreliable.

Hotels near Pazhou generally offer better WiFi than the complex itself, and are suitable for video calls in the evenings. If your hotel is on Pazhou Island (such as the W Guangzhou), WiFi is typically high quality. Hotels in Zhujiang New Town and Tianhe also offer strong connections.

Do not rely solely on the fair's WiFi. Having a SIM card with a data plan (a Hong Kong SIM is ideal) gives you a reliable personal connection that is not shared with tens of thousands of other users.

Power sockets, adapters and charging

China uses Type A sockets (two flat parallel pins — same as the US) and Type I sockets (two or three angled flat pins — same as Australia). The voltage is 230V at 50Hz. If you are from the US (120V) bring devices that are dual voltage (most modern phones, laptops and camera chargers are, but always check). UK visitors need an adapter but no voltage converter for modern devices.

A universal travel adapter covering Type A and Type I is the safest option. Buy one before you leave — airport adapters are expensive. The Canton Fair Complex and most hotels in Guangzhou have both Type A and Type I sockets in rooms, often with USB charging ports as well.

Bring a portable battery pack (power bank) for full-day use at the fair. Your phone will be working hard — GPS, camera, WeChat, Alipay, translation apps — and most devices run low on power by midday without supplemental charging.

Translation apps

Google Translate: requires a VPN in China but is the most capable translation tool for complex text. Pre-download offline language packs for Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) from within Google Translate before you leave home — the offline mode works without internet or VPN.

Baidu Translate (百度翻译): works without a VPN in China and is built by China's largest search company. Quality is comparable to Google Translate for Chinese–English pairs. Available for iOS and Android, free.

DeepL: available as a mobile app and works via VPN. Known for higher-quality translation of complex technical and commercial text — useful for translating contracts, spec sheets and product descriptions.

WeChat's built-in translation: WeChat has a translation function for messages and voice notes directly within chats. Press and hold a message and select 'Translate' — useful for quick translation during active conversations with suppliers.

Key apps to download before arriving

VPN app (ExpressVPN, NordVPN or Surfshark) — essential, download and test before departure.

WeChat (微信) — for business contact exchange, messaging and payments.

Alipay (支付宝) — for everyday payments, metro and taxis. Link your foreign card before arriving.

DiDi (滴滴) — China's dominant ride-hailing app. Link Alipay as payment. Works in Guangzhou.

Baidu Maps (百度地图) or Gaode Maps (高德地图) — work without VPN, cover China comprehensively. Google Maps data in China is inaccurate — use these instead.

Baidu Translate — no VPN needed, works well for Chinese–English translation.

The official Canton Fair app — includes the hall map, exhibitor search, and schedule.

Your airline app — for boarding passes and flight updates.

Your bank or card app — to confirm international transactions are enabled and monitor spending.