China Trip

[froztheart]

Hi am going on a trip to China next week.

I'm considering to either get a prepaid card here from either Singtel/Starhub then heading over or purchasing a local sim card after I touch down.
But before finalizing on the choice, would like to have some feedback from experience for those that have travelled there.

Would like to know which option is
1. The most cost-saving/convenient
2. Have the most mobile data available for usage

Not exactly choosing the Wifi rental route, unless I don't have a choice as its pretty expensive for the 2 weeks duration that I'm gonna be there for.

Would appreciate inputs from fellow EDMWers. Thanks!

 

[lohsenglte]

Going to China and use their local networks would require you to get a reputable VPN service that is able to bypass the Great Firewall of China. It applies to both their local mobile networks and their fixed broadband networks (WiFi/Ethernet etc).

Using Data Roaming will avoid the need to do so, but it may not be cheap.

If you're M1 Postpaid Mobile customer with decent amount of data and on eligible plans, I would rather recommend you using M1 Data Passport. Yes it isn't cheap ($27 including activation fee), but if your data bundle is big, it's pretty worth it.

If not, get the StarHub Prepaid SIM and purchase the data plans to use instead. Not very sure your data usage but it would be the cheapest way to get data roaming other than M1 DP.

 

[SibehHL]

Just came back last week after spending one month there. Was using both Nord VPN+local SIM card for WhatsApp FB etc but found it's too slow and it disconnect if not in use.

Luckily I also bought the starhub happy roam $50 card which allows direct access to WhatsApp FB Google etc, even SingaporePools

Depending on your duration and data usage, maybe get starhub $50 + local card.

 

[hanneng]

you have few choices
1) Buy data roaming from local telco, like Singtel, M1 or StarHub

2) Buy prepaid HK SIM (buy from Qoo10)

3) Buy international data SIM like FlexiRoam, WeFlySIM (from Qoo10)

 

[xiaofan]

Just came back last week after spending one month there. Was using both Nord VPN+local SIM card for WhatsApp FB etc but found it's too slow and it disconnect if not in use.

Luckily I also bought the starhub happy roam $50 card which allows direct access to WhatsApp FB Google etc, even SingaporePools

Depending on your duration and data usage, maybe get starhub $50 + local card.

I bought 1GB Starhub prepaid roaming data and end up not using it much because I got local sim with large data and found two free VPN to use with the local sim.

For VPN, you can refer to the following.

【Best VPN provider (In your opinion)? - Page 162 - https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...st-vpn-provider-your-opinion-3807778-162.html

Posted using Huawei P20. HardwareZone Forums app

 

[SibehHL]

I bought 1GB Starhub prepaid roaming data and end up not using it much because I got local sim with large data and found two free VPN to use with the local sim.

For VPN, you can refer to the following.

【Best VPN provider (In your opinion)? - Page 162 - https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...st-vpn-provider-your-opinion-3807778-162.html

Posted using Huawei P20. HardwareZone Forums app

Being a frequent visitor to China, I have a 3yr subscription with Nord VPN and a permanent local Chinese number which charges RMB1 for every 1GB data (移动大王卡）Do note that not all VPN are good to use in China.

Everything was planned based on using local data but discovered to my dismay, data speed when accessing Google, FB, downloading WhatsApp photos etc were way too slow, simply cannot make it, seriously.

With SH happy roam, speed is no difference to when accessing from Singapore. In the end just carry two phones, problem solved.

If one is a heavy WhatsApp FB Google Youtube user, OR you access a lot to SGX, SG bank apps etc then using SH Happy Roam will be advisable.

 

[dryteletubby]

If you got broadband at home, run a VPN server on your router or pc. This way you can use your own VPN instead of paying for one that may not unblock sites.

 

[Intrinion]

Just came back from China approx a week ago.

My mates and I used StarHub’s Prepaid Happy Roam service during our journey. Receiption and surfing speeds are relatively good with no great fire wall of China restrictions to worry about.

One thing that is a must to be done is to configure your APN settings properly in SG before heading over - the configuration via the app is alittle buggy (at least for my Google Pixel - APN settings blank)

From a sample size of 5, you may occasionally lose data as well - which can be resolved by rebooting your phone and/ or changing your connection type from lte to 3G and vice versa.

 

[xiaofan]

Being a frequent visitor to China, I have a 3yr subscription with Nord VPN and a permanent local Chinese number which charges RMB1 for every 1GB data (移动大王卡）Do note that not all VPN are good to use in China.

Everything was planned based on using local data but discovered to my dismay, data speed when accessing Google, FB, downloading WhatsApp photos etc were way too slow, simply cannot make it, seriously.

With SH happy roam, speed is no difference to when accessing from Singapore. In the end just carry two phones, problem solved.

If one is a heavy WhatsApp FB Google Youtube user, OR you access a lot to SGX, SG bank apps etc then using SH Happy Roam will be advisable.

Starhub Happy Roam is pretty good but a bit pricey if you need more data.

I just got a 移动王卡 from my relative as well for RMB9 per month for 2year. 3rd year onwards is the normal price of RMB18 per month. Data is RMB1 for 1day for 1GB, but you can pay RMB40 for large data plan (after 10 GB speed limit of 1Mbps kicks in, after 100GB speed limit of 128kbps kicks in).

As for VPN, Nord is more famous for reliability but not speed. I tried Turbo VPN free version and it is pretty fast. Then I tried some free ShadowSocks (SS/SSR) server and they are pretty fast as well.

I bought Starhub S$15 prepaid card and 30day 1GB data for S$11. In the end I only used it for the first day. Just came back from my 8day trip to China.

I only visit China once or twice per year so I decided not to pay for SS/SSR server provider yet (机场 in Chinese). They are faster than traditional VPN. You may want to consider them.

Posted using Huawei P20. HardwareZone Forums app

 

[kenplicity]

if going to macau/china, go for M1 roaming (30 days, tap on existing data) or go for the free 1GB flexiroam provided by scoot better?

 

[SibehHL]

if going to macau/china, go for M1 roaming (30 days, tap on existing data) or go for the free 1GB flexiroam provided by scoot better?

M1 data passport should cost $10 (Macau) + $25 (China) + $2 (activation fees) unless you go for Asian Countries Data Bundle at $50 + $2

Starhub Happy Roam is a worthwhile alternative otherwise.

 

[thumbtacked]

M1 data passport should cost $10 (Macau) + $25 (China) + $2 (activation fees) unless you go for Asian Countries Data Bundle at $50 + $2

Starhub Happy Roam is a worthwhile alternative otherwise.

starhub datatravel is better in this regard, i paid $20 for 3GB valid 30 days. covers the entire Asia, including china.

 

[zzxxzzxx]

Prepaid:

Starhub Happy Roam
$50 New SIM
- $50 Credits
- 5GB 30 Days Data (Local and 17 Overseas Location)
- 100GB 10 Days (Local ONLY)
- $10/1GB/28Days
- $8/1GB/7Days
- $5/1GB/3Days
- $3/1GB/1Day
- $18/2GB/28Days (Free LOCAL Sunday Data)
- $25/4GB/28Days (Free LOCAL Sunday Data)

Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America

Maximum 30 Days, Maximum 100GB.

$15 New SIM
- $15 Credits
- Purchase Data plans From Above mentioned

M1
NOT AVAILABLE FOR CHINA

Singtel Hi! DataRoam
Not Sure Which Prepaid SIM package is BEST. ($50/$38/$15/$8)
- $20/1GB/30Days

China, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea.

Postpaid:

 

[ngansolo]

My colleagues say go china cannot surf facebook or google is that true???

 

[SibehHL]

My colleagues say go china cannot surf facebook or google is that true???

If roaming using Singapore SIM card, then no problem to access all the above

If referring to local China SIM card or hotel wifi, then no, unless you connect to a VPN

 

[kenplicity]

If roaming using Singapore SIM card, then no problem to access all the above

If referring to local China SIM card or hotel wifi, then no, unless you connect to a VPN

How abt using flexisim

 

[TheModofPhones]

My colleagues say go china cannot surf facebook or google is that true???

facebook cant use facebook because they have weibo, they also use baidu as a replacement for Google. But i think still can access fb if use vpn

 

[Thayvia]

You can still access Facebook Youtube Google all those if you have VPN.

I would always recommend people to get a VPN-enabled WiFi router from changirecommends if they are travelling to China. Its damn convenient to collect it just before your flight. You can even save further costs if you are sharing with your friends on the trip

 

[foxer77]

how about the icc card that qoo10 selling? for data wise seem ok from the review , anyone tried it?

 

[SibehHL]

I am using the following three ways to access blocked sites while in country:

1) Data passport from M1 at $25 per 30 days with $2 activation fees. My current M1 plan gives me 10GB roaming data.

2) Starhub Happy Roam prepaid card at $10 for 1 GB valid 28 days but stackable. Other price plans available.

3) Sign up with Nordvpn and connect with local chinese sim card. Connections all good but of course with a much slower speed and battery consumption is high

Note that Nordvpn didn't work for a couple of days last month but working smoothly now. Cost is around USD 99 for 3 years and able to log on 5 devices concurrently.

Costwise is cheapest with VPN and you have a local number for calling rides but got to live with fast battery run down and slow speeds. Speedwise between M1 & Starhub roaming is no difference since it is dependent on local Chinese telco so it is a matter of cost effectiveness for users.