Check your device and account
Confirm that your phone is unlocked if you want another provider’s SIM, supports the relevant service, and can keep essential apps accessible. Save your carrier’s support number and account recovery method before departure. Consider how two-factor codes will reach you if your home SIM is removed or roaming is disabled. Do not cancel or replace a number that is tied to banking or account recovery until you know how those services will work.
- Ask your carrier what happens if data is exhausted or roaming is blocked.
- Check eSIM support, device lock status, and the provider’s activation instructions.
- Keep a way to receive important account codes or use an approved recovery method.
Save essentials for offline use
Download maps or directions where supported, then save hotel addresses in Chinese characters and a readable romanized form. Keep your flight, accommodation, and pickup details in a note that works without a connection. Share the plan with a travel companion. A screenshot can help with an address, but it cannot refresh a changed timetable or prove a booking is still valid, so check live details when connectivity returns. Save your phone provider’s support route and the hotel contact details offline too, so you can ask for help if activation stalls.
Know the airport fallback
Shanghai’s published Pudong airport update describes free Wi-Fi access that can be verified by scanning a passport page, as well as visitor service points. Confirm current instructions and availability when you arrive; the airport information is useful as a fallback, not a substitute for a working plan. Keep your passport secure while completing any required verification and use posted airport guidance rather than an unsolicited request for personal information.
Use local help for a specific gap
Most visitors can manage with their own phone setup and saved instructions. Local arrival assistance may be worth comparing if you need help coordinating a pickup, have accessibility needs, or expect to be offline at a difficult time. Check what the provider actually does, whether translation or transport is included, and how changes are handled. A page describing an option is not proof of a reservation or live availability.
Official sources & further checks
Use these sources when preparing your trip. Rules and opening arrangements can change; confirm the details for your own dates.