Is public WiFi in China useful?
Public WiFi coverage in China is extensive (airports, high-speed rail stations, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, chain coffee shops), but most require a Chinese phone number to receive an SMS verification code, which foreign numbers often cannot receive, making this the biggest obstacle. Usable exceptions: some airports and high-speed rail stations provide channels for verification using passports or Taiwan Compatriot Permits; international chain hotels usually allow direct connection (or using the room number and surname). Therefore, do not rely on public WiFi; bringing your own internet plan (eSIM, local SIM, or roaming) is the only reliable approach. If there are multiple people traveling together, opening one
Public WiFi coverage in China is extensive (airports, high-speed rail stations, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, chain coffee shops), but most require a Chinese phone number to receive an SMS verification code, which foreign numbers often cannot receive, and this is the biggest obstacle. Exceptions available: some airports and high-speed rail stations provide a channel for verification using passport or Taiwan Compatriot Permit numbers; the WiFi at international chain hotels usually connects directly (or uses room number and surname). Therefore, do not rely on public WiFi; having your own internet plan (eSIM, local SIM, or roaming) is the only reliable approach. If you are traveling in a group, sharing a hotspot from one device is the most convenient—Chinese phones do not have restrictions on hotspot usage.