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Travel Guide

Offline preparation: What to do when there is no internet

In China, foreign websites and certain services are unavailable, and mountainous and plateau areas often have no signal. This article clearly explains what offline materials to prepare before departure.

Updated on 2026-10-28

Why Offline Preparation is Necessary

There are two overlapping reasons:

  • Service Limitations: Google services (Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube), Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and some foreign news websites cannot be accessed directly within the country.
  • Coverage Limitations: Some sections of roads in Western Sichuan, Qinghai-Tibet, Northern Xinjiang, and border counties have no mobile signal.

Essential Offline Materials Before Departure

1. Maps

  • Amap Offline Package: Download by province, includes roads and POIs. Before departure, download all the provinces you will visit in an environment with internet.
  • Baidu Maps as an alternative.
  • Paper or PDF Maps: The last resort in extreme situations, you can also screenshot regional maps and save them to your album.

2. Travel Documents

  • Daily itinerary (PDF or images), including daily accommodations, transportation, and attractions.
  • Accommodation information in Chinese addresses: This is the most important. Showing the Chinese address to drivers and locals is a hundred times more effective than speaking in English.
  • All order confirmation numbers, ticket numbers, and reservation codes.

3. Identification and Contacts

  • Photos of passport/Taiwan Compatriot Permit photo page and visa page.
  • Insurance policy numbers and 24-hour emergency assistance phone numbers.
  • Emergency contacts (family, accommodation, tour guide).
  • Contact information of relevant offices in Taiwan/Hong Kong/or your original residence.

4. Language and Medical

  • Commonly used Chinese phrases (save as images, no need to type).
  • Allergy and medication instructions in Chinese: This is a must. Clearly write medicine names, dosages, and allergens.
  • Summary of chronic medical conditions (one page).

Communication Alternatives

  • WeChat: Fully usable within the country and the most reliable way to keep in touch. Add all important contacts before departure.
  • SMS and Calls: Calls and SMS between Chinese numbers and foreign numbers work normally (after international roaming is activated).
  • Email: Overseas email services may not be able to access the web version directly, but most email clients (using IMAP) are usable.
  • WhatsApp / Messenger: Cannot be used directly within the country and requires extra setup; please arrange backup contact methods with your family in advance.

Practical Tips

  • Set key information as phone lock screen or wallpaper: Accommodation address and emergency numbers can be viewed without unlocking in extreme situations.
  • Paper copy: Print necessary information on a sheet in case the phone runs out of battery and keep it in your wallet.
  • Inform your family of your itinerary: Provide a complete version of your daily schedule and accommodation before departure.
  • Charger and cables: China voltage is 220V, sockets are mostly A/C/I type mix, bring a universal adapter. A power bank is essential.
  • Cloud sync: If the cloud service you use is inaccessible within the country, sync all data locally before departure.