How have you navigated thru China?

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rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#242544 2-Nov-2018 19:07

Those that have been to China how have you navigated? Google is blocked. I hear mix stories that they foreign simcards are not blocked but some say they are also blocked. Some say VPN. Even if it works Google might not have all the info re: like public transportation. Have any of you guys relied on Chinese apps and if so how have you used it if you could't read Chinese? Or have you mainly gone back to a paper map and pretty much like stuck to subway stations and using your orientation skills?

I had to use Baidu Maps for their street view. Google doesn't support that.

Cheers.

PeterReader

6018 posts

Uber Geek

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Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2118712 2-Nov-2018 19:07

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danielparker

223 posts

Master Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#2118724 2-Nov-2018 20:11

I'm with 2degrees.

Earlier in the year I was in Beijing and outer areas. I purchased 1GB data on their GlobeTrotter roaming pack. It worked 75% of the time.. Google Maps and Translate worked.. The other 25% it was like the outside world didn't exist.

I would still consider it a success.. just not 100%.

Daniel

epr

260 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2118731 2-Nov-2018 20:28

When I was there google.com was blocked but not .co.nz or .co.uk etc this was about 6 years ago or so so they may be blocking all these now but my friend who lived there for 6 months had good results with athe VPN service express vpn.
Good luck.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2119367 4-Nov-2018 11:38

I've got no desire to navigate through China, but I note that China maps for my offline GPS app (Sygic) are available for a price. (ATM that's showing as US$18.99 for full world maps/lifetime license - special price reduced from US$125). I'm not sure if that's a "special" limited to existing license holders.

I D/L the android version of the app quite a few years ago (3 phones ago IIRC) for about $20 (special at the time) including nz/aus maps. I've migrated to Google maps as data cost has become irrelevant either locally or with an Aus sim. The Sygic maps are pretty good, and update regularly (large file sizes though which used to be an issue - but not so much now that storage space on phones is better). But in Aus, Google maps show some unmarked roads / fire trials that I go on, the Sygic/TomTom maps show nothing. Caused us some bother when we missed a side trail in the bush in the middle of the night, but for marked road use, it seems to work perfectly.

lissie

495 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2165514 22-Jan-2019 15:35

I used maps.me - they are offline - you download the maps you need before you leave home I found them pretty good for China including some very untouristy areas that we ended up in (partner had a medical emergency)

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