Holafly China eSIM Review: Our Week in Shanghai (Built-In VPN Actually Works!)

We just got back from Shanghai, and I have news that will shock absolutely no one who knows us: we ate our way through the city while three kids complained about walking. But here's what genuinely surprised me - our Holafly China eSIM worked so ridiculously well that I'm questioning everything I thought I knew about internet connectivity in China.

Why China's Internet Actually Surprised Us

China's internet situation isn't about poor connectivity - it's about selective availability. Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube - all blocked faster than you can say "Great Firewall." This makes staying connected as a Western family particularly challenging, especially when your entire livelihood depends on social media and you have three kids who think WiFi is a basic human right.

We purchased the 7-day Holafly China eSIM for $27.30 USD ($3.90 per day) with unlimited data, expecting the usual international connectivity frustrations. What we got instead was genuinely impressive - blazing fast speeds that often exceeded what we get in our Chiang Mai apartment, consistent coverage everywhere we went, and most surprisingly, VPN connections that actually worked reliably.

Our week in Shanghai

Our Shanghai trip was intentionally brief but packed. We landed at 12:30am, 90 minutes late, finally crashed into our beds around 3am, and had to be up by 8am for our first tour. Throughout the whole whirlwind, our Holafly eSIM never missed a beat.

Lost Plate Food Tours: When Your eSIM Becomes Your Best Friend

We booked two food tours with Lost Plate Food Tours (save $5 with code ADAMANDLINDS), and this is where our Holafly connection really proved its worth. Food tours in Shanghai aren't just about eating - they're cultural immersion experiences that require constant translation, navigation, and the occasional panicked Google search for "is this safe for my lactose-intolerant 8-year-old?"

Shanghai Coffee & Breakfast Tour

The morning tour started at 8:30am at Wuding Road Subway Station, which sounds straightforward until you realize Shanghai's subway system makes London's tube map look like a children's coloring book. Our Holafly eSIM kept us connected to Google Maps (through the built-in VPN) as we navigated to the meeting point, then provided seamless internet throughout the 3-hour walking tour.

The tour guide led us through Shanghai's French Concession, hitting six different stops including a family-run scallion pancake shop that's been operating since 6am every day for 16 years. While the kids were fascinated by watching the dough-pulling process, Lindsay and I were uploading photos to Instagram Stories in real-time. The unlimited data meant we didn't have to choose between documenting the experience and actually experiencing it.

One of the tour highlights was a cutting-edge cafe serving coffee made with fermented rice - yes, you read that correctly. While I was contemplating whether this was the future of coffee or just hipster nonsense taken to its logical conclusion, our internet connection allowed us to research the brewing technique and share it with our YouTube audience immediately.

Shanghai Evening Food Tour

The evening tour proved even more data-intensive. Starting at Jiashan Road Subway Station at 6:30pm, we spent 3.5 hours exploring what our guide called "the clandestine cuisine of old Shanghai." This meant visiting four sit-down restaurants plus a craft beer bar, each requiring navigation, translation, and extensive photo documentation.

The soup dumpling education alone was worth the price of admission. Our guide taught us the difference between good and great xiaolongbao, which I immediately researched further online while Lindsay filmed my increasingly animated explanations for our travel videos. The craft beer taphouse at the end provided an excellent testing ground for our internet speed - streaming live to Instagram while sampling local microbrews in a 15-seat establishment that felt more like someone's living room than a commercial venture.

Jenny's Tours: Professional Guidance Meets Digital Documentation

We also booked two day tours with Jenny's Tours ($754 total for five people over two days), which provided professional guides and private car service. This is where having unlimited data became genuinely crucial for our family's travel style.

Day 1: Shanghai Incredible Highlights

The first day was an ambitious eight-hour tour covering both old and new Shanghai. We started in Lujiazui Financial Area, moved through Yuyuan Garden (dating to 1559), explored Old Shanghai neighborhoods, visited Jade Buddha Temple, ate at Yang's Fried Dumplings, wandered the Former French Concession, walked the Bund, and finished with a Huangpu River cruise.

Each location required different types of internet usage. At Yuyuan Garden, we used translation apps to understand the historical significance of the rock formations. In Old Shanghai, we researched the architectural styles we were seeing. At Jade Buddha Temple, Harper became fascinated by the jade Buddha statues imported from Burma in 1882, so we pulled up additional information about their journey and significance.

The Huangpu River cruise provided an excellent test of our connection stability. Even while floating down Shanghai's main waterway, surrounded by skyscrapers and presumably countless interference sources, our Holafly eSIM maintained consistent speeds. We were able to upload photos, respond to emails, and even start editing video footage from earlier in the day.

Day 2: Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town

The second day took us an hour outside Shanghai to Zhujiajiao, a 1,700-year-old water town featuring 36 stone bridges and traditional gondola rides. This rural excursion provided the ultimate test of our eSIM's coverage area.

The unlimited data proved essential when Cora decided she needed to research the Qing Dynasty construction techniques used in the buildings we were exploring. While she dove into Chinese architectural history on her iPad (connected through our phone's hotspot), the rest of us documented the gondola ride and sampled local delicacies including sticky rice dumplings and steamed pork wrapped in bamboo leaves.

The Built-In VPN Game Changer

Here's what genuinely shocked us: Holafly's China eSIM comes with built-in VPN functionality that actually works. Throughout our week, we automatically connected through servers in Singapore and occasionally Hong Kong, giving us seamless access to Western sites and services without any additional setup or monthly VPN subscriptions.

This was particularly crucial because we'd tried setting up traditional VPNs on our laptops in our Shanghai apartment and failed completely. The Holafly eSIM's built-in solution became our only reliable gateway to the outside internet, and it worked flawlessly every single day.

The combination of Holafly's unlimited data and integrated VPN meant we could check Gmail, upload to YouTube, update Instagram, respond to business inquiries, and maintain our normal online presence. For a family that makes their living online, this level of connectivity was business-critical.

We also discovered some excellent local alternatives that didn't require VPN workarounds. Amap (the Chinese equivalent of Google Maps) is surprisingly good and available in English translation. We used it for all our navigation and found it more accurate than Google Maps for Chinese locations. For payments, Alipay became our go-to solution - we never touched physical money the entire week. Everything from street food to taxi rides could be paid through the app.

Shanghai Disney: The Ultimate Data Stress Test

Disney parks are notorious data vacuums, and Shanghai Disney proved no exception. Between the official Disney app (required for virtually everything), constant photo and video documentation, live streaming for our audience, and the inevitable "find each other when someone gets lost" family coordination, we probably used more data in one day than most people use in a month.

The unlimited nature of our Holafly plan eliminated any data anxiety. We could use the Disney app without worrying about burning through our allowance, upload photos and videos throughout the day, and even start preliminary editing work while waiting in lines. This level of connectivity freedom in a theme park setting felt almost decadent.

Real-world performance

Setup and Activation Process

Installing the Holafly China eSIM was refreshingly straightforward. We purchased the plan before departure, received the QR code via email within minutes, and installed it on our phones while still in Thailand. Upon landing in Shanghai, we simply enabled the eSIM line and disabled our regular carrier's data roaming.

The entire activation process took less than five minutes from airplane mode to full connectivity. No hunting for local SIM cards, no language barriers with carrier stores, no compatibility concerns with our phones.

Cost Analysis: Worth Every Yuan

At $3.90 per day for unlimited data, the Holafly China eSIM proved excellent value for our family's connectivity needs. Consider the alternatives:

• International roaming from our Thai carrier would have cost approximately $15 per day per phone
• Local Chinese SIM cards require passport registration and mainland Chinese bank accounts for many features
• Hotel WiFi was inconsistent and often required separate logins for each device

For a family that relies on internet connectivity for work, education, and basic navigation, the peace of mind provided by unlimited data was worth the premium pricing.

What Actually Worked Without VPN

Not everything in China requires circumventing the Great Firewall. Several essential services worked directly:

• Amap (superior to Google Maps for Chinese locations, available in English)
• Alipay (we used this for everything - never touched cash once)
• WeChat (essential for local communication)
• Local ride-sharing apps like Didi
• Chinese e-commerce platforms for last-minute purchases
• Local restaurant booking and review platforms

For families planning a quick trip like ours, we made the smart decision to skip online schooling entirely. Knowing how difficult it would be to access most Western educational sites made this an easy choice - we focused on experiential learning instead.

The Broader Context: Shanghai as a Family Destination

Shanghai exceeded our expectations as a family travel destination. The combination of historical sites, modern attractions, incredible food scene, and surprisingly family-friendly infrastructure made it an ideal week-long stop. The language barrier, while present, proved less challenging than expected, particularly with reliable internet for translation services.

The city's rapid modernization means Western amenities are widely available, from international hotels to familiar food options when the kids inevitably tired of authentic cuisine. Yet the historical neighborhoods and traditional experiences provide genuine cultural immersion opportunities.

Practical Recommendations

Based on our week in Shanghai with three kids and heavy internet usage:

eSIM Choice: Holafly's unlimited China plan provides the best value for families who need reliable, consistent connectivity. Use code ADAMANDLINDS for 5% off.

VPN Setup: Holafly's China eSIM includes built-in VPN functionality that automatically routes through Singapore and Hong Kong servers. No additional VPN subscription needed.

Backup Plans: Download offline maps and translation apps before arrival. While our connectivity was excellent, redundancy is always wise when traveling with children.

Local Integration: Set up WeChat and Alipay before arrival if possible. Alipay is essential for payments - we never used cash once during our entire week. Amap (Chinese Google Maps) works excellently in English and is more accurate than Google Maps for Chinese locations.

The Unexpected Benefits of Reliable Connectivity

Having unlimited, fast internet in Shanghai created opportunities we hadn't anticipated. We could research historical context in real-time during tours, share experiences immediately with family back home, maintain our business operations seamlessly, and provide the kids with educational resources about what they were seeing.

The stress reduction alone was worth the investment. No data rationing, no hunting for WiFi networks, no choosing between staying connected and staying within budget. For families who travel with work obligations or educational goals, this level of connectivity freedom is transformative.

Bottom Line: China Connectivity Solved

Our week in Shanghai convinced us that the combination of Holafly's China eSIM with built-in VPN functionality has essentially solved the connectivity challenges that previously made China feel digitally isolated for Western travelers. The unlimited data eliminated usage anxiety, the coverage was comprehensive throughout urban and rural areas, and the speed was consistently excellent.

For families considering China travel, internet connectivity should no longer be a significant concern. With the right setup, staying connected in Shanghai is as seamless as staying connected anywhere else in the world.

Now if someone could just solve the jet lag problem, we'd really be onto something.

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