Can I use Google, WhatsApp and Instagram in China?
No, not on a normal mainland connection: Google services, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, X, Telegram, Signal and international TikTok are all blocked, as are most Western streaming services. Chinese apps such as WeChat, Alipay, Amap and Didi work normally. An eSIM routed through an international or Hong Kong carrier can bypass the filtering while one on a mainland operator does not, so check the routing of any plan rather than assuming.
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The single most useful distinction is between a connection routed through a mainland operator and one routed internationally. A travel eSIM that runs through a Hong Kong or international carrier is effectively outside the firewall, while a local prepaid SIM bought at the airport is inside it. Vendors describe this inconsistently, so verify before you rely on it.
If you plan to use a VPN instead, install it, log in and test it before departure: provider sites are blocked inside China, so you cannot download or subscribe once you arrive, and reliability varies sharply between providers. Note that only government-approved VPN services are legal, and that enforcement against foreign visitors on personal phones is rare but the legal position is unsettled for tourists.
Whatever you choose, download offline maps and an offline translation app in advance. The internet and apps guide covers which apps to install before you fly.