The most used social media in China is WeChat (Weixin), a "super app" for messaging, payments, and services, used by over 90% of internet users, followed by short-video giant Douyin (China's TikTok), known for entertainment and e-commerce, and Tencent's older messenger QQ. These platforms dominate, with WeChat as the essential utility and Douyin leading in video consumption and shopping.
WeChat is undoubtedly the powerhouse of the Chinese social media landscape, with a user base of over 1.38 billion. WeChat has one of the most active user bases among all social media platforms in China, with 877 million people logging in every day, and 61% checking their accounts for updates at least ten times a day.
China's Great Firewall blocks foreign social media sites like Facebook, curbing politically sensitive content. Facebook has been banned in China since 2009, after riots in the Xinjiang region. Despite being blocked, Facebook earns revenue from advertising aimed at Chinese markets through resellers.
By 2018, WeChat had been used by 93.5% of Chinese internet users.
Xiaohongshu (XHS; Chinese: 小红书; pinyin: Xiǎohóngshū; lit. 'little red book'), known in English as RedNote, is a Chinese social networking and e-commerce platform. Xingyin Information Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
TikTok, known in mainland China and Hong Kong as Douyin (Chinese: 抖音; pinyin: Dǒuyīn; lit. 'Shaking Sound'), is a social media and short-form online video platform owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which range in duration from three seconds to 60 minutes.
TL;DR: No, WhatsApp is blocked in China by the Great Firewall. However, travelers can easily bypass this restriction using a travel eSIM (like Nomad eSIM) or a VPN. For most tourists, a travel eSIM is the most reliable and hassle-free solution to ensure WhatsApp works in China for messaging and calling.
Momo is, by far, the most popular Chinese dating app and by the number of users this mobile app is only second to WeChat.
This super-app functionality is what sets WeChat apart and makes it so indispensable in China. You can order food, book taxis, pay your bills, shop online, play games, and even access government services, all without ever leaving the WeChat app. WeChat's payment system, WeChat Pay, is particularly noteworthy.
WeChat (Alternative to WhatsApp)
WeChat, or Weixin, is China's most popular messaging app, offering chat, image and file sharing, voice messages, and video calls.
China's "3-hour rule" for minors restricts children under 18 to playing online video games for only three hours per week, specifically from 8 PM to 9 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, to combat gaming addiction and improve health. Implemented by the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) in 2021, the rule mandates gaming companies use real-name verification and facial recognition to enforce limits, though some children bypass it using adult accounts.
The "Three Ts" in China refer to the highly sensitive topics of Taiwan, Tibet, and Tiananmen Square, which are major taboos and subjects of strict censorship, with discussions often discouraged or forbidden due to their challenge to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) narrative and authority. Foreigners are often advised to avoid these topics to prevent discomfort, legal issues, or awkwardness with Chinese citizens.
WhatsApp has been banned in China since 2017. The Chinese government's doubts about its end-to-end encryption and strict internal censorship measures led to this restriction. However, this is not the only app banned in China.
China operates one of the world's most sophisticated internet censorship systems, commonly known as the Great Firewall. This nationwide filter blocks access to many Western websites and applications, including Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, WhatsApp, and all Google services.
Launched by Sina Corporation on 14 August 2009, it is one of the biggest social media platforms in China, with over 582 million monthly active users (252 million daily active users) as of Q1 2022.
WeChat does not provide end-to-end message encryption. WeChat is also subject to Chinese laws, which could mean the company must provide user data if requested by the government. As a result, WhatsApp is considered safer for privacy and security than WeChat.
You can, but since most have moved toward cashless, you might not be able to get change back. You probably do. It's the main chat app in China. Also some vendors don't accept cash or Alipay so you have WeChat pay as the only option.
WeChat is free to download! All of WeChat's core features are free to use.
Tantan 探探 – The Chinese Tinder (its Chinese meaning is « probe ») Slogan: Tantan helps you find the one ! Tantan, the chinese app compared to Tinder, has just raised over US$5M in series-A funding. Tantan works in the same way that Tinder does, and it even looks like it !
The important thing is to maintain her interest in you. You should insure your conversation is charming without being over effusive. You need to display honesty at all times and be able to engage her in topics that will keep her rooted in whatever it is that you are talking about.
Dating apps in China
Baihe (百合): One of China's oldest and most serious dating platforms, Baihe is designed for users seeking long-term relationships and marriage, featuring real-name registration, thorough profile verification, and detailed personal information.
The legality of VPN use in China isn't black and white. Officially, only government-approved VPNs are legal. These are typically used by corporations for internal communications, not by individuals. However, in practice, millions of expats and tourists use VPNs daily without facing penalties.
Gmail is blocked in mainland China, and you won't be able to send or receive emails through the Gmail app or website using regular local data connections. To access Gmail, travelers usually rely on an international eSIM that routes traffic outside China or use a VPN.
Because WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, Chinese regulators cannot easily monitor or filter the messages sent through the app. As a result, access to WhatsApp was gradually restricted, and by 2017 it became fully blocked on local networks.