Does Saily Work in China? We Tested It in Shenzhen in 2026
Yes. We tested Saily ourselves in Shenzhen, China, on June 3rd 2026, where it connected to China Unicom 5G and reached 501 Mbps download speeds.
We were also able to use Google and WhatsApp normally over Saily mobile data, including spending a significant amount of time on WhatsApp calls.
If you’re planning to use Saily in China, our TEE15 discount code currently gives you 15% off.
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We used Saily during our time in sweltering Shenzhen in the middle of summer to see how well it actually performs in mainland China. During our test at Coco Park in Futian, Saily connected to China Unicom. We recorded 501 Mbps download speeds, 79.6 Mbps upload speeds and 159 ms ping using the Ookla Speedtest app.
The connection itself was excellent, but one of the more important results that most people want to know was that both Google and WhatsApp worked while we were connected through Saily.
Here are the results from our Shenzhen test:
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Location | Shenzhen, China |
| Date | June 3rd, 2026 |
| Network | China Unicom |
| 4G vs 5G | 5G |
| Download speed | 501 Mbps |
| Upload speed | 79.6 Mbps |
| Ping | 159 ms |
| Worked | |
| Worked |
Can You Use Google and WhatsApp With Saily in China?
Yes, both worked during our test.
We used Google normally while connected to Saily and also used WhatsApp extensively, including making WhatsApp calls. This is particularly useful in mainland China, where access to services including Google and WhatsApp is normally restricted.
We didn’t individually test every restricted website or app, so we can’t say that every service will behave in exactly the same way. However, Google and WhatsApp both worked during our real-world Saily testing in Shenzhen without us needing a separate VPN for those services.
What Network Does Saily Use in China?
During our test in Shenzhen, Saily connected to China Unicom only.
How Fast Is Saily in China?
Saily performed extremely well in our Shenzhen speed test:
- 501 Mbps download
- 79.6 Mbps upload
- 159 ms ping
In our wider China testing, we tested eSIMs from a number of eSIM providers. Saily’s 501Mbps result was the 3rd fastest download speed we’ve recorded in China so far.
eSIM Speeds Tested
Real-world eSIM speeds personally tested by us at Travel eSIM Expert, with the full breakdown behind every result.
View full speed database and testing method
The 501 Mbps connection was easily fast enough for the sort of things most travellers will use their phone for, including browsing, maps, messaging, video streaming, WhatsApp calls and anything you’ll need to do on the Chinese apps such as Alipay, WeChat and more.
As always, mobile speeds can change significantly depending on location, signal strength and network congestion, so our result shouldn’t be treated as a speed you’re guaranteed to receive throughout the country, especially in a place as big as China.
One other thing worth noting: many eSIMs we tested didn’t work at all in China, even though they were purchased and installed prior to arrival.
Do You Need a VPN With Saily in China?
For Google and WhatsApp during our test, no. Both services worked over Saily mobile data in Shenzhen without us needing to use a separate VPN to access them. We also wouldn’t assume from our test that every normally restricted app or website will work through Saily. We specifically confirmed Google and WhatsApp because those were services we actually used.
Saily Discount Code for China
If you’re planning to use Saily in China, you can currently get 15% off with our Saily discount code TEE15. For full details and pricing to expect, check out our Saily promo code article.
Our Verdict: Does Saily Work in China?
Based on our experience in Shenzhen, yes, Saily works very well in China. The standout result was the speed. We connected through China Unicom and recorded 501 Mbps download speeds. We were also able to access Google and WhatsApp, which makes Saily particularly interesting for travellers concerned about staying connected to services they normally use at home.
We will be heading back to China later this year and will keep this page updated when we try Saily’s service once again. For any more information on Saily, check out our Saily guides.
