Not on a normal Chinese network — Google Search, Gmail, Maps, Drive, Photos and the Play Store are all blocked by the Great Firewall. But you can keep using Google in China; it comes down to how your phone connects.
What Google services are blocked
On a local Chinese SIM or hotel Wi-Fi, the whole Google ecosystem is blocked: Search, Gmail, Google Maps, Drive, Photos, Translate and the Play Store. Apps that quietly sign in through Google can also fail without an obvious error.
How to use Google in China (no VPN)
The firewall only filters China's domestic internet. Put your phone on a foreign network and Google just works:
- A foreign travel eSIM (easiest). It roams in China but routes your data internationally, so Search, Gmail and Maps all load with no VPN to configure.
- A VPN on a local Chinese SIM. Cheaper data, but install and test the VPN before you fly — VPN sites are blocked inside China.
A note on Google Maps
Even over a roaming connection, Google Maps data for mainland China is patchy. Locals use Amap or Baidu Maps, which are far more accurate for directions, transit and ride-hailing. Download an offline Google Maps area before you travel as a backup, and consider installing Amap.
Set it up before you fly
Log in to Gmail and set up your eSIM or VPN at home on reliable Wi-Fi. Once you're inside China, app downloads and Google sign-in are hard to reach. A travel eSIM installs in a minute and only starts its clock when you connect in China, so there's no downside to doing it early.
See the full picture in our list of apps blocked in China, or whether you need a VPN in China.