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China eSIM Guide: eSIM, Roaming or a Local SIM?

Compare internet options for your China trip and check whether your eSIM can receive verification texts.

Should I buy a SIM at the airport or get an eSIM in advance for a 1–7 day trip?

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At a glance

Distribution based on duration of stay:

  • 1-7 days: Use direct international roaming or eSIM with a number. To obtain a local SIM card, you need to go to the service center in person and undergo facial recognition. The process takes at least half a day, which is not cost-effective for short-distance travel.

  • If you plan to stay in this area for more than 7 days, it's more cost-effective to obtain a local SIM card. Mobile cards directly affect activities such as internet access, payment verification, taxi booking, and ticket ordering.

    It's worth obtaining one of these cards. The complete process, from finding a service center to activating the card, is outlined in the following document: "How to Obtain a Chinese Mobile Card: Find a Service Center → Provide Real Information → Activate the Card (approximately 30 minutes to half a day)" see below.

Procedure Card: Applying for a Chinese mobile phone card: Find a service center → Provide real identity information → Activation and testing (approximately 30 minutes to half a day)

Legal requirements mandate real-name registration: One must be present in person (face recognition, no proxy allowed), and the process must be carried out with the original passport. Each person can only have up to 5 cards from one operator.

The card directly affects internet access, payment verification, taxi booking, and ticket ordering—it's worth getting one.

  1. Find the operator's own service hall (do not go to small agent stores or mobile accessory shops—they often cannot process foreign passports). China Mobile has an official English-language service hall query tool (search for 'China Mobile service hall'); Unicom users can call 10010, and Telecom users can call 10000 to inquire.

    Alternatively, search for 'service hall' on Amap/Baidu Maps, and look for listings marked 'China Mobile/Unicom/Telecom own service halls'. (Chinese text: )

  2. Please bring the following items

    original passport (required), unlocked mobile phone (compatible with Chinese 4G/5G bands), information about your address in China (required to be filled out at some service counters), and payment methods (cash, international bank cards, or QR code payments are accepted at most counters).

  3. Counter instructions

    Please present your passport, and state "foreigner SIM card" or "I need a mobile phone card, with data and SMS capabilities". (Please save this statement in the translation app for future use.)

  4. Choose your package (based on 2026 market conditions, RMB pricing, subject to official announcements): Short-term travel card – 79 RMB for 7 days (15GB + 100 minutes), 99 RMB for 15 days (40GB), and 129 RMB for 30 days (65GB).

    There are also packages ranging from 50-139 RMB for 10-50GB per month. Monthly subscription cards for 30GB capacity range from 79-129 RMB per month. Generally, prices at airport counters are higher than those in urban business centers (the same level of service can be twice as expensive in urban areas), so it's more cost-effective to purchase in urban areas.

  5. Real-name registration

    Staff members scan passports + face recognition photos on-site + data entry into the system—this is the legal process, which takes 5-10 minutes.

  6. Activate and test immediately (make sure to complete this process before leaving the store): Insert the card, enable mobile data, wait for 1-3 minutes until signal appears. Then make one call, send one text message, and open a web page to check traffic.

    Please have the staff write down the 11-digit new number on the card case (including the PUK code). Keep it safe and use it if the card gets lost or damaged.

  7. Recharge

    You can use Alipay/WeChat's 'Mobile Recharge' feature to instantly recharge with your bound international bank card (recharge options include 30, 50, or 100 yuan levels).

Important

The mobile phone must support VoLTE technology (most phones have this feature since 2015). Starting from 2026, some carriers will restrict the sale of cards to foreigners. It's best to go through the process in person for peace of mind.

Getting a card is free; you only need to pay the monthly subscription fee. If you encounter salespeople offering expensive "tourist-exclusive cards", please refer to the information above before making a decision.

  • Don’t go to airport agencies to get expensive tourist cards. Compare prices first (airport counters generally charge more than offices in the city center. See the price difference on the application form).

Where might I get stuck with a data-only eSIM that cannot receive text messages?

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At a glance

Many inexpensive travel eSIMs provide data only and have no phone number. The source warns that if you cannot receive text messages, you may get stuck when Alipay or DiDi sends a verification code or when you need to communicate with your hotel. It lists three options:

  1. eSIM with a phone number

    Receives texts and is the simplest option according to the source.

  2. International roaming with your home carrier

    Keep your usual number for verification codes. Data is expensive, so it suits short trips.

  3. Data-only eSIM

    Suits travelers who have already set everything up and do not need to receive verification codes.

Ask yourself whether you will need SMS verification codes after arrival. If so, the source recommends an option with a phone number. The four choices are compared below.

Step-by-step card: Which SIM option should I choose?

Will you need text verification codes after you land, for example for your bank, Alipay login, or contacting family? If yes, choose a plan with a phone number. If you only need internet access, a data-only plan is the least expensive option.

| Option | Can it receive SMS codes? | Can it access Google or YouTube? | Price | When to set it up | |---|---|---|---|---| | International roaming with your home carrier | Yes, on your existing number | Yes, according to the source | Home carrier's roaming rate, usually per day or by data usage | Activate before departure and use on arrival | | International eSIM with a number | Yes | Yes, according to the source | Depends on plan duration or data allowance | Buy online before traveling and scan the installation QR code | | Data-only international eSIM | No | Yes, according to the source | Varies by plan.

Usually the cheapest of the four | Buy online before traveling and scan the installation QR code | | Mainland Chinese SIM card | Yes, on the new Chinese number. The source assumes your original number is temporarily unavailable for texts | The source says Google, WhatsApp, and YouTube are unavailable on the domestic network and advises setting up a VPN before departure | For plans of 20 GB or more, about CNY 79 for 7 days, CNY 99 for 15 days, or CNY 129 for 30 days | Visit a carrier shop in person after arrival.

Allow 30 minutes to half a day |

  1. For 1–7 days of leisure travel, the source recommends an international eSIM with a phone number to cover data and verification codes.

  2. For 1–7 days with no need to receive codes, a data-only eSIM is cheapest. You may get stuck if an Alipay login or bank verification requires an SMS code.

  3. For a stay of 7 days or longer, or if you plan to use local services such as Meituan, Dianping, or 12306, the source recommends a local SIM as better value. Its data runs on the domestic network, which affects access to some overseas websites.

    See the guide to getting online in China.

  4. If unsure, the source recommends spending a little more for an international eSIM with a number to avoid problems receiving codes.

Important

The source says that a mainland Chinese SIM uses the domestic network and that overseas services such as Google and WhatsApp may be inaccessible. It recommends installing, testing, and keeping a backup VPN before departure, since official stores and websites may be inaccessible after arrival.

See the local SIM card setup guide for the carrier shop, identity registration, and activation steps, estimated at 30 minutes to half a day.

Do I need a VPN in China? What's the easiest way to get online?

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At a glance

The source says international roaming or a travel eSIM with a phone number lets you access overseas sites without installing anything. With a mainland Chinese SIM or hotel Wi-Fi, it recommends setting up a VPN before you travel.

Three routes, different results.

  • Local carrier international roaming: Data is transmitted through the local carrier's network. You can access Google, WhatsApp, and YouTube without installing any additional software. Activate this service before departure, and it will work right away upon arrival.

  • Travel eSIM with numbers: The same principle applies. It can be used to access websites abroad, and it can also be used to receive SMS verification codes from within the country. Purchase it online before departure, and scan the code to install it in your phone.

  • Chinese local SIM cards, hotels, and public Wi-Fi: Use domestic networks; services outside of China cannot be accessed. You will need to install a VPN software to use these services.

If you want to install VPN, do it this way.

  1. Prepare everything before departure, log in to the system, and try connecting once to ensure that Google can be accessed. After arriving at the destination, both the official app store and the website are unavailable.

    It will be too late to install anything now.

  2. Have one extra in case something goes wrong. After getting down to the ground, if one device fails to connect, you need to have a second device available for replacement.

  3. Before purchasing, check the actual performance of the tool over the past two months. Don’t rely on recommendations from half a year ago. The availability of such tools can change quickly.

Important

Both VPNs and international networks are only effective for mobile data. Once you connect to a hotel Wi-Fi, you're stuck on the domestic network—there's nothing you can do to change this situation. If you need to send messages to your home or receive verification codes from abroad, turn off the Wi-Fi and use your data instead.

Chinese daily applications are not affected.

WeChat, Alipay, DiDi, Amap, 12306, Meituan, Dianping – all of these apps are functioning properly on the domestic network. There is no need for a VPN. Most of your operations in China rely on these apps.

Three things to do before leaving

  1. Install all the apps that are necessary in China. For a list of apps to install before departure, please refer to "Apps to Install Before Departure".

  2. Confirm that the roaming package includes data allowance, and turn off the feature that automatically connects to public Wi-Fi networks.

  3. Log in to all the foreign accounts that will be used. After arriving at the destination, the network environment may differ, so you may need to enter a verification code multiple times during login.

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