Stay online in China from the moment you land in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou. Install a data eSIM before you fly, skip the paperwork of a local SIM, and keep your usual number for calls and texts while you use maps, WeChat and Alipay across the country.
China eSIM
China eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
4.2 GB
0.6 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
$1.19 per GB
$4.99
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
$0.58 per GB
$12.99
Buy this planHeavy use
Unlimited data
15 days
You stream, work online or share your connection every day.
Full speed for the first 5 GB each day
$29.99
Buy this plan
Fixed data
One allowance for the whole trip, used at your own pace.
Daily data
A fresh allowance every day, slower above it until the next day.
Unlimited data
No cap on data, with a fair-use speed limit after heavy daily use.
Also covered by Asia Pacific
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Asia Pacific
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
Also covered by Global (75 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (75 countries)
Also covered by Hong Kong, Macau and China
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Hong Kong, Macau and China
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
Real people. A person answers every day, 07:00 to 23:00 Paris time, within 2 hours. How we look after you
Safe checkout. Secure payment by Stripe. Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Local networks. See which ones it uses in China
Which China plan fits your trip
China plans come in two shapes. The plan cards above show the days and data on sale:
- Daily data suits steady use. The 0.6 GB a day plans cover maps, WeChat and payments at the lowest price; the 1.5 GB a day plans add photos, video and the odd call home. Most trips are steady from day to day, so this is the usual pick.
- Unlimited suits heavy users, video calls and business travelers. A fair-use policy applies; the plan details say how.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves. Going on to Hong Kong or Macau? They are separate destinations for an eSIM: check the plan's list, or see our Hong Kong page.
Google, WhatsApp and Instagram
On local connections in mainland China, Google services (Search, Maps, Gmail), WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube are blocked. Whether they work on a travel eSIM depends on how the plan routes your data, so ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy if you rely on them. Either way, set up the Chinese apps below before you fly: they are what you will use day to day.
Apps to set up before you go
- WeChat for messages, and for the mini-programs many restaurants and sights use for menus and tickets.
- Alipay to pay in shops, taxis and on the metro. Both Alipay and WeChat Pay accept a foreign card for visitors; link yours at home.
- A map that works in China: Amap (Gaode) or Apple Maps, which uses local map data there. Google Maps is out of date in China even where it loads.
- DiDi for rides, which you can also open inside Alipay.
Each of these needs a phone number and data to sign up and verify, so do it before you leave.
Landing in China
Most international flights arrive at Beijing Capital or Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao'an or Chengdu Tianfu. Install the eSIM at home while you are on your own Wi-Fi, then turn on data roaming for the eSIM line once you are off the plane. You can then pay for the airport train or a taxi with Alipay before you reach the exit.
Coverage
Coverage is strong in the cities and along the high-speed rail lines between them. It thins out in the mountains of Yunnan and Sichuan, on the Tibetan plateau, in the deserts of Xinjiang and Gansu and on some hiking routes such as the Tiger Leaping Gorge trail. Download offline maps and save your tickets and hotel addresses in Chinese characters to the phone before you set out.
Networks in China
China's mobile networks are China Mobile, the largest, China Unicom and China Telecom. A travel eSIM connects to one of them as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. The partner network can differ from plan to plan, so check the plan details, or ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
China eSIM questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than my own carrier's roaming in China?
Usually, yes. UK, US and Australian carriers typically charge a daily pass for each day you use your phone abroad, and over a week those passes add up to more than a plan here. Check your own plan's roaming terms to compare.
Will Google and WhatsApp work in China with this eSIM?
They are blocked on local connections in mainland China. Whether they work on a travel eSIM depends on how the plan routes your data, so ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy if you rely on them, and set up WeChat and a Chinese map app either way.
Can a tourist buy a SIM card in China?
Yes, at an operator's shop with your passport, after a real-name registration. A travel eSIM avoids the shop: you install it at home and it works when you land. It gives you data, not a Chinese phone number.
Which apps do I need for China?
WeChat for messages and mini-programs, Alipay or WeChat Pay with your foreign card linked, Amap or Apple Maps for directions, and DiDi for rides. Set them up at home, since each sends a verification code.
Does a China eSIM work in Hong Kong and Macau?
Not automatically. Hong Kong and Macau are separate destinations for an eSIM. Check the plan's country list, or buy a plan for each.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees from home. Verification codes from Chinese apps arrive on your usual number if it can roam.
When does the plan start counting days?
On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network in China, not when you install it. The plan details say how yours works.
China travel guides
Our guides for getting online there.
