China SIM Card for Tourists — eSIM vs Physical SIM vs WiFi (2025)

Connectivity in China is not optional. Without mobile data, you cannot:

• Use Alipay or WeChat Pay (no payment)
• Open DiDi (no taxi)
• Use Gaode Maps / Baidu Maps (no navigation — Google Maps is blocked)
• Scan QR codes for restaurant menus
• Enter many buildings that require health QR codes

Arriving at a Chinese airport with no data plan is one of the most common and most stressful mistakes foreign travelers make. You can't even get a taxi to your hotel.

Here are your three options, honestly compared.

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Option 1: eSIM (Best for Most Travelers)

An eSIM is a digital SIM you install on your phone before departure. No physical card swap. No visiting a store. You land, turn on your phone, and you have data.

Top eSIM Providers for China

| Provider | Price (7 days) | Data | China Number? | VPN Included? | |----------|---------------|------|---------------|---------------| | Airalo | $5–15 | 1–5 GB | ❌ | ❌ | | Nomad | $8–20 | 1–10 GB | ❌ | ❌ | | Holafly | $19–27 | Unlimited* | ❌ | ❌ | | eSIM China (local) | $10–25 | 3–10 GB | ✅ Some plans | ❌ |

*Holafly "unlimited" may be throttled after high usage.

Pros

• Instant activation — install before you leave, activate on arrival
• No SIM swap — keep your home SIM in the primary slot, receive calls/texts from home
• No passport registration — the eSIM is purchased internationally, not subject to China's real-name SIM policy
• Easy to set up — scan QR code, follow prompts, done in 5 minutes

Cons

• No Chinese phone number (most plans) — this matters because:
  • WeChat real-name verification requires a phone number
  • 12306 (train booking) requires a Chinese number
  • Some apps only send verification SMS to Chinese numbers
  • DiDi works without a Chinese number, but customer support does not
• Data only — no voice calls or SMS through the eSIM
• Variable speeds — you're roaming on a Chinese network, speeds may be throttled

Best For

• Short trips (3–7 days)
• Travelers who already have Alipay Tour Pass set up
• People who don't need to register for Chinese apps during the trip
• Those who want to keep their home phone number active

Setup Steps

1. Check your phone supports eSIM (iPhone XS or later, most recent Androids)
2. Purchase eSIM from provider website or app
3. Scan QR code → phone adds the eSIM profile
4. Set eSIM as data line, keep physical SIM for calls
5. Enable eSIM data when you arrive in China
6. Important: Turn off automatic VPN connections that may interfere with Chinese network registration

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Option 2: Physical SIM Card (Best for Longer Stays)

A physical Chinese SIM from China Mobile (中国移动), China Unicom (中国联通), or China Telecom (中国电信) gives you a real Chinese phone number.

Where to Buy

At the airport (easiest):

• Look for "中国联通" (China Unicom) or "中国移动" (China Mobile) counters in the arrival hall
• Available at Beijing Capital (PEK), Beijing Daxing (PKX), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA), Guangzhou (CAN), Shenzhen (SZX)
• Staff usually speak basic English

In the city:

• Any official China Unicom or China Mobile store
• NOT convenience stores or unofficial kiosks

What You Need

• Passport — mandatory for real-name registration (Chinese law since 2015)
• Cash or WeChat/Alipay — many airport counters accept cash; city stores may require mobile payment (catch-22 for new arrivals — airport is easier)

Cost

| Provider | Tourist Plan | Duration | Data | Price | |----------|------------|----------|------|-------| | China Unicom | Tourist SIM | 7 days | 7 GB + 100 min calls | ¥100–150 | | China Unicom | Tourist SIM | 30 days | 20 GB + 200 min | ¥200–300 | | China Mobile | Travel SIM | 7 days | 5 GB | ¥80–120 | | China Mobile | Travel SIM | 30 days | 15 GB | ¥150–250 |

Prices vary by airport and availability.

Pros

• Real Chinese phone number — essential for full WeChat/Alipay verification, 12306, DiDi, and all local apps
• Better speeds — direct connection to Chinese network, not roaming
• Voice calls included — can call local numbers (restaurants, hotels, emergency)
• More data — typically more generous than eSIM plans at similar prices

Cons

• Requires SIM swap — you lose access to your home number (unless you have a dual-SIM phone)
• Passport required — registration process takes 15–30 minutes at the airport counter
• Available only in China — can't set up before departure
• Language barrier — city stores may not have English-speaking staff
• Real-name registration — your identity is linked to the SIM; China tracks all mobile activity

Best For

• Trips longer than 7 days
• Travelers who need full local app functionality (WeChat Pay, 12306, DiDi calls)
• Business travelers who need a reachable Chinese number
• Those with dual-SIM phones (keep home SIM + Chinese SIM simultaneously)

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Option 3: Pocket WiFi Rental (Niche Use Case)

A portable WiFi hotspot you rent at the airport or order online for hotel pickup.

Where to Rent

• Airport pickup counters (major Chinese airports)
• Pre-order: Klook, KKday, TravelWifi
• Hotel concierge (some arrange it)

Cost

• ¥20–40 per day
• ¥500–1,000 refundable deposit

Pros

• Multiple devices connect (phone + laptop + tablet)
• No SIM swap needed
• Some providers include VPN functionality (check carefully — not guaranteed)
• Unlimited data (typically)

Cons

• Extra device to carry and charge (battery life: 6–10 hours)
• No phone number — same limitation as eSIM
• Must return at specific location (usually the airport — you must fly out from the same airport)
• If it dies, you have nothing — single point of failure
• WiFi-only — doesn't work in some buildings with WiFi blocking

Best For

• Groups traveling together (share one device)
• Short trips where you don't need a Chinese phone number
• Travelers who need laptop connectivity

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The VPN Question

Almost all VPN traffic in China is restricted. The Great Firewall blocks Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter/X, YouTube, and many Western news sites.

Important nuances:

• VPNs work intermittently on Chinese networks — don't expect 100% uptime
• Connection speed with VPN is significantly slower
• Always turn VPN off for payments — Alipay and WeChat block transactions from VPN IPs
• Some eSIM providers route through Hong Kong or another country, which may bypass some restrictions — but this is unreliable

Before you go:

1. Download and configure a VPN app (ExpressVPN, Astrill, and Surfshark tend to work best in China)
2. Download offline versions of maps, translation apps, and anything else you'll need
3. Tell family/friends you'll have limited access to WhatsApp and social media

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The Critical Mistake: Arriving with No Plan

This is what happens when you land at Beijing Capital Airport with no data:

1. You can't use DiDi → no taxi (airport taxi queue is 60–90 minutes)
2. You can't use Gaode Maps → you don't know where to go
3. You can't use Alipay → you can't pay for the airport express train
4. You can't message anyone → WhatsApp doesn't work, iMessage works only if the other person is also on iMessage
5. You can't even scan the QR code for the airport WiFi (requires Chinese phone number to log in)

Solution: Have your connectivity sorted before you board your flight to China. eSIM is the zero-friction option. Physical SIM is the full-power option. Choose one.

Run the Risk Scanner to check your full digital readiness for China, or follow the step-by-step Setup Kit to prepare everything before departure.

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Last updated: February 2025. China connectivity rules change frequently — we update this guide monthly.