China eSIM
data from $2.99.

If you are searching for a China eSIM, buy a data only plan that connects to China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom with 5G where available, from $2.99. It comes as a QR code you scan before you fly. There is no local number and no calls or SMS, but WhatsApp, FaceTime and your home apps work over the data connection.

Choosing an eSIM for China

Look for coverage on all three main networks, a data size that matches your trip, and a validity period that covers your dates.

If you are asking which is the best eSIM for China, the answer depends on your trip rather than on one label. Four things matter.

First, coverage. China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom each run their own networks, and the eSIM picks one automatically when you arrive. A plan that can use all three gives you more room when one signal is weak inside a building, a mall or a train station.

Second, data. A short business trip with maps, email and messaging uses far less than a two week holiday with photo uploads and video calls. Match the size to the days, not to the headline number.

Third, validity. Plans run for 7, 15 or 30 days. The clock starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in China, so a plan bought early is not wasted.

Fourth, hotspot. Tethering lets you share the connection with a laptop or a travel companion. It is worth checking before you buy if you plan to work from a hotel room or a fair stand.

Finally, install before you fly. Adding the eSIM at home, on reliable wifi, avoids the awkward moment at the arrival gate when you have no data and no way to download the profile.

Plans and prices for China

Sizes run from 1GB to 50GB across 7, 15 and 30 day plans, starting at $2.99.

There are seven data sizes and three durations. The table below shows the common combinations with live prices.

Small sizes suit light use over a week. Larger sizes suit longer stays, heavier photo and video use, or hotspot sharing with a second device. If your dates are fixed, choose the duration first and then pick the data size that fits your habits. A one week traveller does not need a 30 day plan, and a month long stay should not rely on a 7 day one.

Networks and coverage in China

The eSIM connects to China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, with 5G where those networks provide it.

The network is chosen automatically. You do not pick an operator or enter settings by hand. Your phone finds a signal after you land and switch the eSIM on, and it attaches to an available network.

In cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, all three operators run broad networks, and 5G is available in many areas. Indoor coverage varies by building, as it does anywhere. If a signal is weak in one spot, moving a few metres or stepping outside often helps.

Between cities, coverage follows the rail lines and motorways. On a high speed train, expect the connection to come and go as the route passes through tunnels and open country.

Business travellers at fairs and exhibition centres should treat the venue as a busy place. Large crowds put pressure on any network, so download your schedule, tickets and maps before you arrive at the hall rather than relying on a live connection at the entrance.

How much data you need

Match the size to the trip: a week of maps and messages needs far less than a month of photo uploads and video calls.

These starting points use the plan sizes available for China.

• One week: 1GB over 7 days for maps, messaging and light browsing.
• Two weeks: 2GB over 15 days for the same habits with a little more room.
• One month: 3GB over 30 days for a longer stay with regular but modest use.
• Business trip or fair: 5GB or 10GB over 30 days if you tether a laptop, take video calls and upload documents.
• Heavy photo and video use: 20GB or 50GB over 30 days if you share the connection and post as you go.

These are starting points, not limits. If you stream video, use cloud backups or work from the road, move up a size. Topping up later is possible, but starting with enough data avoids interruptions in the middle of a trip.

Install it before you fly

Add the eSIM to your phone at home on wifi, then switch it on when you land in China.

You receive a QR code after purchase. Scan it in your phone settings and the profile installs. Keep the eSIM switched off until you arrive, so the validity period does not start early.

On arrival, turn on the eSIM and give it a minute to find a network. Set it as the line for mobile data, and keep your home SIM active for calls and texts if you need them.

Step by step instructions are in our guide to installing an eSIM on iPhone and Android. If you are unsure whether your handset supports eSIM, check our guide to eSIM compatibility before you buy.

Calls, texts and your home number

The China eSIM is data only. It has no local number, so calls and SMS go through your home SIM or over data apps.

WhatsApp and FaceTime calls work over the data connection, and so do other messaging apps that use data. That covers most of what travellers need: family check ins, work messages and voice calls over wifi or mobile data.

Keep your home SIM in the phone and active for calls, texts and bank codes. Your bank may send a one time code by SMS when you log in or pay, and those messages arrive on your home number, not on the eSIM.

Check what your home operator charges for receiving texts abroad, and set the eSIM as the data line so you are not paying roaming rates for data on your home plan.

Questions travellers ask about China

Short answers to the things people check before buying a China eSIM.

Is it data only? Yes. There is no local number and no calls or SMS on the eSIM. Calls and texts stay on your home SIM, and WhatsApp and FaceTime work over data.

Does the plan start when I buy it? No. The validity period starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in China, so installing early is safe.

Can I share the connection? Hotspot is supported, so you can tether a laptop or share with a companion, within the data you have bought.

Can I top up? Yes, you can add more data if you run low. The full FAQ below covers phones and other details.