China eSIM

Mobile data in China without roaming charges. Install before you fly, get online the moment you land.

5GDelivered instantlyKeep your own number

Network5G
CoverageNationwide, 5G
ActivationStarts when the eSIM first connects abroad
Top-upDepends on the plan
Install within180 days
After the data runs outDepends on the plan
Internet exits inDepends on the plan

eSIM for China

Traveling to China? Get mobile data without buying a physical SIM card. Your eSIM is delivered instantly, installs in under a minute, and the plan starts counting only when you connect on arrival.

Data only — calls and SMS go through your usual apps

Plans and prices for China

24 plans, from $0.99 to $276. Validity options: 7 days, 30 days, 180 days.

The days start counting when the eSIM first connects in China, so you can install it well before the trip. Some plans can be topped up; the plan card says which. Daily plans: 500 MB/day at full speed, then at reduced speed, from $0.99.

How much data do you need?

A rough guide by trip length, with the cheapest plan that covers it.

	7 days	14 days	30 days
Maps, messengers, email≈ 307 MB a day	3 GB$3.99	5 GB$5.99	10 GB$11.49
Plus social media and photos≈ 1 GB a day	10 GB$11.49	20 GB$19.49	50 GB$47.99
Plus video calls and streaming≈ 2.5 GB a day	20 GB$19.49	50 GB$47.99	500 MB/day$28.99

Plan your data

Set days and habits, get the exact size and the plan that fits.

Open the calculator →

Going somewhere else too?

Compare one China (mainland & HK) eSIM with separate country plans.

Open the trip planner →

Networks & coverage

The eSIM connects to these operators in China; the phone picks the strongest one automatically.

China Unicom5G
China Mobile5G
China Telecom5G

Network generation shown only where the supplier reports it.

Also in: China mainland & Japan & South Korea, Asia (12 areas), Asia (20+ areas)

Questions

Does this eSIM work everywhere in China?

Yes — it connects to local operator networks across China, including the major cities and airports.

Which network will I use?

Local partner networks (5G).

When should I activate my eSIM?

Install it before you fly while you have Wi-Fi, then switch the eSIM line on when you land.

China: how do I install the eSIM?

Before the trip, on Wi-Fi: open the eSIM link from your order page and tap “Install on this iPhone”, or scan the QR code in Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM (on Android: Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM). When you land, choose the eSIM line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Your own SIM stays in the phone.

Can I share my connection?

Yes, personal hotspot works, subject to the plan’s fair-use policy.

Can I make calls and send SMS?

Not over the mobile network — plans are data only. Calls and messages in WhatsApp, Telegram, FaceTime and similar apps work as usual, and your own SIM stays active for regular calls.

What happens when the data runs out?

The connection stops until you top up the same eSIM or buy a new plan.

China: where can I buy an eSIM?

Online, on this page: pick a plan and pay, and the eSIM is issued right after payment — no shop, no passport. You can buy it days before the trip: the plan’s validity starts when you install it or first connect abroad, not when you pay (see “Activation” on the plan).

Do I need an account to buy?

No. After payment the eSIM opens from the order link — keep it. The BeeSim app is optional.

Does my phone support eSIM?

iPhone XR/XS and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, and most flagships since 2020 do. The phone must not be locked to a carrier. Full list and how to check: compatible phones.

Traveling on to other countries?

A regional plan covers China (mainland & HK), China (mainland HK Macao), China mainland & Japan & South Korea with one eSIM — see “Also covered by” above.

Good to know: China

China’s networks are China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, with 4G and 5G nearly everywhere people live.

On a Chinese SIM, Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and most Western services are blocked. A travel eSIM is a roaming profile whose traffic exits through the provider’s network outside China, so those apps usually work without a VPN. This is the main reason visitors pick a travel eSIM over a local SIM here.

Hong Kong and Macau are separate destinations with their own networks and no such blocking; a mainland plan does not cover them unless its country list says so.

Prices updated October 19, 2026.

Also covered by

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Guides

50 GB · 30 days$47.99

Buy eSIM — $47.99