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Carriers

Buying steps

eSIM options

🪪

Passport required

⚠️ SIM validity is tied to your visa: Chinese SIMs are automatically deactivated when your visa expires. If you extend your stay or renew your visa, visit the carrier's store to update your registration.

📍 Buy your SIM in the city where you'll stay the longest: Using a SIM outside its registered province (inter-province domestic roaming) can multiply data and call costs. If travelling across many cities, ask specifically for a national roaming plan.

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📱

China Mobile (中国移动)

World's largest carrier by subscriber count. Best rural and small-city coverage. Foreign customer hotline: 10086.

Daily plan: ¥5/day (1 GB)
Monthly plans: ¥49–199 (30–100 GB)
Tourist pre-paid SIM: ¥98 (30 days, 10 GB)

www.10086.cn

📶

China Unicom (中国联通)

Best coverage in major cities. Works with Apple SIM and easy to activate. Partnerships with AT&T and Vodafone. Hotline: 10010.

Daily plan: ¥5/day (1 GB)
Monthly plans: ¥58–188 (20–80 GB)
Visitor plan: ¥99 (30 days, 20 GB)

www.10010.com

🔵

China Telecom (中国电信)

Strong 4G/5G network in southern China. Offers eSIM for compatible phones. Hotline: 10000.

Daily plan: ¥5/day (1 GB)
Monthly plans: ¥49–199 (20–100 GB)
Tourist eSIM: ¥128 (30 days)

www.189.cn

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📍

Choose a purchase point

Buy from: official carrier stores (best for full activation), international airports (available on arrival), or licensed telecoms shops. Avoid unlicensed street vendors.

🪪

Bring your passport

Your passport is required by law (Anti-Terrorism Law 2015) to buy any SIM in China. Some stores also ask for a photocopy.

📋

Choose a plan

Ask for a "tourist card" (游客卡) or a visitor plan matching your stay length. Major city stores usually have English-speaking staff.

✅

Activation

Activation is usually instant at the store. Some SIMs take 1–2 hours. You'll need this number to register WeChat, Alipay, and DiDi.

🔄

Top-up

Top up via the carrier's app, any convenience store (便利店), or through WeChat/Alipay → "Telecom Services". Minimum top-up is usually ¥10.

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Airalo

Global eSIM app. Buy a China virtual SIM before departure. Works with most modern phones. Price: ~$4/1 GB.

GigSky

eSIM for frequent travelers. International data plans including China, activated instantly from the app.

BNESIM

Physical pre-paid SIM shipped to your country. Supports data in China without requiring a VPN.

Hong Kong SIM

If transiting through Hong Kong, buy a Three HK or China Mobile HK SIM — affordable mainland China coverage included.

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📶 5G is available in 300+ Chinese cities. Check that your phone supports bands n41, n77, or n78.
🔒 Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook are blocked on Chinese networks. Install a VPN before arriving in China.
🔄 eSIM: Most iPhone 14+ and many Android phones support eSIM. Verify compatibility before travelling.
🏪 Top-up at convenience stores: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson sell top-up cards for all carriers.
📞 For English support call: China Mobile 10086 → press 9 / Unicom 10010 → press 9.
🔃 Port your Chinese number to an app like Talkatone or TextNow to receive calls on a foreign number while in China.

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Can I use my Gulf/Arab phone in China?

Yes, most modern phones work in China. Confirm your carrier enables international roaming and that frequency bands are compatible. Roaming charges are high (roughly $8–40/day).

Can I get a Chinese number without being there in person?

You can buy an eSIM via apps like Airalo before travelling. Physical SIMs require in-person presence with your passport.

Do I need a VPN in China?

Yes, if you want to use Google, YouTube, WhatsApp, or Instagram. Install a trusted VPN before arriving — it cannot be easily downloaded from inside China. Search for a VPN with documented China support recommended by users in your region.

How long is the SIM valid?

Depends on the plan. Tourist SIMs are typically 7–30 days. After expiry you can top-up to extend (usually up to 90 days without use before the number is deactivated).