Quick answer
- Three options: your home plan's roaming, a travel eSIM bought before you fly, or a local Chinese SIM.
- Local SIM cards need your passport, in person, at an operator's own store. Nobody can register one for you. [1]
- Your phone needs 5G or VoLTE support to use a Chinese SIM. [1]
- Download and log in to everything you need (maps, translation, bank apps, Alipay/WeChat) before you leave home.
Your three options
| Home roaming | Travel eSIM | Local Chinese SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Usually just switch it on | Buy online, scan a QR code before you fly | In person at a China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom store, with your passport [1] |
| Cost | Often the most expensive | Usually mid-range, prepaid | Usually cheapest per GB; tariffs as posted by the operator [1] |
| Chinese phone number | No | Usually data only | Yes. Useful for deliveries and some local apps |
| Phone requirement | None | Phone must support eSIM and be unlocked | 5G or VoLTE-capable phone [1] |
Travel eSIMs: how they work
- Check compatibility: your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Check in your phone's settings before buying.
- Install at home: install the eSIM profile over Wi-Fi before departure, and turn it on (with data roaming enabled for that line) when you land.
- Pick the right size: maps, ride-hailing and translation apps use more data than you think. 1–2 GB a day is a comfortable estimate for heavy users.
- Keep your home SIM for SMS codes from your bank, with data roaming switched off to avoid charges.
A Chinese carrier eSIM is not an option on most visitors' phones. Apple says China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom now support eSIM in mainland China, but only on specific mainland-market iPhone models: iPhone 18 Pro (A3715), 18 Pro Max (A3718), iPhone Duo (A3721), 17e (A3635) and Air (A3518). "Other iPhone models, including those purchased outside of China mainland, are unable to install an eSIM profile from carriers in China mainland." Activation also requires a visit to a carrier store with ID [3]. A travel eSIM from a foreign provider, installed before you fly, still works on eSIM-capable phones [4].
Background: many international roaming and travel-eSIM plans carry data through the provider's network gateway outside mainland China, so the services you can reach can differ from a local SIM. Whatever you use, you remain subject to Chinese law while in China. This site doesn't give advice on bypassing network restrictions.
Local SIM: the rules
- Documents: passport (or Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card) [1].
- In person only: nobody can register a SIM for you using your passport [1].
- Where: the operators' own stores. Find one via 10086 (China Mobile), 10010 (China Unicom) or 10000 (China Telecom), or the operator's app [1]. Some airports have operator counters for arriving travellers [2]. Both Beijing airports also have SIM vending machines and staffed counters; airport Wi-Fi can be opened with a passport at a dispenser (5 hours, up to 3 print-outs per ID) [5]. A 2024 official page still says "China uses physical SIM cards"; that line is outdated given Apple's 2026 carrier-eSIM support, but the airport counter and Wi-Fi details remain useful [3][5].
- Limit: up to 5 active SIMs per person per operator nationwide [1].
- Top-ups: at operator stores, partner stores, or in the operator's app [1].
Wi-Fi in China
Hotels, cafés, airports and stations usually offer Wi-Fi, but public networks often ask for a Chinese mobile number to receive a login code. Don't plan to rely on public Wi-Fi alone. Have mobile data from one of the three options above.
Before you fly: checklist
- Install and log in to Alipay and/or WeChat and link a card (guide).
- Download offline maps and translation packs.
- Save hotel addresses in Chinese characters (screenshots work).
- Turn on two-factor authentication methods that don't depend on SMS, in case you swap SIMs.
Sources
- 外籍来华人员办理电话卡业务指南 / Guidelines for Foreign Nationals on Applying for SIM Cards
- 中国联通面向来华游客推出"三卡合一"CUBe Card (airport counter example)
- Using eSIM on iPhone in mainland China (only listed mainland-market models; foreign iPhones cannot install a mainland carrier eSIM)
- Set up an eSIM on iPhone (QR code, carrier link or manual entry)
- Get connected (airport SIM counters and vending machines; passport Wi-Fi dispenser)
Last checked 12 November 2026. Rules and app menus change; if something's outdated, let us know.
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