China Tourist SIM Card: What to Buy and How Apps Work
China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom, prices in yuan, real-name registration, how Google and WhatsApp work with a local SIM and with an eSIM, and Hong Kong and Macao covered separately.
A tourist SIM in mainland China costs about 70–200 yuan (around $10–28) for a pack lasting 7–30 days with 5–30 GB. You buy it with your passport from China Unicom, China Mobile or China Telecom, at airports and stores, and registration with a face check is mandatory. Important: through a local SIM, Google, WhatsApp and Telegram usually do not open without a VPN. Some travel eSIMs send traffic out of mainland China, and then these services usually work. Details below, with no promises and with caveats.
Prices checked in October 2026 from reviews and public sources. We could not confirm official price lists. Tariffs change, so amounts are given as ranges. Exchange rate used: about 7 yuan per dollar.
Which operators are there in China?
Three state-owned operators, each with its own network.
- China Mobile. The widest coverage in the country, including small cities and provinces. Suitable for travel beyond the megacities.
- China Unicom. The one tourists choose most often: airports have international counters that serve foreign passports. This is also where the cheapest gigabytes tend to be.
- China Telecom. Strong in the west and south of the country. It is often recommended separately for trips to Xinjiang and Tibet.
China Broadnet, a fourth operator, is rarely met by tourists.
How much does a SIM card cost for a tourist in China?
There is no single exact price list. These are guides from reviews.
| Operator | Example pack from reviews | Price (checked October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| China Unicom | Tourist pack, 20–30 GB, about 30 days, no calls | 69–99 ¥ (~$10–14); in Hainan the price list shows 79 ¥ for 30 GB and 200 minutes |
| China Mobile | Tourist packs for 7–30 days | about 100–200 ¥ (~$14–28) |
| China Telecom | Packs for 7–30 days | similar range; we did not find a current price list |
Sources disagree: some cite 80–150 yuan for 5–10 GB and minutes, others a cheap 30 GB for 69 yuan. Volume, duration and minutes differ between counters, so ask for the total before you buy.
Do you need a passport and registration?
Yes. China requires subscribers to register under their real name. In practice the staff scans your passport and often takes a photo of your face. The process takes 5–15 minutes, longer in a queue. Bring the original passport. Buying a SIM “from a stranger” without registration is not recommended: such cards may be disabled.
For an eSIM bought online from international sellers, no passport is required in China. Sources disagree about local eSIMs from Chinese operators for foreigners: some say they officially don’t exist, others say the situation improved in 2026. If you need a Chinese number specifically, check with the operator.
Google, WhatsApp, Telegram: what actually works
This is one of the main questions for anyone going to China. We’ll be careful here.
- A local SIM from a Chinese operator. Traffic goes through networks inside China, and popular Western services (Google, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram and others) are usually blocked. Without a VPN they won’t open on such a SIM.
- Roaming or travel eSIM. When roaming, traffic often exits to the internet through a network outside mainland China (for example, via Hong Kong or Singapore). That is why many roaming eSIMs open these services without a VPN. This is normal roaming behaviour, not a workaround of phone settings, but it depends on the specific seller and changes over time.
- Our China plans. All our China plans send traffic out through Hong Kong or Singapore, so Google, WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram usually open without a VPN on them. We cannot guarantee that every service will work: rules in China change, so keep a backup for critical tasks.
- Wi-Fi is separate. Wi-Fi in hotels and cafés is usually filtered the same way as the local network, even if mobile data goes through an eSIM.
- A caveat. Most materials promising that “everything works” are written by eSIM sellers and are not independent checks. Verify before the trip, and follow the rules on internet use in China.
Also download offline maps and a translator in advance, and set up payments in Alipay or WeChat Pay: foreign bank cards are not accepted everywhere.
Is a local SIM or an eSIM better for tourists?
| Local SIM | Travel eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase | Airport or store, with passport | Online before the trip |
| Registration | Passport and face check | No passport needed |
| Price | ~$10–28 per pack | Depends on volume and traffic route; see the plan page |
| Google and messengers | Usually blocked without a VPN | Usually work: traffic exits via Hong Kong or Singapore |
| Local number | Yes (often without calls) | No, data only |
| Main SIM | Needs a second slot or a card swap | Stays in place; SMS still arrives |
Honest verdict: if you need Chinese apps (Didi, mini-programs) and a local number, get a local SIM, and arrange a separate solution for your usual services. If convenience and access to your usual apps come first, look for a plan that states this clearly. More on the difference: eSIM or physical SIM.
How much does an eSIM for China cost?
You can buy a plan in advance and activate it within 180 days of purchase. The cheapest plan starts from $2.69.
| Plan | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $2.69 |
| 3 GB | 1 month | $7.09 |
| 5 GB | 1 month | $11.19 |
| 10 GB | 1 month | $14.39 |
| 20 GB | 1 month | $21.19 |
| 50 GB | 1 month | $51.79 |
| Day pass 1 GB/day | 7 days | $8.90 |
| Day pass 1 GB/day | 15 days | $17.90 |
| Day pass 1 GB/day | 1 month | $34.90 |
Our China plans use China Mobile, with 5G on China Mobile. The eSIM has no local number: you can call through messengers and receive SMS codes on your main SIM. Hotspot works on most plans, and if data runs low, you can top up the same eSIM on most plans. All plans: eSIM for China.
Hong Kong and Macao
These are separate regions with their own rules and operators, and you can buy separate plans for them: eSIM for Hong Kong and eSIM for Macao.
- Hong Kong. Since 2022, new prepaid SIMs must be registered under a real name, and unregistered cards stopped working after 24 February 2023. Tourists can register with their documents, usually at the counter when buying. The internet here works without the restrictions of the Chinese firewall.
- Macao. Subscriber registration with a passport has applied since December 2019, so a SIM must be bought with a document. CTM has a tourist line, but reviews are inconsistent about the operators (they report mergers and closures of some brands), so check the current offer on site.
How to get internet in China before your flight: step by step
- Check your phone. eSIM works on iPhone XS and newer and on most current Android phones. Compatibility list.
- Buy the plan in advance. The QR code arrives by email, usually within a few minutes.
- Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. On iPhone: Settings, Cellular, Add eSIM. Details: how to install an eSIM.
- Don’t turn it on before the flight. The plan starts when your phone first connects to a network in China.
- After landing, select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming on that line. Keep your main SIM for calls and SMS.
If something went wrong: how to activate an eSIM.
When is a local SIM cheaper, and when isn’t it?
Count by duration and by what you need to do. For a month or longer, a Chinese number is needed for orders, taxis and mini-programs, and a local SIM pays off. For 5–7 days, the counter, the passport and the queue eat up your time. For transit and short visits, an eSIM installed at home is simpler.
Travel tips
- Turn off data roaming on your main SIM, or background updates will charge you.
- Dual SIM saves SMS codes. The main line receives the bank codes, and data comes from the eSIM.
- Download offline maps and check your route before you go.
FAQ
How much does a SIM card cost for tourists in China?
About 70–200 yuan ($10–28) for a pack lasting 7–30 days, according to October 2026 reviews. We could not confirm official price lists.
Do I need a passport for a SIM in China?
Yes, real-name registration is mandatory, often with a face photo. A travel eSIM does not need a passport.
Do Google and WhatsApp work in China with an eSIM?
Usually yes. Our China plans send traffic through Hong Kong or Singapore, so Google and messengers usually open without a VPN. We cannot guarantee access to every service, because the situation can change.
Which operator is best for tourists in China?
China Unicom is often chosen by tourists because of its international counters, and China Mobile for coverage. Compare them by your route.
Does an eSIM work as a hotspot for a laptop?
On most plans, yes. Check the plan description for the conditions.
Conclusion
If you are staying a long time and need Chinese services, buy a SIM with your passport. If the trip is short or simplicity matters most, set up an eSIM in advance; traffic on our plans exits via Hong Kong or Singapore: plans for China. Refunds: 180 days if the profile is not installed, and 30 days if it is installed but not activated.