eSIM for China

Plans for China start at £2.99 for 0.49 GB · 1 day. There are 10 plans to choose from, valid from 1 day to 30 days.

For 7 days in China, the best value is 3 GB · 7 days at £5.99: enough for maps, messaging, ride apps and social media. If you stream, make video calls or work online, take 10 GB · 30 days for £16.49.

For 14 days in China, the best value is 5 GB · 15 days at £9.49: enough for maps, messaging, ride apps and social media. If you stream, make video calls or work online, take 20 GB · 30 days for £28.99.

Yes. China has wide 5G coverage and 4G/LTE almost everywhere travellers go. Your eSIM uses 4G/LTE, and 5G where the partner network allows it.

On local networks in China, voice and video calls on WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype and similar apps are blocked; messages work. A travel eSIM routes your data through a partner network, so calls often go through, but this cannot be guaranteed. Locally approved calling apps are the reliable fallback.

On local networks in China, these services are blocked: Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X. A travel eSIM routes your data through a partner network, so these apps usually work without a VPN. Still, install a VPN app before you leave as a backup: app stores may not offer one once you are there.

No. Your eSIM is bought online and needs no passport check or registration in China. A local SIM card, by contrast, requires your passport at a shop.

Yes. Install the eSIM at home, switch it on when you land at Beijing Capital (PEK), Beijing Daxing (PKX), and Shanghai Pudong (PVG), and it connects to a local network within a minute or two. You can order a ride or message your hotel before you leave the airport.

Coverage is strong in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen and along main roads. Signal can be weak or absent in remote areas such as Tibet and Taklamakan: download offline maps before you go.

Travellers in China commonly use Alipay, WeChat, Amap, and DiDi. They all work over the eSIM data. Sign up and receive any SMS verification codes before you travel, as the eSIM has no phone number.

Yes. Regional plans (Asia Pacific, Global Lite, and Global Package) cover China and other countries on one eSIM, so you do not need a new one at each border.

The eSIM connects to China Telecom and China Unicom and switches to the best available network automatically.

For maps, messaging and social media, 1 to 3 GB per week is usually enough. If you make video calls, stream or work online, choose 5 GB or more, or an unlimited plan.

Yes, and it is the best option: install it at home over Wi-Fi. The plan only starts when your phone first connects to a network in China.

Yes. WhatsApp stays linked to your number. Keep your regular SIM on for calls and SMS if you want, and use the eSIM for data.