Mainland China eSIM
There are 7 Mainland China eSIM plans (1GB–100GB, 30–365 days) from $1.60; for a week with about 3GB, 3GB for 30 days, $3.90. Order online, get the install code minutes after paying, and turn on data roaming for it when you land in Mainland China.
$1.60from
Choose a planPlans
Unlimited day passes
2GB a day at full speed, then 128 kbps with no cutoff. Days count in 24-hour blocks from when it first connects there.
How the prices compare
- Mainland China starts at $1.60, the 3rd lowest of 23 countries and regions in Asia.
- A week with 3GB: Mainland China alone $3.90, the Asia plan covering 17 countries and regions $9.60. For Mainland China alone, its own plan is much cheaper.
- The longest plan, 100GB for 365 days ($49.90), is also the best value per GB, about $0.50 per GB.
How it works
- Pay for a plan and your eSIM install code arrives straight away, by email too.
- Put the eSIM on your phone: scan the QR code or install it with one tap on the phone.
- When you reach Mainland China, turn on data roaming for this eSIM. Your home SIM can keep data roaming off.
Check your phone first
Dial *#06#. If you see an "EID" line, your phone supports eSIM. It also has to be unlocked.
Most iPhones sold in mainland China, and many from Hong Kong and Macao, don't support eSIM. Newer mainland models such as iPhone Air and 17e do, but install the eSIM only after you arrive, with Location Services on. No EID? A physical SIM is the no-fuss option.
Physical SIM card too
If your phone doesn’t support eSIM, use the physical SIM: insert it, turn on roaming, and you’re online. It arrives 1–3 days after you order.
See SIM card plansFAQ
How much is a Mainland China eSIM?
7 plans today: 1GB for 30 days, $1.60, 3GB for 30 days, $3.90, 5GB for 30 days, $4.90, 10GB for 30 days, $5.80, 30GB for 90 days, $17.50, 50GB for 180 days, $25.90, 100GB for 365 days, $49.90.
A week in Mainland China: which plan?
A week of mostly maps and messages uses about 1.8GB, so 3GB leaves room: the cheapest is 3GB for 30 days, $3.90. Add an hour of short videos a day and a week comes to about 9GB, so take a bigger plan.
How do I get a Mainland China eSIM?
Online, in three steps, with no shop to visit: dial *#06# to check an EID shows; choose the data and days for Mainland China and pay with Alipay, WeChat Pay or points; install the code that arrives minutes later, and turn on data roaming for it in Mainland China.
Does a Mainland China eSIM come with a phone number?
No. It is data only, with no Mainland China number, so apps that need a local number for a sign-up code will not work with it. Your home number stays on your usual SIM, which can usually still receive text codes with international roaming on.
Will my home SIM still work in Mainland China? Do I need to swap it?
No need to swap. Keep your home SIM in the phone: with international roaming on it can usually still receive text codes. Use the travel eSIM for data and leave data roaming off on the home line, so it runs up no roaming charges.
How do I get online in Mainland China?
Three ways: roaming on your home SIM, at your carrier’s rates; a local SIM bought in Mainland China; or a travel eSIM bought before you go. The eSIM is the least hassle: Mainland China plans from $1.60, the install code minutes after paying, data on once you land.
Where do I buy a SIM for Mainland China? Can I buy one at the airport?
Four places: an eSIM online, installed before you leave and on as soon as you turn on data roaming there; a SIM card from a shop at home, posted to you and swapped in on arrival; a local SIM at the airport counter or a shop in Mainland China, handy but often with a queue, usually dearer than online, and in many places registered against your passport; or no new SIM, with roaming on your home line.
Is there an unlimited plan?
Yes. Mainland China has unlimited day passes: 2GB a day at full speed, then 128 kbps with no cutoff, from $2.99 for one day. The largest plan by data is 100GB for 365 days, $49.90.
Does a Mainland China eSIM work in Hong Kong?
No, a Mainland China plan covers Mainland China only. Hong Kong needs its own plan, from $1.80.
Does a Mainland China eSIM work in Macao?
No, a Mainland China plan covers Mainland China only. Macao needs its own plan, from $1.80.
eSIM or SIM card for Mainland China?
If your phone supports eSIM, choose eSIM: the install code arrives as soon as you pay. If not, choose the SIM card, which arrives 1–3 days after you order.
When does the plan start?
Usually from your first connection at the destination. After installing, there’s no need to turn on data roaming until you arrive.
Can I keep my home number for verification texts?
Yes. The eSIM is only for data; your home SIM stays in the phone. With international roaming on for your home SIM, verification texts usually still arrive (receiving texts is usually free; check with your carrier). Keep data roaming off on your home SIM and it won’t run up roaming data charges.
What if I run out of data or the plan ends? Can I top up?
Yes: add a plan or renew in My cards. That is the top-up, and there is no need to reinstall the eSIM.
Can I get a refund?
An eSIM that isn’t installed on a phone yet can be refunded from the order page, in full as points. Once installed or used, and for physical SIM cards, paid orders can’t be refunded on request; if something is wrong, contact support: we look into it and usually refund as points; a refund to the original payment method isn’t guaranteed.