The Best SIM Card for China in 2026: Local SIM or eSIM?

The best SIM card for China depends on how long you stay and which apps you need. For most visitors, a travel eSIM is the easiest option: you buy it online before you leave, it connects to a Chinese network when you land, and roaming eSIMs usually route your data outside China, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram tend to keep working. A local SIM from China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom is cheaper per GB, but you buy it in person with your passport and a face scan, and it sits behind the Great Firewall. This guide names the Chinese mobile operators, what their plans cost, and how to stay connected in China in 2026.

China's mobile operators: the SIM card companies

China has four mobile operators. The three big ones sell prepaid SIM cards to foreigners at their own shops and at airport counters:

• China Mobile: the largest mobile operator in the world, with more than 1 billion customers (Yicai Global). It has the widest coverage, including in rural areas. Website: 10086.cn.
• China Telecom: the second largest operator by 5G users. Website: 189.cn.
• China Unicom: the third operator and the one most often recommended to foreigners, because its airport counters sell tourist SIMs. Website: 10010.com.
• China Broadnet: the newest and smallest operator, which shares China Mobile's network. It is rarely an option for visitors.

So which is the best network in China? China Mobile has the most coverage, especially away from big cities. China Unicom is usually the easiest to buy as a tourist. In big cities all three are fast, with 5G widely available (TeleGeography).

Local SIM or eSIM: what about the Great Firewall?

China blocks many foreign apps and websites, including Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube (Wikipedia). How much this affects you depends on your SIM:

• Local Chinese SIM: your data goes through Chinese networks, so these services are blocked unless you use a VPN.
• Travel eSIM: roaming data is usually routed through a gateway outside mainland China, so blocked apps generally work without a VPN. This isn't guaranteed and can change, so install a VPN on your phone before you leave as a backup.

Either way, download WeChat and Alipay before your trip. Both now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards (Payments Journal), and you'll use them to pay almost everywhere. Keep your home SIM active for the verification codes they send by SMS.

Which SIM card is best in China for tourists?

For a trip of a few days or weeks, a travel eSIM is the simplest choice:

• No shop visit: no passport check, face scan or queue at the airport counter.
• Your usual apps: Google Maps, WhatsApp and Gmail usually work, as explained above.
• Ready on arrival: you install it at home and it connects to a Chinese network when you land.
• Keep your number: your home SIM stays in your phone for calls, texts and payment app codes.

Our China eSIMs are data-only 5G plans that run on local Chinese networks:

Staying a month or longer? These plans last 30 to 90 days:

A travel eSIM gives you mobile data, not a Chinese phone number. Check that your phone supports eSIM and isn't carrier-locked before you buy (see how to check if your phone supports eSIM and what a carrier lock means). All plans and prices are on our China eSIM page.

How to buy a Chinese SIM card as a foreigner

China has a real-name rule for every phone number. To buy a prepaid SIM card as a visitor (Trip.com):

• bring your physical passport. A photo or copy isn't accepted.
• go to an official operator shop or an operator counter at a big airport such as Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou. SIMs from street sellers may not be registered.
• expect a face scan at the counter, which staff match against your passport.
• make sure your phone is unlocked, or the SIM won't work in it.

Staff often speak little English outside the airports, so have a translation app ready. A local number is useful if you live, study or work in China, or if you need to receive calls from Chinese companies.

How much does a SIM card cost in China?

Tourist SIMs sold at airports cost more than standard local plans, but they are still good value:

• China Unicom at the airport: about 200 RMB (around $28) for 20 GB of data and 30 minutes of domestic calls, valid 30 days, or about 300 RMB for 100 GB (Trip.com, April 2026).
• Operator shops in the city: often more data for the same price, for example around 200 RMB for 50 GB with China Unicom.
• China Mobile and China Telecom: similar monthly plans in the same price range. Tariffs change often, so check at the shop before you buy.

Remember that a local SIM's data is filtered by the Great Firewall, so add the cost of a VPN if you need Google or WhatsApp.

Setting up your eSIM for China

1. Install it at home on Wi-Fi. Scan the QR code from your email. Our eSIM installation guide shows each step.
2. Install your apps before you go. Download WeChat, Alipay, a VPN and offline maps while you still have open internet.
3. Turn it on when you land. Select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line only. Keep data roaming off on your home SIM to avoid charges (data roaming explained).
4. No connection? Restart your phone and check that data roaming is on for the eSIM. If it still doesn't connect, try our eSIM troubleshooting steps or fixes for an eSIM that won't activate.

FAQ

What is the best mobile network in China?

China Mobile has the most users and the widest coverage, especially in the countryside. China Unicom is the easiest to buy as a tourist. In cities, all three big operators offer fast 4G and 5G.

What are the SIM card companies in China?

China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom are the three main operators. China Broadnet is a small fourth operator that uses China Mobile's network.

Which SIM card is best in China for tourists?

A travel eSIM, because you buy it online, it needs no shop visit, and your usual apps usually keep working. For long stays, a local China Unicom or China Mobile SIM with a VPN.

Can I buy a Chinese SIM card online?

Chinese operators register every SIM in person with your passport and a face scan. A travel eSIM is the easy online alternative.

Does WhatsApp work in China?

Not on a local Chinese SIM without a VPN. On a travel eSIM it usually works, because roaming data is routed outside China, but install a VPN before you go just in case.

How much is a SIM card in China?

An airport tourist SIM costs around 200 RMB for 20 GB and 30 days. A travel eSIM for China starts at a few dollars for a short trip.