The best eSIM for China
Ancient history meets modern innovation. Here is the plan we would pick today, the live pricing for every plan we track, and the practical things to know before you fly.
The lowest price-per-gigabyte we currently track for China. A solid fit for most one-to-two-week trips with maps, messaging, and the occasional photo upload.
| Provider | Data | Days | Price | $/GB | Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nomad | 50GB | 45 | $35.00 | $0.70 | Get → |
| Nomad | 20GB | 30 | $20.00 | $1.00 | Get → |
| Nomad | 10GB | 30 | $12.00 | $1.20 | Get → |
 GoMoWorld | 12GB | 30 | $19.99 | $1.67 | Get → |
| GoMoWorld | 18GB | 30 | $29.99 | $1.67 | Get → |
| Nomad | 5GB | 30 | $10.00 | $2.00 | Get → |
 Saily | 20GB | 30 | $41.39 | $2.07 | Get → |
| GoMoWorld | 5GB | 30 | $10.99 | $2.20 | Get → |
| Nomad | 3GB | 30 | $7.00 | $2.33 | Get → |
| Saily | 10GB | 30 | $24.29 | $2.43 | Get → |
 GigSky | 50GB | 90 | $129.99 | $2.60 | Get → |
| Saily | 5GB | 30 | $15.99 | $3.20 | Get → |
| GoMoWorld | 1.2GB | 7 | $3.99 | $3.33 | Get → |
 Roamless | 3GB | PAYG | $10.35 | $3.45 | Get → |
 Virgin Connect | 20GB | 30 | $91.00 | $4.55 | Get → |
GoMoWorld- Data
- 12GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $1.67
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom · 5G
GoMoWorld- Data
- 18GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $1.67
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom · 5G
Saily- Data
- 20GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $2.07
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom · 5G
GoMoWorld- Data
- 5GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $2.20
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom · 5G
Saily- Data
- 10GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $2.43
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom · 5G
GigSky- Data
- 50GB
- Days
- 90
- $/GB
- $2.60
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom · 5G
Saily- Data
- 5GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $3.20
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom · 5G
GoMoWorld- Data
- 1.2GB
- Days
- 7
- $/GB
- $3.33
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom · 5G
Roamless- Data
- 3GB
- Days
- PAYG
- $/GB
- $3.45
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom · 5G
Virgin Connect- Data
- 20GB
- Days
- 30
- $/GB
- $4.55
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom · 5G
Prices are live and may change. Google Fi is excluded from the value ranking because it is a full phone plan rather than a travel data plan.
Beijing
- Arriving
- Beijing Capital International (PEK) and the newer Beijing Daxing (PKX, opened 2019). PEK has 3 terminals with full 5G from China Mobile, Unicom and Telecom. The Capital Airport Express subway connects PEK to Dongzhimen in 22 minutes with continuous cellular signal. PKX has the dedicated Daxing Airport Express to Caoqiao with the same coverage. International arrivals: Western app stores including Google Play are blocked from local networks - install a VPN before flying.
- On the subway and rail
- Beijing Subway (27 lines and counting) has full cellular coverage on every underground station and tunnel - the rollout finished in 2017. Signal works at depth on Lines 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 etc. The high-speed rail from Beijing South Station to Shanghai (4.5 hours) maintains continuous signal except in long tunnels. Beijing's extensive bus network and the Didi (Chinese Uber equivalent) ride-hail service all rely on data.
- Free public WiFi
- Free public WiFi is available at major transit hubs (Beijing South Station, Beijing West, the airports) with SMS verification via Chinese mobile number - hard to use without a local number. Hotels, shopping malls (Wangfujing, Sanlitun Taikoo Li, SKP) and Starbucks have open guest WiFi but most popular Western sites and apps are blocked from inside any Chinese WiFi network (no Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube). A VPN is essential.
- Coverage in the city
- China Mobile has the densest 5G across Beijing - particularly in the central business district (Guomao, Sanlitun, CBD), the historic centre (Tiananmen, Wangfujing, the hutongs near the Drum Tower) and the Olympic Park. China Unicom is competitive in Haidian (the tech district) and the university zones. China Telecom is solid across the city. Travel eSIMs typically roam on China Unicom or China Telecom internationally - speeds are competitive but VPN throttling can affect Western app performance.
- If you prefer a local SIM
- Local SIM purchase in China requires a Chinese ID card and biometric registration - effectively unavailable to most foreign tourists. The travel eSIM route is the standard for visitors. If a Chinese friend can help, China Unicom's "Tourist SIM" (sold at the airport via a partner kiosk) is the rare local option that accepts passports, but availability is unpredictable.
Shanghai
- Arriving
- Pudong (PVG) is the main international hub - all three terminals have full 5G coverage. The Maglev train (the world's fastest commercial train at 431 km/h) reaches Longyang Road metro in 7 minutes with continuous cellular signal. Subway Line 2 from PVG to People's Square is the slower-but-cheaper alternative (about 60 minutes). Hongqiao (SHA) handles domestic flights and some Asian regional routes - connects via Subway Lines 2 and 10.
- On the subway and rail
- Shanghai Metro (20 lines, the world's largest by route length) has full cellular coverage on every underground station and tunnel. Lines 1, 2, 9, 10, 11 are well-trafficked tourist lines with strong signal. The Maglev, the suburban CRH high-speed rail to Suzhou, Hangzhou and beyond all keep signal. Buses and Didi rides require data. The new Pujiang Line (driverless) and the Airport Link Line keep signal throughout.
- Free public WiFi
- Same as Beijing - public WiFi is widely available at malls, hotels and transit hubs but requires Chinese mobile number SMS verification at many spots. The Bund, Lujiazui (financial district), Xintiandi and Tianzifang have city-deployed WiFi. International chain hotels (Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Pullman, Pudong Shangri-La) all have guest WiFi. As in Beijing, blocked Western services apply to ANY local network - VPN required.
- Coverage in the city
- All three Chinese carriers run 5G across Shanghai with very dense urban coverage - the city has more 5G base stations than most countries. China Mobile and China Telecom are particularly strong in Pudong (the modern financial district with the Shanghai Tower, World Financial Center and Jin Mao Tower). China Unicom is competitive on the Puxi side (the Bund, French Concession, Xintiandi, Tianzifang). Coverage at the Shanghai Tower observation deck (632 m) is fully functional. Indoor at the IFC Mall, Shanghai Centre and Plaza 66 is excellent.
- If you prefer a local SIM
- Same restrictions as Beijing - local SIM purchase requires Chinese ID. China Unicom and China Mobile both have stores at Pudong Airport that occasionally sell short-term tourist SIMs to foreign passport holders, but consistency varies. The travel eSIM route remains by far the simplest. WeChat Pay and Alipay are essential to install BEFORE arrival (the desktop registration flow lets you add a passport-linked account) since cash is increasingly hard to use.
Grab an eSIM before you arrive in China to skip local SIM queues. Most urban areas offer 4G or better, while rural regions can slow down, so keep offline maps handy. Activating the eSIM in advance ensures you are connected the moment you clear customs.
China has the world's largest mobile network, served by China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. 5G coverage is widespread in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, while 4G is available across most of the country including smaller cities and towns. Rural and western regions such as Tibet and Xinjiang may have weaker coverage in remote areas, but infrastructure continues to expand rapidly.
The most important thing travelers should know is that China's Great Firewall blocks access to many popular services including Google (Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube), WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and many Western news sites. A VPN is essential for accessing these services, but VPN apps should be downloaded and configured before arriving in China since the app stores and VPN websites themselves may be blocked.
eSIM support in China is complex due to local regulations. International travel eSIM providers that roam onto Chinese networks are typically the easiest option for visitors, but coverage and speed can vary depending on the roaming partner.
- Download and configure a reliable VPN before arriving - Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and most Western apps are blocked
- Download offline maps (like Maps.me) since Google Maps does not work without a VPN
- Consider downloading WeChat and Alipay before your trip as they are essential for daily life in China
- Activate your eSIM before entering China since setup may require access to services blocked by the firewall
- Verify your eSIM provider confirms China coverage - not all travel eSIM plans include mainland China
Average Data Cost
~$2-$3/GB
Network Quality
5G in major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. 4G across most urban and suburban areas. 3G or limited service in remote western regions.
eSIM Availability
Local eSIM adoption is tightly regulated and generally requires Chinese identification. International travel eSIM providers that roam onto Chinese networks are the practical choice for visitors.
Major Carriers
Recommended Providers for China
Plans for China
From $4.00
Plans for China
From $3.99
Plans for China
From $4.49
Plans for China
From $3.45
Pay-as-you-go: $3.45/GB
Plans for China
From $5.99
Plans for China
From $6.50
Plans for China
From $10.00
Pay-as-you-go: $10.00/GB
- 1
Buy and install at home on WiFi.
Installation is not the same as activation. You can install the China eSIM days ahead and only switch it on after you land, which avoids burning days of validity in transit.
- 2
Screenshot your current APN before you swap.
If you ever need to switch back to your home line quickly, that screenshot saves a support call from a foreign airport.
- 3
Decide on your dual-SIM strategy.
Keep your home line on for SMS-based bank logins, two-factor codes, and emergency calls. Set the travel eSIM as the data line only. Most modern phones can do both simultaneously.
- 4
Disable iMessage on the travel eSIM line.
Otherwise iMessage will try to re-activate against the new line on arrival and you will spend the first ten minutes troubleshooting it instead of finding the taxi rank.
- 5
Download offline maps for China.
Google Maps and Apple Maps both support offline regions. Pull them down on home WiFi so a flaky activation never leaves you without a route from the airport. Our offline maps guide walks through it step by step.
- 6
Activate at the airport, not before.
Once the validity timer starts it does not pause. A 15-day plan you turn on the morning of departure burns a full day of validity before you even land.
We are building this section from real, verified traveler submissions rather than stock testimonials, so it stays empty until we have notes we can stand behind. If you have used an eSIM in China recently, a one-paragraph note on what worked (and what did not) helps the next traveler.
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Pricing on this page is pulled live from our database and refreshed every four hours. Coverage notes are sourced from carrier roaming agreements and updated when carriers change partners. Provider rankings are determined by price-per-gigabyte and plan flexibility, not by who pays the largest commission.