China eSIM
Data that works the moment you land in China. No SIM swap, no roaming bill.
How long are you staying?
Which plan do you need?
The network is excellent. What runs over it is the thing to plan for.
No roaming agreement covers China, so it is full rate for every European visitor.
Coverage is outstanding — dense 4G and 5G across cities, along the high-speed rail network, and far further into the countryside than most visitors expect. The Beijing–Shanghai line holds a signal almost end to end.
The thing to plan for is not the network but what runs over it. A number of services common elsewhere are not reachable from inside the country, and a visitor's day tends to be organised around apps that assume a Chinese phone number for verification. A roaming connection routes differently from a local SIM, which changes what is reachable — worth understanding before you rely on any single app for maps or payment.
Download offline maps and your accommodation address in Chinese characters before you arrive.
Which networks you connect to
In China, our plans use these local networks. Your phone picks whichever is strongest where you are — there is nothing to choose.
Installed before you pack.
Buy your plan
Pick a destination and a data size. Pay by card — the plan appears in the app straight away, and the QR code lands in your inbox.
Install it in one tap
Tap install in the app and the eSIM sets itself up alongside your normal SIM — or scan the QR code from your email if you prefer. Your own number stays where it is, for calls and texts.
Switch it on abroad
Turn on data roaming for the NoRoaming line after you land. The plan starts counting from first connection, not from purchase.
Frequently asked
Will my phone work in China?
Any eSIM-capable handset from roughly 2019 onward works — iPhone XS or newer, Pixel 3a or newer, Galaxy S20 or newer. The phone also has to be carrier-unlocked.
When does the plan start counting?
From the first connection to a network in China, not from the moment you buy it. Install at home, activate after you land.
Do I keep my own number?
Yes. The eSIM sits alongside your physical SIM, so your usual number keeps receiving calls and texts while the eSIM carries data.
Can I use it as a hotspot?
Yes, tethering is enabled on every plan at no extra cost. It draws from the same allowance.
What if I run out of data?
Buy a top-up in the app and it applies to the same line — no reinstalling, no second QR code.
Do I get a phone number in China?
Data plans are data only. If you need to receive calls and SMS, pick a plan with a number — it includes minutes, SMS and data on one line.
More in Asia
Get connected before your next trip.
Buy a plan, install it in one tap, and land online. Everything in one app.