International Roaming

Optus roaming China: Coverage, price, and roaming pass

Learn about Optus roaming in China, including the $5 Daily Roaming, the $10 Roaming Pass, and prepaid packs to avoid extra costs.

If you’re an Optus customer heading to China, you can keep your Australian number active while abroad. But navigating the roaming costs and activation steps can be tricky. In this guide, we’ll explain Optus roaming options in China and the different plans available.

We will also introduce the Holafly eSIM, offering unlimited data and coverage in over 200 destinations, as an alternative to Optus.

In this article

Can you use Optus roaming in China?

Yes, Optus international roaming is fully operational in China for eligible postpaid and prepaid customers. China is classified as a Zone 1 destination by Optus. So, while you are in China, your coverage is provided through Optus’ local partner networks, such as China Mobile or China Unicom.

Once you land and disable airplane mode, your phone will automatically search for and connect to one of these local providers, allowing you to use your Australian number just as you would at home.

Optus $5 daily roaming for China

Optus roaming packages start with a daily $5 roaming plan, which includes 5 GB of data, as well as unlimited calls and texts in China. This plan is only available for Optus postpaid customers using the following plans:

Optus Choice Plus
Optus Plus Family
Optus Plus Promo
Optus Choice Plus Data
Optus Plus Kids
Business Choice Plus
Business Choice Data Plus
Business Teams Plus
Qantas plans

How it works

$5 Roaming is usually activated by default on eligible plans. This means that you’ll automatically be charged the daily fee whenever you use data, make calls, or send texts in China. That said, you can log into your Optus account and check if the service is active before you travel.

Cost: $5 per 24 hours.
Includes: 5 GB of data and unlimited talk and text.
Auto-renewal: If you use your 5 GB before the 24 hours are over, Optus will automatically add another 5 GB for an additional $5. If you keep using data after the 24-hour timer expires, a new $5 charge will trigger for the next day.

Tip: You can use our data usage calculator to estimate your data usage and discover whether this plan is suitable for you or not.

Optus $10 Roaming Pass for China

Optus also offers another daily roaming plan at $10, which includes 1 GB of data, unlimited standard talk, and text. But this plan is only available for Non-Optus Choice Plus and Qantas SIM-only postpaid plans.

How it works:

Cost: $10 per 24 hours
Includes: Unlimited standard talk, Unlimited SMS, 1 GB data

Unlike the $5 plans that offer more data, the $10 Roaming Pass focuses on communication and is better suited for light browsing.

Find more details about the Optus roaming pass on the official website.

Optus Prepaid International Roaming Packs for China

If you’re a prepaid customer, you must purchase an international roaming pack before travelling to China. If you don’t, your service will default to high pay-as-you-go standard rates, which can quickly drain your credit.

Optus offers four specific roaming add-ons for Zone 1 countries.

Pack Type	Duration	Included Data	Standard Talk	Standard SMS
$5 International Roaming	1 Day	1 GB	25 Mins	50 SMS
$25 International Roaming	14 Days	5 GB	50 Mins	50 SMS
$45 International Roaming	28 Days	10 GB	100 Mins	100 SMS
$75 International Roaming	186 Days	15 GB	100 Mins	100 SMS

Optus standard roaming rates in China

If you have intentionally deactivated your Optus roaming plan in your settings, you will be charged standard roaming rates.

These pay-as-you-go rates typically end up being more expensive than a roaming pass and are deducted directly from your account balance or added to your monthly bill.

Postpaid standard roaming rates

For postpaid customers on plans without a pass, the costs in China are:

Talk: $1.50 per minute (making or receiving calls)
Text: $0.50 per standard SMS sent
Data: $1.00 per MB

Warning: At a rate of $1.00 per MB, using just 1GB of data would cost you over $1,000, so it is vital to ensure a pass is active before using maps or social media.

Prepaid standard roaming rates

If you are a prepaid customer and choose not to buy one of the roaming packs mentioned above, you will be charged the following:

Talk: $1 per minute (making or receiving calls)
Text: $0.50 per standard SMS sent
Data: $0.50 per MB

Using data at a rate of $0.50 per MB can become expensive quickly, as even simple background app updates can consume several MBs in seconds. So, it’s more cost-effective to purchase Optus roaming packages to avoid roaming charges in China.

How to activate Optus roaming for China

Activating Optus roaming in China depends on whether you are a postpaid or prepaid customer.

Postpaid customers

For those on modern postpaid plans, the process is largely automated, but you must ensure the Roaming switch is on.

Enable via My Optus App: Go to Service > Settings > International Roaming. Ensure the toggle is switched to On.
Check Eligibility: In the same menu, verify that your plan is eligible for a roaming pass.
Auto-Activation: Once roaming is enabled in the app, the daily charge will trigger automatically the moment you make a call, send a text, or use data after landing in China.

Prepaid customers

Prepaid users must follow these steps to activate their roaming.

Purchase a Roaming Pack on My Optus App: Tap Recharge > Add-ons > Roaming and select your desired pack.
Check Active Plan: If you want to check whether you have an active Optus roaming plan, you can text the word MENU to 9999 and follow the prompts.

Final steps for postpaid and prepaid customers

Before Departure: Confirm that International Roaming is showing as Active in the My Optus app.
Upon Arrival: Once you land in China, go to your phone’s internal settings and turn Data Roaming ON. Without this setting, your phone will block all data usage even if your Optus plan is ready to go.

If you prefer unlimited data and flexible duration, you can purchase a China eSIM on the Holafly app, right at your fingertips.

Stay connected in China with Holafly

If you want to avoid the daily limits and concerns about your data usage in China, Holafly eSIM offers unlimited data with flexible durations. As a premier alternative for Australian travellers to China, Holafly allows you to stay connected without any concerns while exploring the country.

Holafly China eSIM daily plan is almost at the same price as the Optus 5 GB plan. But now you can have unlimited data access for only AU$5.90. On top of that, Holafly eSIMs get cheaper as plan duration increases, so you can get your eSIM for China for as little as $2.43/day if you go for a 90-day plan.

For those on a longer trip to China, Holafly Plans offers a monthly eSIM subscription with reliable coverage and 24/7 customer support. On top of that, you get coverage in 170+ other destinations with the same eSIM, so you can stay connected wherever you go.

Disclaimer: The data in this article is accurate as of March 2, 2026, and is subject to change.

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Violet Lee

SEO Content Specialist

Formerly a travel journalist turned marketing copywriter, I found my way back to the travel world with Holafly—my dream company that made remote work possible. My motto? “Dream big and make it happen.” I’m passionate about writing, exploring the world, and staying active through walking, running, swimming, and hiking. I also love learning, reflecting, and connecting with inspiring minds.

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