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China SIM card: How to get connected in 2026
Compare China SIM cards from China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, what each plan costs, and how to get online past the Great Firewall.
A China SIM card from China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom costs between $12 and $70, depending on the data and how long you need it. You’ll need your passport to buy one, since China registers every SIM to an identity document, and a local SIM sits behind the Great Firewall unless you add a VPN.
Below, we compare the three carriers, what each plan includes, how to buy one as a foreigner, and where a travel eSIM fits, including Holafly’s eSIM for China with a VPN included.
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Can I get a SIM card in China as a foreigner?
Yes, you can get a SIM card in China as a foreigner. You’ll need your passport, since every SIM in China is registered to an identity document under the country’s real-name rules, and you fill out a short registration form when you buy. China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom all sell to foreign passport holders, and China Unicom lets you register by email before you fly rather than in a store.
One thing to know before you buy a local SIM: it puts you behind the Great Firewall, just like any Chinese connection.
Great Firewall of China
A China SIM card connects through the Chinese internet, which blocks Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and many Western news and messaging services. A local SIM of any mainland carrier doesn’t change that on its own. To reach blocked apps you’ll need a VPN installed before you arrive, since the app stores that offer VPNs are themselves restricted inside China. An alternative is a travel eSIM that routes your data outside the mainland, which sidesteps the block without extra setup.
Best China SIM cards for tourists
Most tourist SIM cards for China are sold by China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. Here are their prices, plans, and things you should know before purchasing one for your trip.
China Mobile
China Mobile is the largest of the three carriers and has the widest coverage, strongest in rural and western China, which makes it the practical pick if your trip runs beyond the major cities.
Through China Mobile’s international arm, you can reserve a Tourist Exclusive SIM online and collect it after you land. The China Mobile tourist SIM includes:
- 30 GB or more of mainland China data
- 100 minutes or more of mainland calls
- A dedicated Chinese phone number
- 7 to 30 days of validity
- A starting price of CNY 100 (~US$14)
A few things to know before you buy:
- You reserve online and pick the card up in person, so you’ll book an appointment and collect at a service center rather than having it delivered.
- Purchase is by passport, with documents from many countries accepted, and the card is usable straight away once registered.
- Plans are set by the city, so the package above is the Beijing version, and details differ elsewhere. Confirm the offer for your arrival city.
- Payment is by WeChat Pay, Alipay, UnionPay, Visa, or Mastercard.
China Unicom
China Unicom is the most foreigner-friendly of the three carriers, with wide coverage and 5G, though speeds can drop in rural areas. It runs on GSM, WCDMA, and 4G LTE, so international phones will work in China on China Unicom.
Every card comes with a +86 Chinese number and works in mainland China only. China Unicom sells three types:
Short-term, for a single trip:
- 7 days, 5 GB, $25
- 15 days, 10 GB plus 75 voice minutes, $35
- 30 days, 30 GB, $42
Long-term, billed monthly and valid for a year:
- 5 GB per month, $28
- 20 GB per month, with 10 GB and 70 voice minutes in the first month, $36
- 40 GB per month, $45
Annual international, a one-year card at $70 that activates worldwide, gives 30 GB of data a year plus 100 minutes and 100 SMS a month inside China, and takes incoming calls and texts abroad at roaming rates while outbound is disabled overseas.
A few things to know before you buy:
- Registration is done by email, not in store. You send a photo of your passport page and the SIM showing the ICCID, plus a selfie holding both, and China Unicom emails back your approval.
- Shipping is free within mainland China at 2 to 3 days, or $15 for the first card to an international address at 7 to 14 business days.
- Incoming calls and texts are free while you’re in China. Top-ups run at 800 MB per 1 CNY, 0.15 CNY per voice minute, and 0.15 CNY per SMS.
China Telecom
China Telecom is the third of the mainland carriers, with its strongest coverage in western China including Tibet, Xinjiang, and parts of Sichuan, where the other two can be patchier.
For buying before you travel, China Telecom’s overseas arm CTExcel sells travel plans online. A CTExcel China Travel plan covers mainland China data and includes:
50 GB for ~$24, valid 90 days
50 GB for ~$19, valid 30 days
30 GB for ~$15, valid 30 days
15 GB for ~$12, valid 30 days
CTExcel also sells annual plans marked as accessing WhatsApp, Outlook, and ChatGPT without setup. A CTExcel annual plan is valid 365 days and includes:
50 GB for ~$49
15 GB for ~$30
A few things to know before you buy:
- China Telecom historically ran on CDMA, and although it now uses 4G and 5G on more standard frequencies, phones bought outside China don’t always connect. If you buy a physical SIM in China, do it in a flagship store where staff can check your handset first.
- CTExcel plans are issued for the UK and European market, so the prices are converted from pounds and are estimates. Confirm the plan works for your billing address before buying.
- Every CTExcel plan bundles 1 GB of Europe roaming data and 50 minutes of Europe roaming, which a China trip won’t use.
Where to buy a SIM card in China
How to buy a SIM card in China depends on whether you want it before you fly or on arrival, and all three carriers sell to foreigners with a passport.
- At the airport. China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom run counters in the arrivals halls of the main international airports. Coverage varies by airport and terminal and some desks close overnight, so don’t count on it as your only plan if you land late.
- In carrier stores across China. All three have stores in cities and shopping districts, and stores in tourist areas are more likely to have English-speaking staff. Bring your passport, since staff complete the real-name registration with you.
- Online before you travel. China Unicom and CTExcel sell direct to an international address, and China Mobile lets you reserve online for airport or store pickup. Allow a week or so for a physical card to arrive.
How much is a SIM card in China?
A China SIM card costs between $12 and $70, depending on the carrier, how much data you need, and how long the plan lasts. Short data-only plans sit at the low end, while cards with a Chinese number, call minutes, or a full month of data cost more. Buying in a physical store in China is often cheaper than airport counters or pre-ordering from abroad.
| Carrier | Example plan | Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China Mobile | Tourist Exclusive SIM | 30 GB and up | 7 to 30 days | from ~$14 |
| China Unicom | Short-term SIM | 30 GB | 30 days | ~$42 |
| China Telecom (CTExcel) | China Travel plan | 30 GB | 30 days | ~$15 |
Prices are in US dollars. China Mobile prices in CNY and CTExcel in GBP, so those figures are converted and move with the exchange rate. Plans also vary by province and by where you buy, so treat these as a guide rather than a fixed quote.
Holafly China eSIM: unlimited data with a VPN
A China eSIM skips the passport check, the registration form, and the network compatibility issues that come with a physical SIM. Holafly’s eSIM for China gives you unlimited data from $1.54 to $1.90 USD per day depending on plan length, with no roaming charges and no airport queues. You buy it online and connect on arrival.
The eSIM comes with a built-in VPN, so you can keep using WhatsApp, Google, Instagram, and the news sites you read while you’re behind the Great Firewall.
For longer stays or wider Asian trips, Holafly Plans is a monthly subscription covering 160+ destinations. Choose 25 GB for $49.90 per month or unlimited for $64.90 per month, and your VPN access carries over while you’re in China.
Every Holafly eSIM also comes with Always On: 1 GB of backup data each month in 150+ destinations, included at no extra cost. Unlike a physical SIM that ends with your trip, your Holafly eSIM stays with you. Keep it installed and the data refreshes every month, so you’re covered on the next leg, whether that’s a connecting flight through Hong Kong or a spontaneous side trip.
A safe way to stay connected
Holafly's eSIM for China includes a VPN, ensuring maximum protection for your connection.
If China is just one step in your tour of Asia, you’ll need to know the ins and outs of local SIM cards in your other destinations. Learn how to get a SIM and which is the best option for various locations with our guides for:
FAQ about China SIM card
It depends on your trip. China Mobile has the widest coverage, including rural and western China. China Unicom is the most foreigner-friendly and works with the most overseas phones. China Telecom is strong in the West but less compatible with foreign handsets. For travelers who want to skip the paperwork, a travel eSIM is the simplest option.
China uses standard SIM and eSIM technology on GSM, 4G LTE, and 5G networks run by China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. Most unlocked international phones work on China Unicom and China Mobile, while China Telecom’s network is less compatible with handsets bought outside China.
Since late 2025, China’s carriers have offered eSIM, but activation requires in-person verification with a Chinese national ID, so foreign visitors can’t get a domestic Chinese eSIM. Travel eSIMs from international providers are the practical option for tourists. They work in China through roaming, but you need to install one before you arrive, since eSIM downloads are blocked once you’re inside mainland China.
A China SIM connects you to the internet, but Chinese networks block Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and many Western apps, so you’ll need a VPN to reach them. Install the VPN before you arrive, since VPN downloads are restricted inside China. A travel eSIM that connects through networks outside the mainland can avoid the block without a separate VPN.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
