Which carriers matter, what buying a SIM involves, and when an eSIM is the smarter move.
Reliable mobile internet at better prices than most travel eSIMs, with polished iOS and Android apps and support for making and receiving phone calls.
One of the biggest travel eSIM brands, with a very large destination catalog.
Known for unlimited-data plans in many destinations, at a higher price per gigabyte.
The Great Firewall is the headline issue: a Chinese SIM routes through the domestic internet, so Google, Gmail, Google Maps, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube are blocked unless you have a VPN, and VPN apps are far easier to install before you arrive than after. Also, prepaid tourist SIMs expire at the end of their validity period, and topping up generally requires WeChat Pay or a carrier mini-program.
The most foreigner-friendly carrier, with tourist plans and the best-documented English support. The usual first pick for city trips.
The largest network, with the best rural and remote coverage (Tibet, Yunnan, Xinjiang) at a slightly higher cost.
The third option, with occasionally competitive tourist packages.
Real-name registration is mandatory by law for every SIM, and a passport is the only accepted ID for foreign tourists; your passport details are linked to the number. This applies even to SIMs ordered online for pickup, where the in-person passport check still happens, and foreigners are limited to about three SIMs per passport across all carriers.
Airport kiosks are the expensive option; downtown carrier stores are cheaper and offer more choice, though the exact markup varies.
Guac eSIM covers China with data plans starting from $1.50 per GB and instant activation, so your phone is online the moment you land. Airalo and Holafly are popular alternatives.
SIM cards and eSIM in China