Best Tourist Sim Cards in China in 2025
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in China across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!
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If you plan on visiting China, having a sim card is essential. Access to the internet while traveling makes exploring new cities much easier. With internet access, you can easily find the best restaurants, get directions to your accommodation, book a taxi, and share photos with your family on the go.
While roaming is an option, international fees can quickly add up. Therefore, we recommend either getting an eSIM or a local sim card to access affordable local phone rates. The good news is that obtaining either option in China is incredibly simple.
To help you make the best choice, this comprehensive guide provides up-to-date pricing information and recommends the most suitable sim card for your needs.
Getting a local sim card in China can be quite difficult and time consuming, especially if you don’t speak Chinese, don’t have a Chinese ID and didn’t buy your phone in China. On top of this, they are generally very expensive for foreigners.
For these reasons I recommend Airalo’s China eSim as the best sim card in China. You can buy the eSim before you visit China and activate it on wifi at the airport without having to talk to anyone at all. Trust me, this is by far the best option.
For most travellers, the 5GB plan for $16.50 USD is perfect. Wifi can be found all over the place so even if you’re visiting for a longer trip you can usually connect to wifi. The Airalo eSim even uses the reliable China Unicom network.
If your phone isn’t compatible with eSims (by the way, most phones do support eSims, including all iPhones since 2018) then you will have no choice but to purchase a local sim card in China. In this case, I would recommend finding a China Unicom store. They have a very extensive network and offer the best options that work with phones purchased outside of China.
A Tourist Sim Card in China costs $16.50 USD in April 2025, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in China will cost between $5 USD and $28 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting China which includes 5GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $16.50 USD.
China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom are the three main sim card providers in China. All three will be suitable, however, I recommend China Unicom above the other two due to reports that their internet speeds may be faster.
All three providers offer fast internet and pretty good network coverage around China.
That said, to get around some of the challenges of acquiring a sim card in China, as well as the unusually high prices, I recommend going with an eSim from Airalo instead. It will most likely work out cheaper and save you a lot of time.
China Unicom is the best telecommunications provider in China thanks to their very fast internet speeds and good connectivity.
Travellers have reported that getting a sim card from China Unicom hasn’t been too difficult, especially at all major airports such as Beijing and Shanghai.
The prices and plans change frequently and depends on whether you require 4G or 5G and how much data you want. The prices below are the most recent reports I’ve received.
The price of a China Unicom tourist sim card in China is 300 Yuan ($42 USD).
The plan offered by China Unicom stores includes 20+ GB valid for 30 days.
China Mobile is the largest mobile network operator in China and offers prepaid sim cards that are specially designed for travellers visiting China.
These sim cards are designed to enable tourists to access internet all around the country. Their network is strong with wide coverage and good speeds making it a good alternative to China Unicom.
Note that plans with China Mobile vary often but can be quite expensive for tourists.
The price of a China Mobile tourist sim card in China is $51 USD.
The plan offered by China Mobile stores offers 3GB 4G/3G Data valid for 1 month.
China Telecom is the second largest telecommunications company in China. Their network coverage and speeds are fantastic and in real-world use you will find it perfectly suitable for travel.
In major cities you will have 100% coverage and you may find 5G coverage outside of the cities to be slightly more limited with China Telecom than the previous two options. For this reason I recommend China Unicom – but only for tourists who are not opting for an eSim.
The price of a China Telecom tourist sim card in China is 129 CNY.
The plan offered by China Telecom stores includes 30GB valid for 30 days.
Identify the mobile providers in China: China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom are your best options in China.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in China. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.
Bring the necessary documents: It is mandatory in China to bring your passport into the store so that the staff can register it with your sim card. Without this, China Unicom, China Mobile or China Telecom staff will be unable to sell you a sim card.
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by China Unicom that includes 20+ GB for 300 Yuan ($42 USD).
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay $16.50 USD to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.
Buying a prepaid sim card for China at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in China then you will be in luck. All major international airports in China have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in China are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in China with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to China. The Airalo China eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $16.50 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in China without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in China is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to China and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s China eSim uses the China Unicom network to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the China Unicom networknetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in China.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s China eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $5 USD
2GB data valid for 15 days – Price: $8.50 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $11.50 USD
5GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $16.50 USD
10GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $28 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 5GB data plan for $16.50 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s China eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s China eSim uses the CMCCnetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in China
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s China eSim:
Unlimited data valid for 5 days – Price: $19 USD
Unlimited data valid for 7 days – Price: $27 USD
Unlimited data valid for 10 days – Price: $34 USD
Unlimited data valid for 15 days – Price: $47 USD
Unlimited data valid for 20 days – Price: $54 USD
Unlimited data valid for 30 days – Price: $64 USD
Unlimited data valid for 60 days – Price: $84 USD
Unlimited data valid for 90 days – Price: $99 USD
An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a digital SIM card that is permanently integrated into a device like a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Unlike traditional SIM cards, it doesn’t require physical insertion or removal.
Instead of a physical card, the eSIM is a part of the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This enables users to switch between different mobile networks or plans without needing to physically change SIM cards.
The use of eSIM technology offers convenience, flexibility, and simplicity, particularly for frequent travelers or people who frequently switch between mobile networks or travel internationally. It eliminates the necessity to purchase and insert physical SIM cards, making it more efficient for managing multiple mobile connections on one device.
To activate an eSIM, users can either scan a QR code provided by their mobile network operator or manually enter the activation information. Once activated, the device can connect to the chosen mobile network and access voice, data, and messaging services just like with a traditional SIM card.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
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