Internet in China: roaming, SIM and eSIM

Arriving without data turns simple jobs into difficult ones. The map, payment wallet, ride-hailing app, hotel address and translation tool all become harder to use at the same time. Choose a connection before departure and test it while you can still contact your carrier or provider.

International roaming is the easiest to understand. Your existing number remains active, and the carrier handles the connection. The trade-off is price, speed limits or a reduced data allowance. Ask whether China is included, whether tethering is allowed, and what happens when you reach the plan's limit.

A travel eSIM is convenient for an unlocked, compatible phone. Many travel plans provide data without giving you a mainland Chinese phone number. Some route traffic through a partner network outside mainland China, while others use local routing. That difference can affect the services you can reach. Read the provider's current terms instead of assuming every eSIM behaves the same way.

A local SIM may be useful when you need a Chinese number for calls, SMS or services that require local verification. It can require passport registration and a visit to a carrier shop. Older phones, locked phones and some regional variants may not support the bands or eSIM profile you need.

Check that the phone is unlocked and supports the plan's network bands. Install the eSIM while you have reliable Wi-Fi, but follow the provider's instructions about when to turn the line on. Keep your normal SIM available if you need its number for bank verification, and disable data switching if the phone might silently use the expensive line.

Before departure, test the following:

• mobile data with Wi-Fi turned off;

• the translation app and offline language pack;

• the map app and a saved Chinese address;

• Alipay or another payment option;

• the ability to receive important messages on your normal number.

Save the provider's activation instructions as a screenshot. If the plan requires an APN, QR code or manual line selection, you do not want to search for it at the airport.

Network behaviour changes by provider, location and service. Some travel eSIMs advertise access to international services through their own routing; some do not. A VPN may be unreliable, may need to be installed before departure, and may not solve local app or payment problems. Do not make a VPN your only plan for maps, tickets or hotel contact.

Your connection also needs enough data for the route you are actually taking. A city break with downloaded maps uses less than a multi-week trip with video calls and hotspot use. Check the plan's expiry date, fair-use policy, coverage outside major cities and refund rules.

We can suggest what to test for a specific route, but the eSIM contract belongs to the provider. Keep a hotel address on paper, carry a power bank that meets the airline's current rules, and prepare one offline way to show where you are going.