Which eSIM to choose for traveling to China in 2025? Here's our comparison of the best offers to stay connected at affordable prices, from your arrival in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou. Discover our tested selection, with promo codes, data plans, and practical advice.
China is a fascinating destination, between the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, modern megacities, or the Yangtze River. To enjoy your stay without constraints, having a good connection from landing is essential. A China eSIM allows you to stay connected immediately and avoid costly roaming.
Best eSIM plans for China
We analyzed offers from several international providers to select the most suitable plans for different uses. The plans below represent the best options for a large majority of travelers. The remaining offers will be displayed in the China eSIM comparator below.
| Plan | Duration | Data | Indicative price | Recommended use | View offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo – 1 GB | 7 days | 1 GB | around $4.5–5 | Short stay, messaging and light browsing | View offer |
| Airalo – 3 GB | 30 days | 3 GB | around $12–14 | Standard stay, social media and GPS | View offer |
| Airalo – 5 GB | 30 days | 5 GB | around $18–20 | Two-week stay, regular usage | View offer |
| Gigsky – 5 GB | 30 days | 5 GB | variable price | Long stay, good flexibility | View offer |
| Yesim – 10 GB | 30 days | 10 GB | around $25–30 | Remote work, light streaming, heavy usage | View offer |
These plans rely on the best-covered local Chinese networks, including China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. The remaining available plans will be automatically displayed in the products section of the page.
Why choose an eSIM for China
Choosing an eSIM for your trip to China offers many advantages over a physical SIM card or traditional roaming:
- Connection available immediately upon landing, as soon as you turn on your phone.
- No need to search for a physical operator store at the airport or in the city.
- Rates often much lower than international roaming offered by European operators.
- Total flexibility: multiple durations and data volumes to choose from.
- Simple activation via QR code, without changing SIM cards.
- Ability to keep your main number for calls and SMS, while using the eSIM for data.
Most China eSIMs are data-only plans. You continue to use your usual apps (WhatsApp, Instagram, Google Maps, etc.) without worrying about additional costs.
Network coverage in China
International eSIMs connect to Chinese mobile networks. Here are the main operators and their strengths:
China Mobile
- Very extensive national coverage, including rural and mountainous areas.
- Excellent 4G and 5G speeds, the country's most performant network.
- Ideal for travelers who need a reliable connection everywhere (road trips, digital nomads).
China Unicom
- Very good performance in major cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen.
- Good coverage in most tourist areas.
- Good compromise for urban stays or short to medium duration trips.
China Telecom
- Major player in the Chinese market, generally good coverage.
- Sometimes less performant than China Mobile in some rural areas.
- Less often used by international eSIMs, but present on some plans.
In most cases, you don't need to manually select the operator: your phone automatically connects to the most performant available partner network.
Which eSIM plan to choose based on your travel type
The best plan depends mainly on two criteria: the duration of your stay and your data consumption.
Short stay in Beijing (extended weekend)
- Profile: urban visitor, 3 to 5 days, occasional use of Google Maps, social media, messaging.
- Recommendation: Airalo 1 GB for 7 days.
- Advantages: very reasonable price and sufficient volume for light browsing.
One-week to ten-day trip
- Profile: couple, friends, or family, visits to several cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou).
- Recommendation: Airalo 3 GB for 30 days.
- Advantages: comfortable margin for online searches, photos sent via messaging, and social media.
Road trip (Great Wall, Yangtze, multiple cities)
- Profile: itinerant travelers, several cities and regions on the itinerary.
- Recommendation: Airalo 5 GB for 30 days or Gigsky 5 GB for 30 days.
- Advantages: solid coverage via the best local networks, interesting data volume for trips, GPS navigation, and online reservations.
Remote work or long-term stay
- Profile: digital nomad, freelancer, remote work for a few weeks.
- Recommendation: Yesim 10 GB for 30 days.
- Advantages: data volume suitable for occasional video conferencing, online work, and more intensive use than a simple tourist trip.
If you travel as a family or group, it's often more interesting for each person to have their own eSIM, rather than constantly sharing a single access point.
eSIM promo codes for China
Take advantage of our exclusive promo codes to save on your China eSIMs. These partner offers are regularly checked and updated to guarantee you the best prices.
Activating your China eSIM
Activating an eSIM is simple and requires no particular technical skills. The process is similar across most providers.
- Choose the China eSIM plan from the comparator.
- Purchase the plan directly online from the selected provider.
- You receive a QR code by email or in the provider's app.
- On your smartphone, go to settings to add an eSIM plan.
- Scan the QR code, then follow the on-screen instructions.
- Select the eSIM as your mobile data line and enable cellular data.
On iPhone for example, this is done via Settings > Cellular Data > Add eSIM Plan. On Android, the wording may vary slightly by brand, but the principle remains the same.
Activation usually takes a few minutes, and you can install the eSIM before your departure to be connected as soon as you arrive at the airport in China.
Regulations and phone usage in China
China has relatively simple regulations for travelers:
- Short and medium-term travelers (tourists) can use their phone and eSIM without particular formalities.
- For a standard tourist trip of a few days or weeks, no specific regulation poses a problem.
- International eSIMs are designed for temporary use and do not require additional administrative procedures for a standard tourist stay.
Note: Some websites and apps (like Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) may be restricted in China. International eSIMs may not bypass these restrictions. Consider using a VPN if you need access to these services.
China eSIM FAQ
Does the eSIM work throughout the country?
Yes. China eSIM plans connect to the main local networks (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom), which allows extensive coverage in the country, including most tourist areas and even some rural areas.
Can I use WhatsApp in China?
WhatsApp and other foreign messaging apps may be restricted in China. International eSIMs may not bypass these restrictions. Consider using a VPN if you need access to these services. WeChat and other local apps work normally.
Are there unlimited data China eSIM offers?
Most international providers offer plans with a defined data volume (1 GB, 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB, etc.). Some plans may include a form of quasi-unlimited with speed reduction beyond a certain threshold, but it's mainly the high volumes that are most interesting for travelers.
Can I share my connection with other devices?
Yes, on most smartphones, connection sharing (tethering) is possible with China eSIMs, subject to the provider not restricting this functionality. This is very practical for connecting a laptop or a family member's tablet.
Are local Chinese eSIMs more advantageous than international eSIMs?
Local eSIMs offered directly by China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom can offer large data volumes at an attractive price, but they often require more steps (registration, physical store, sometimes interface only in Chinese). International eSIMs have the advantage of simplicity: online purchase, quick activation, and interface available in multiple languages.
Conclusion
For the majority of travelers, the best China eSIM choices are:
- Airalo 3 or 5 GB for an excellent balance between price, data volume, and duration.
- Yesim 10 GB for intensive users or remote work.
- Airalo 1 GB for short stays or people who use little mobile data.
Thanks to the eSIM, you can enjoy your trip to China while staying connected everywhere, with no surprises on your bill and without wasting time at the airport. Compare the available offers and choose the plan best suited to your way of traveling.
