Best eSIM for China in 2026: How to Choose

The best eSIM for China is the one that matches your route: a mainland plan if you are staying on the mainland, or a combined plan if you are also visiting Hong Kong or Macau. After that, pick a data size and a number of days that cover the whole trip, because these plans cannot be topped up. This guide explains what to check, then matches our China travel eSIM plans to the most common kinds of trip.

All prices below are in Australian dollars and convert automatically at checkout if you shop in another currency.

What matters when choosing a China eSIM

Coverage area: mainland only, or Hong Kong and Macau too?

This is the first question, and the one that catches people out. Hong Kong and Macau have their own operators and their own networks, separate from the mainland. A mainland-only plan stops working when you cross into Hong Kong, and a Hong Kong plan does not work in Shenzhen.

Network

Mainland China has three main national mobile operators: China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom. Our mainland China eSIM connects to China Unicom, China Telecom or China Mobile, with 5G/4G data across mainland China. The China & Hong Kong eSIM uses China Telecom in mainland China and Macau, and CSL in Hong Kong. You need a 5G-capable phone to use 5G.

Data size

China asks more of your phone than most destinations, because maps, translation, mobile payments and ride-hailing all run on data. For a two-week trip we recommend 20GB to 30GB.

Validity

Plans come in 3, 7, 15 and 30 day lengths. Service starts on the first network connection at your destination, and the days are counted from then, so the time between buying, installing and landing is not counted.

Hotspot

Hotspot and tethering are supported on the China, China & Hong Kong, Hong Kong & Macau and Asia Explorer eSIMs. Tethering uses your data allowance, so allow for it when you choose a size.

ID rules

Local Chinese SIM cards need passport registration at a store. The China eSIM, the China & Hong Kong eSIM and the Hong Kong & Macau eSIM require no ID to activate. The Asia Explorer eSIM is the exception: travellers using it in Hong Kong or Taiwan must complete real-name registration with a valid passport.

Calls, numbers and the apps you rely on

The eSIMs are data only, with no phone number, no voice calls and no SMS, so calls are made through internet-based (VoIP) calling and messaging apps. Google and WhatsApp currently work on all of our China eSIM plans, and mobile payment with Alipay and WeChat Pay is supported on them too. Your home SIM stays in the phone, so you still receive bank verification codes on your usual number.

Delivery

The QR code is emailed after purchase. Orders placed after 1 AM AEST are sent from 9 AM AEST onwards, which is why we suggest ordering at least a day before you fly.

Our China plans compared

The four eSIMs are data only, include hotspot and are delivered by email as a QR code. The physical SIM card comes with a UK phone number and is posted with Australia Post to Australian addresses.

Which plan fits which trip

A stopover or long weekend on the mainland

For a few days in Beijing or Shanghai, the mainland China eSIM with 10GB for 3 days at A$12.90 covers a short stay.

One to two weeks touring mainland China

For Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin or any itinerary that stays on the mainland, the same China eSIM comes with 20GB for 15 days at A$21.90 or 30GB for 15 days at A$29.90. Choose 30GB if you upload a lot of photos or make regular video calls.

A month, or working on the road

For a month, or if you plan to hotspot a laptop, 50GB for 30 days is A$59.90. It is the largest allowance on the mainland plan.

Mainland China plus Hong Kong or Macau

If your trip crosses the border, for example Hong Kong to Shenzhen and Guangzhou, a Greater Bay Area loop or a Macau side trip from Zhuhai, the China & Hong Kong eSIM keeps one plan working in all three places. It starts at 10GB for 3 days at A$10.90. 20GB for 15 days is A$21.90 and 30GB for 30 days is A$31.90. Keep data roaming switched on for the eSIM line at the border, because the eSIM moves between China Telecom and CSL when you cross between the mainland and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong and Macau only

If you are not entering the mainland, the Hong Kong & Macau eSIM on the Three network costs less: 10GB for 3 days is A$7.90, 10GB for 7 days is A$9.90 and 20GB for 15 days is A$17.90. It does not work in mainland China. The full range is in our Hong Kong & Macau eSIM plans.

China as one stop on a wider Asia trip

The Asia Explorer eSIM covers 12 destinations including Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea and Thailand, from 3GB for 3 days at A$5.90. It does not include mainland China, so pair it with the mainland China eSIM if your route includes both. Single-country options are listed with our eSIMs for Asia.

Your phone does not support eSIM

The physical Hong Kong & Macau SIM card has 12GB for 30 days in Hong Kong and Macau for A$34.90. It covers Hong Kong and Macau but not mainland China, and it is posted to Australian addresses only. For the mainland on a phone without eSIM, roaming, a local SIM or pocket Wi-Fi are the alternatives, and our guide to getting internet in China as a tourist compares them.

Limits to know before you buy

• "Unlimited" means 128 kbps after your allowance. The China, China & Hong Kong and Hong Kong & Macau eSIMs each have a high-speed allowance. After that, data continues at 128 kbps, which is enough for messaging but not for video or large downloads.
• No top-ups. The plans are not rechargeable. If you need more full-speed data, buy another eSIM and it will be emailed to you.
• No phone number. A data-only travel eSIM does not give you a Chinese phone number. A local SIM does, and it can still work out cheaper on a long stay.
• Install within 90 days. The QR code must be installed and used within 90 days of purchase, after which it expires and cannot be reissued.
• Coverage thins out in remote regions. In parts of Tibet, Xinjiang, Yunnan and western Sichuan, coverage thins out between towns, so download offline maps before you set off.

Check your phone, then buy and install

You need a carrier-unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone, which includes iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, and Google Pixel 3 and newer. A quick test is to dial *#06#: if a 32-digit EID appears, the device supports eSIM.

1. Buy online. Choose your coverage, data size and number of days. The QR code arrives by email.
2. Install on Wi-Fi before you fly. Scan the QR code in your phone's mobile settings at home. The China and China & Hong Kong eSIMs can be installed any time before your travel date, and installing early does not start the plan.
3. Land and connect. Switch on the eSIM line, set it as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for it. Turn off data roaming on your home line.

One exception: the Asia Explorer eSIM should be installed on arrival if you live in or transit through one of its covered destinations, because it activates on first connection in any of them.

If anything goes wrong along the way, our Melbourne-based support team is available 16 hours a day by live chat and email.

So, which one should you choose?

Start with the map, not the price list. If every night of the trip is on the mainland, take the mainland China eSIM. If the trip touches Hong Kong or Macau as well, take the China & Hong Kong eSIM. Then choose an allowance with some headroom, since the plans cannot be topped up. You can compare every size and validity on the China eSIM collection page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best eSIM for China travel?

It depends on your route. For mainland China only, the China eSIM (from A$12.90) connects to China Unicom, China Telecom or China Mobile. If your trip also includes Hong Kong or Macau, the China & Hong Kong eSIM (from A$10.90) covers all three on one plan. For Hong Kong and Macau only, the Hong Kong & Macau eSIM starts at A$7.90.

Does one eSIM cover mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau?

Yes. The China & Hong Kong eSIM covers mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, from A$10.90 for 10GB over 3 days, so you keep the same plan when you cross the border. The mainland China eSIM does not work in Hong Kong or Macau, and the Hong Kong & Macau eSIM and Asia Explorer eSIM do not work in mainland China.

Do I need ID to activate a China eSIM?

No. The China eSIM, the China & Hong Kong eSIM and the Hong Kong & Macau eSIM require no ID to activate, unlike local Chinese SIM cards, which need passport registration at a store. The Asia Explorer eSIM is the exception: travellers using it in Hong Kong or Taiwan must complete real-name registration with a valid passport.

Can I use Google and WhatsApp in China with these eSIMs?

Yes. Google and WhatsApp currently work on all of our China eSIM plans, including the mainland China eSIM and the China & Hong Kong eSIM, so you can keep using the apps you rely on at home alongside local apps such as WeChat and Alipay.

Is there an unlimited data eSIM for China?

The China, China & Hong Kong and Hong Kong & Macau eSIMs each have a high-speed allowance (10GB to 50GB on the mainland plan, 10GB to 30GB on the other two). After that, data continues at 128 kbps, which is enough for messaging but not for video or large downloads.

Can I top up a China eSIM if I run out of data?

No. The plans are not rechargeable. Once the high-speed allowance is used, data continues at 128 kbps until the plan ends. If you need more full-speed data, buy another eSIM and it will be emailed to you.