China SIM card for tourists 2026: airport or eSIM?
Where to buy a SIM card in China, what the counter asks for, coverage in Shanghai, and when an eSIM installed before you fly is the better buy.
Short answer: A tourist SIM card in China is bought at a counter after you land in Shanghai; a ONE eSIM plan for China is installed at home on Wi-Fi, works the moment you land and leaves your own SIM and number in place. Both work in every city in this guide.
Landing in Shanghai and wondering whether to queue for a SIM card? This is how buying one works in China in 2026, what the counter will ask you for, and when an eSIM bought before you fly is the better deal.
Where to buy a SIM card in China
China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom sell SIM cards in their own shops, and some have counters at the big international airports. Real-name registration with your passport is required, often with a photo, and staff may ask you to install a Chinese app to finish activation. Data on a Chinese SIM goes through the national filters.
Tourist SIM card or travel eSIM?
| SIM card in China | ONE eSIM Our price | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Airport counter or a shop | On this site, in a minute |
| When it works | After the counter and the swap | The moment you land |
| Your home number | Out of the phone | Stays in for calls and texts |
| Paperwork | Often a passport and a form | None |
| Validity | Sized by the month | From one day; top up when you need |
| If it fails | Back to the shop | Refunded in full before installation |
An eSIM is a plan downloaded onto a phone that supports it, which is every iPhone since the XS and most Android flagships since 2020. You install it on Wi-Fi at home, keep the line switched off, and turn it on when the plane lands in Shanghai. The plan starts the first time it connects, not when you buy it.
Coverage in Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen and beyond
Both a local SIM and a travel eSIM run on the same networks in China, so coverage is about the operator, not the kind of SIM. Our plans name their operator and whether it runs 3G, 4G or 5G; each plan card shows its best generation. In Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Chengdu you will have a full signal from any of them.
FAQ: SIM cards and eSIMs in China
- Do Google and WhatsApp work on a Chinese SIM card? No, not without a VPN: a Chinese SIM is subject to the national internet filters. A travel eSIM that routes through Hong Kong or Singapore is not.
- Can I buy a Chinese SIM card at the airport? At some international airports, yes, with a passport and registration. Many shops in town are only for residents, so an eSIM is simpler.
Before you fly
- Check your phone supports eSIM and is not carrier-locked (our device page lists every model).
- Buy the plan a few days before the trip and install it on home Wi-Fi; the QR code arrives by email in minutes.
- Keep the travel line off until you land, then turn it on with data roaming enabled for that line only.
- Leave your home SIM in for calls and texts; set the eSIM as the mobile data line.
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