Compare the best eSIM plans for China
Internet from the moment you land in China
By SamuelData collected on Page verified on Methodology
- Instant activation
- iPhone and Android compatible
- From €0.25 for 1 GB or more
- 6,400+ plans compared
Photo credit : Kaca Pic
€0.25
Cheapest plan, 1 GB or more
6,400+
China plans compared
115+
Providers available
5G
Network supported
Entry price measured on fixed-volume plans of 1 GB or more covering the country. Volumes below 1 GB and plans billed per day, whose price is not comparable, fall outside the calculation.
Best eSIM deals for China
ASIMGO
1 GB · 7 days
1 GB
7 days
CN
€0.25
AbesteSIM
1 GB · 1 day
1 GB
1 day
CN
€0.30
Stellar eSIM
1 GB · 7 days
1 GB
7 days
CN
€0.34
eSIM.dog
1 GB · 1 day
1 GB
1 day
CN
€0.60
MicroEsim
1 GB · 1 day
1 GB
1 day
CN
€0.66
eSIM4Travel
1 GB · 7 days
1 GB
7 days
CN
€0.68
eSIM for China at a glance
From
€2.05
For 5 GB / 30 days
Plan duration
1 to 30+ days
Depending on the plan
Local networks
China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom
4G / 5G
VPN needed?
Yes, recommended
To access Google, WhatsApp, Instagram
Hotspot tethering
Available
On most plans
Compatibility
iPhone XS+ / Android 8.0+
Check your device
Internet in China: everything you need to know
China is one of the densest mobile markets in the world, with more than a billion internet users and an internet penetration rate of about 78% (source: ITU DataHub, 2024). 4G covers virtually every populated area and 5G is rolling out quickly in major metropolitan hubs. A China eSIM gives you access to this network the moment you land, with no physical card swap and no reliance on hotel wifi.
- ●4G/5G coverage in every major city and tourist hotspot (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xi'an).
- ●Mobile download speeds measured around 110 to 130 Mbps according to Ookla (Q1 2025).
- ●Perfect for local apps you cannot avoid on the ground (WeChat, Alipay, DiDi, Baidu).
- ●Skips the high roaming fees European carriers charge outside the EU.
Sources: Internet Society Pulse : China, ITU DataHub : China statistics, Ookla Speedtest Global Index
Networks and connectivity on the ground
- Average speed
- 176.2 Mbps downloadmeasured 2026 · Internet Society Pulse
- 5G
- Widely availablemeasured 2025 · Internet Society Pulse
- Local operators
- China Mobile · China Unicom · China Telecommeasured 2026 · Datadopt research
- Public Wi-Fi
- Hotels and cafesmeasured 2026 · Datadopt research
Practical information
- Currency
- Chinese Yuan (CNY)
- Payments
- Card and cashATMs everywhere
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected
- Power socket
- Type A, Type C, Type I220 V, 50 Hz
- Official languages
- ChineseAlso spoken : Cantonese, UyghurLimited English
- Dialling code
- +86Time zone : Asia/Shanghai
- Emergency numbers
- 110 · 120 · 119
When to go
- Best time to go
- April, May, September, October
- Shoulder season
- March, November
- Peak season
- February, July, August, October
- Seasonal hazards
- TyphoonsJuly, August, September
- Extreme heatJuly, August
- Extreme coldDecember, January, February
April, May, September and October are the four workable months across most of the country. China is large enough that a Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Guilin itinerary crosses several climates in one trip, and the north stays genuinely cold all winter.
Two weeks to avoid outright
Lunar New Year, between late January and mid-February, and National Day week at the start of October are the two largest human migrations on earth. Trains, flights and hotels book out months ahead and the sites are overwhelmed.
Sort your access before you fly
Internet access is regulated in China, and some of the services you use daily elsewhere do not respond the same way. Installing and testing what you need before departure, and having a fallback way to reach people, is the only preparation that actually helps.
Payment is a phone, not a card
Almost everything is paid by QR code through one of two apps, both of which now accept a foreign card once registered. Doing that setup at home rather than at a ticket counter saves the first day of the trip.
Coverage follows the population, not the map
The facts block below shows 5G reaching most of the population, which means the eastern cities. The west is a different proposition: Tibet, Xinjiang and the Inner Mongolian steppe are thin, and some of them need a separate permit anyway.
Iconic sites and coverage
Great Wall at Mutianyu
This restored section north of Beijing is steep and far quieter than Badaling. A chairlift goes up and a toboggan run comes down, which feels less absurd than it sounds after three hours of steps.
Forbidden City
Nearly a thousand buildings across seventy-odd hectares, closed to the public for five centuries. Tickets are name-bound and capped daily, and the route is one-way from south to north.
Terracotta Army
Eight thousand buried soldiers near Xi'an, found in 1974 by farmers digging a well. Every face is different, and the main pit is deliberately left partly unexcavated.
Bund of Shanghai
A frontage of 1920s colonial banks facing a skyline built after 1990 across the river. The two banks answer each other, and it is the quickest way to grasp the Chinese century.
Li River at Guilin
The karst pinnacles between Guilin and Yangshuo are the most reproduced landscape in Chinese painting, and appear on the back of the twenty-yuan note. The run is done by boat or raft, and mist is common.
Zhangjiajie
Vegetation-covered sandstone columns in Hunan, linked by walkways and an external lift of more than three hundred metres. The park is vast, the shuttles essential, and signal uneven on the high paths.
Potala Palace
The former residence of the Dalai Lamas stands above Lhasa at over three thousand six hundred metres. Entering the Tibetan region needs a permit separate from the visa, and the altitude needs two days of acclimatisation before those stairs.
Chengdu Panda Base
A breeding and research centre where pandas of every age are visible, the youngest in a nursery. The animals are active early and at feeding times, and doze through the rest of the day.
Sources Internet Society Pulse, Datadopt research
Datadopt Observatory
Price per GB in China: what our data shows
According to the Datadopt Observatory, the lowest price per GB recorded in China comes down to 0.06 €/GB, across a sample of 2,769 fixed-volume offers retained for the measurement. That floor is reached on large data bundles : a 5 GB plan over 30 days costs noticeably more per GB. The real differentiator is still the depth of the offer : the more plans compete, the easier it is to find the duration and data volume that fit your trip.
Lowest price per GB recorded
0.06 €/GB
Offers in the price sample
2,769
Asia average
0.21 €/GB
World ranking
3 / 215
China is 71% cheaper than the Asia regional average (0.21 €/GB).
Source: Datadopt eSIM Price Observatory, 170,286 plans analysed, measured 1 September 2026.
See the eSIM price Observatory by country →Which eSIM providers for China?
Here are the 6 best-placed eSIM providers for China, ranked by best price per GB. Prices are expressed per GB so plans of different sizes can be compared on the same basis.
| Provider | Price per GB | From | Max duration | Hotspot | 5G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 €/GB | 0.25 € | 15 d | Yes | No | |
| AbesteSIM | 0.27 €/GB | 0.30 € | 30 d | Yes | No |
| eSIM.dog | 0.30 €/GB | 0.60 € | 30 d | Yes | No |
| Stellar eSIM | 0.34 €/GB | 0.34 € | 30 d | Yes | Yes |
| MicroEsim | 0.48 €/GB | 0.66 € | 30 d | Yes | Yes |
 Strongesim | 0.64 €/GB | 0.69 € | 15 d | Yes | Yes |
Providers ranked by best price per GB, across plans of at least 1 GB. Source: Datadopt catalogue.
Compare all plans →Device compatibility
eSIM is built into every iPhone XS and later, as well as Samsung Galaxy S20+, Google Pixel 3a+ and most high-end Motorola, Oppo, Sony and Xiaomi models.
Not sure about your device? Check compatibility here.
How to install your eSIM for China
- 1. Compare offers on https://www.datadopt.com/en/compare/cn
- 2. Browse our partners' eSIM offers and choose the data volume and duration that fit your trip.
- 3. Purchase the eSIM plan that best fits your needs on our partner's site.
- 4. Receive a QR code by email after purchase.
- 5. Before you leave or during your stay, add the eSIM to your smartphone (Note: a stable Wi-Fi connection may be required during this step.)
- 5.1. On iPhone: Settings > Mobile Data > Add Plan > Scan the QR code
- 5.2. On Android: Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add a mobile plan
- 6. Once you arrive, turn on the data of your eSIM and enjoy reliable internet in China.
First eSIM? The full walkthrough, with iOS and Android screenshots, lives in our guide how to install an eSIM on your smartphone.
Frequently asked questions
Do eSIMs really work in China?
Yes. The vast majority of international eSIMs connect to China Unicom or China Mobile the moment you land. Prefer a plan that explicitly mentions mainland China coverage (not just Hong Kong).
Do I need a VPN in China?
If you want to use Google Maps, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram, X (Twitter) or Facebook, yes. Many international eSIMs bypass restrictions by routing traffic via Hong Kong: in that case a VPN is no longer needed for those services.
Can I keep my home phone number?
Yes. The eSIM installs alongside your main physical or eSIM line. You keep your home number for SMS and calls while using the China eSIM for mobile data.
What's the best eSIM for Shanghai or Beijing?
Both cities have full 5G coverage. For a short trip (≤ 7 days) a 3 to 5 GB plan is plenty. For 2 weeks or more, target 10 to 20 GB to cover heavy use of maps, translation and light streaming.
Do WhatsApp and Google work?
Not through the standard mainland Chinese network. However, many international eSIMs (Holafly, Airalo, etc.) route traffic via Hong Kong, which lets those services work without a VPN. Check the plan page.
Can I share my connection with other devices?
Most China eSIM plans allow hotspot tethering. A few carriers restrict it; the detail appears on each plan page on Datadopt.
How much does an eSIM cost in China, and is it cheap?
According to the Datadopt Observatory, the lowest price per GB recorded in China comes down to 0.06 €/GB, across a sample of 2,769 fixed-volume offers retained for the measurement. That floor is reached on large data bundles : a 5 GB plan over 30 days costs noticeably more per GB. The real differentiator is still the depth of the offer : the more plans compete, the easier it is to find the duration and data volume that fit your trip. China is 71% cheaper than the Asia regional average (0.21 €/GB). In our global ranking of well-covered eSIM markets, China sits at position 3 of 215 by price per GB (1 = cheapest). Source: Datadopt eSIM Price Observatory, 170,286 plans analysed, measured 1 September 2026.
See the eSIM price Observatory by country →Explore other popular destinations
Ready to stay connected in China?
Compare the best eSIM offers and enjoy data the moment you arrive, at the best price.