China travel · Internet
China internet planner
Choose between travel eSIM, home roaming and a local SIM. Check the details that matter to you, then follow a practical setup checklist.
1 · Choose
Find a connection that fits your trip
About 2 minutes. No account needed. Choose “not sure” whenever you need to check.
Step 1 of 2 · Phone and trip
Options checked within the last 30 days
Start with home-carrier roaming if it already covers China. For compatible unlocked phones, our current editorial sample includes travel eSIMs and an airport-pickup physical SIM. A registered SIM is the route to consider when a mainland number is required.
- Trip.com · 40017785: Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. Data-only eSIM; no mainland number. Selected total-data configurations range from 7–30 days and 5–50 GB; not every combination is offered. Product source ↗
- Trip.com · 57042119: Mainland China only; Hong Kong and Macao excluded. Data-only eSIM; no mainland number. Selected total-data configurations range from 3–365 days and 1–100 GB; not every combination is offered. Product source ↗
- Trip.com · 54036174: Mainland China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam; Hong Kong and Macao excluded. Data-only eSIM; no mainland number. Selected total-data configurations range from 3–30 days and 1–50 GB; not every combination is offered. Product source ↗
- Trip.com · 57657978: Mainland China only; excludes Hong Kong and Macao. Physical SIM with a mainland number; personal airport collection and registration required. Selected total-data configurations range from 7–30 days and 10–60 GB; not every combination is offered. Product source ↗
- Yesim: Mainland China. Data-only eSIM; no mainland number. Selected total-data configurations range from 30–30 days and 5–20 GB; not every combination is offered. Product source ↗
Review dates are shown on each result. Prices, eligibility, coverage and final terms can change; check the exact plan before purchase. These are provider claims, not Chinaway field tests.
Before you choose
Do I need a mainland phone number?
Check the service you need it for. Data-only travel eSIMs do not provide one. Receiving your home bank’s SMS needs your original line, which is a separate task.
Can I use my laptop or overseas apps?
Check the exact plan’s hotspot allowance and provider claims for the services you need. Unlimited phone data does not imply unlimited sharing or guaranteed app access.
Can I test everything before departure?
You can check compatibility, install when allowed and prepare settings. Actual destination coverage, app use and SMS should be checked again in China.
How are recommendations made?
We use your answers and a small set of provider-published plans. We show source dates, do not claim field testing and remove plans from matching after 30 days without review. Trip.com is our primary commercial partner when a reviewed option meets your needs; Yesim is an alternative. Both may earn us a commission. We exclude the selected Trip.com eSIM products for regular laptop sharing because of their fair-use warnings.
Our editorial policy →Answers for specific connection needs
Prepare your original phone line for verification messages in China while using a travel eSIM for mobile data.
Check tethering, shared-data allowances and fair-use limits before choosing a China travel eSIM for a laptop or other devices.
Work through coverage, activation, data-line selection and provider settings when an installed China travel eSIM has no internet.
Check exact app claims, device limits and support before buying a China travel eSIM for ChatGPT, TikTok or work services.
Final price, compatibility, coverage and purchase conditions are set by your carrier or seller. Review dates are shown with each product.