China
Nationwide coverage
Data across China on China Mobile — the Great Wall, the Bund, the high-speed rail network. Land connected, and keep the apps you actually use working.
- 5G where available
- No roaming charges
- Instant eSIM delivery
- Keep your number
eSIM + QR code emailed instantly · no physical SIM
The firewall question, answered honestly
This is why most people buy a China eSIM rather than a local SIM. A domestic Chinese SIM puts your traffic inside the mainland internet, where Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and a long list of other services are blocked.
A roaming travel eSIM works differently: your data is routed back through the home network outside mainland China, so those services are typically reachable without a VPN. That's the practical experience most travellers report.
We'd rather be straight with you than oversell it. This is a consequence of how international roaming is routed, not a guarantee we control, and China's regulatory environment can change. If your trip absolutely depends on a particular service, have a backup plan.
China Mobile coverage
Your eSIM connects to China Mobile on 5G — the largest mobile network in the world by subscriber numbers, and comprehensively built out. Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin and the whole eastern seaboard are blanketed.
The high-speed rail network has trackside coverage along most routes, which is worth knowing given how much of China you'll cross by train. Tibet, the far west and the Gobi fringes are naturally thinner.
How much data to buy
A week in Beijing and Shanghai with maps, translation and messaging wants 3 GB. Two weeks covering more ground suits 5 GB at £4.99. If you're relying on live translation constantly — and in China you will be — buy a size up from your instinct.
Good to know
Questions, answered
Will Google and WhatsApp work in China with this eSIM?+
Typically yes. As a roaming eSIM your traffic routes back through the home network outside mainland China rather than through the domestic internet, so blocked services are usually reachable without a VPN. It's a function of roaming routing rather than a guarantee we control, so keep a backup plan if something is critical.
Does it work on the high-speed trains?+
Yes, along most routes. China's high-speed rail corridors have good trackside coverage, so you'll keep a connection for the bulk of a journey with the usual dropouts in tunnels.
How do I install it?+
After checkout we email your eSIM and a QR code. Scan it in your phone's settings, switch the line on, and you're ready — do it before you fly and it activates when you land.
Will it work on my phone?+
Most phones from the last few years support eSIM (iPhone XS and newer, recent Samsung/Pixel). Check your phone in Settings, or use our compatibility checker.
When does my plan start?+
Validity counts from first connection in the destination, not from purchase — so you can buy and install early without wasting days.
Can I keep using my normal number?+
Yes. The eSIM is data-only and runs alongside your usual SIM, so calls and texts on your main number still work.
Networks
Your eSIM hops onto the strongest of China’s local networks automatically — no setup, no choosing.
Coverage
Full nationwide data across China on tier-1 partner networks.