International roaming
Keeping your home carrier active can be convenient for calls, SMS and data, but charges, speed and roaming allowances depend on your specific plan.
Travel eSIM
An eSIM lets a compatible phone install a digital cellular profile. Many travel plans provide data-only service and do not include a local Chinese phone number.
Data-only plans normally cannot receive SMS verification codes. If your bank, email, or booking accounts send login codes by text message, keep your home SIM active for SMS — with mobile data roaming switched off — or move those accounts to an authenticator app before you fly.
Check your exact phone model before choosing. iPhones sold in the United States have no physical SIM slot and can only use eSIM, while most phones sold in mainland China do not support eSIM and need a physical card. A US iPhone therefore cannot take a Chinese physical SIM at all.
Local physical SIM
A local SIM may be useful for longer stays or services that need a Chinese number. Mobile operators ordinarily require identity registration, often with a passport.
Buying a local SIM without the runaround
Bring your passport to an official store of China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom — not a street kiosk or market stall. Real-name registration with a facial scan is mandatory for foreigners, and only official stores reliably handle foreign passports.
Ask for a prepaid plan and confirm three things before you pay: the monthly data allowance, the exact expiry date, and how to top up (usually through the carrier's own app). Prices are low by international standards, so do not let anyone upsell you a premium package at the airport.
Think about account verification
Data-only service may not receive traditional phone SMS messages. Some financial, booking and email accounts will still rely on the original number.
Avoid assumptions about overseas apps
Network routing and access to international websites can vary by connection, plan, location and current conditions. Before you fly, download offline maps for every city on your route, save hotel addresses and booking confirmations where you can read them without internet, and move important contacts into your phone's notes app.
The first five minutes after landing
Enable the intended mobile line, verify that you can load a map, check the hotel address and contact your pickup or hotel.
A 60-second decision guide
On a short trip where you mainly need maps, translation, and messaging, a travel eSIM bought and installed before departure is the simplest option. If you must receive bank SMS codes or make local calls, keep your home line alive for SMS and pair it with a data eSIM — or get a local SIM instead. For stays of a month or more, a local SIM from an official carrier store is usually the cheapest per gigabyte.
Many travelers run two lines at once: the home SIM kept active for SMS with data roaming turned off, and a travel eSIM set as the mobile-data line. On iPhone, set the travel eSIM as the mobile-data line under the cellular settings; on Android, look under the network settings for the SIM options. Set this up at home, not at the airport.
Troubleshooting: when internet fails
Connectivity problems have specific fixes. Here are the most common failure modes.
No signal after landing
- Toggle Airplane Mode on for 10 seconds, then off to force a fresh network search. Confirm the eSIM line is set as the active line for Cellular Data and that Data Roaming is turned ON for that line.
- Manually switch carriers in phone settings. Try China Mobile, then China Unicom. Coverage varies by region.
- Restart the phone if nothing works, then contact your eSIM provider's in-app chat support over airport Wi-Fi. Most providers respond quickly and can push a fresh profile.
eSIM activation fails
- Ensure you have a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection during activation. Install the eSIM before departure, not after landing, to avoid depending on airport Wi-Fi.
- If you see "code no longer valid," the QR code was likely already scanned once. Most eSIM QR codes work only a single time. Check your SIM manager for an existing profile before requesting a new code.
- Update your phone's OS to the latest version, and confirm the device is carrier-unlocked. Outdated software and carrier locks are the two most common silent causes of activation failure.
Cannot receive SMS verification codes
- Identify which code is missing. One comes from the app itself to verify your number; the other comes from your bank to approve adding a foreign card. A data-only travel eSIM does not give your home number SMS capability.
- Before traveling, confirm with your bank that international roaming SMS is enabled on your home number, or check whether your bank sends OTPs through its own app instead of SMS.
- Do not request codes repeatedly in rapid succession. This triggers rate limits. Verify the country code is correct, restart the phone connection, and wait a few minutes before retrying.
Frequently asked questions
Will my eSIM include a Chinese number?
Often not. Check the specific product because many travel eSIMs are data-only.
Is roaming always better?
No. Compare the full plan cost and the functionality you need.
Can I buy an eSIM after I land in China?
Yes, if you have Wi-Fi — but installing a profile needs internet, which is exactly what you lack at that moment. Buy and install before departure, then switch the line on after landing.
How much data do I need for a week?
Maps, translation, and messaging use roughly 300 to 500 MB per day for a typical traveler. A 5 to 10 GB plan covers most one-week trips; add more if you make video calls or share your connection as a hotspot.
Can I keep my home number and use an eSIM for data at the same time?
Yes, on most dual-SIM phones. Keep the home line active for calls and SMS, set the eSIM as the data line, and switch data roaming off on the home line to avoid surprise charges.
Official sources
Visit these original sources for the latest policy and service details. Procedures may change after this article's review date.
Keep reading, or turn this information into a practical travel plan.
Editorial review: October 13, 2026. This independent guide is general information. Confirm important immigration, legal and financial procedures with official providers.