Last updated: September 2026
You can stay connected in China, but the method decides which internet you get. A mainland Chinese SIM or eSIM - the kind with a +86 phone number - sits behind the Great Firewall, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram will not load without a VPN. An international roaming plan or a travel eSIM whose traffic is routed outside mainland China generally reaches those services without any extra configuration.
Pick the route that matches what you need: a Chinese number for apps and bookings, or open access to the international web.
The two routes, and what each one gets you
Route 1: a mainland SIM or eSIM (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom)
- You get a Chinese phone number, which helps with some local apps, restaurant queues and hotel callbacks.
- All mainland carrier connections are subject to China's internet filtering. Western services are blocked.
- Real-name registration is mandatory: passport plus a facial scan at the counter.
- Best for travellers who want a local number and are comfortable solving the international access question separately.
Route 2: international roaming, or a travel eSIM routed outside the mainland
- Traffic is carried on your home network's roaming agreement or routed through Hong Kong or another overseas point of presence.
- In practice, Google Maps, Gmail, WhatsApp and Instagram work without additional setup.
- No Chinese phone number, and no local voice calls - though data-based apps cover almost everything.
- This is what most short-stay visitors should buy before they fly.
Many experienced travellers run both: a physical Chinese SIM in the tray for the +86 number, plus a data eSIM for open access.
Do you need a Chinese phone number?
For most trips, no.
- Payments: Alipay and WeChat Pay work on foreign phone numbers once your passport is verified.
- Train tickets: 12306 accepts passport registration directly.
- Maps and transport: DiDi and the main map apps work with foreign numbers.
- What actually needs a +86 number: registering new accounts on some local platforms, food delivery apps, and calls to local businesses.
If your trip is short and you are travelling with an operator who handles bookings, a Chinese number is optional.
Where to buy a SIM in China
Every major international airport has carrier counters in the arrivals area - Beijing Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX), Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN). Opening hours cover international arrivals.
The process is uniform:
- Present your passport.
- A staff member photocopies it and takes a facial photograph.
- You complete a short real-name registration form.
- You choose a plan and pay. Activation takes 2-30 minutes.
Airport counters are used to foreign passports and process in about 10 minutes. Downtown carrier stores take longer, and English support is thinner. Typical tourist packages run in the region of CNY 120-300 for 15-30 days, covering anything from 10 GB to 100 GB, depending on carrier and tier. Convenience stores sell basic prepaid SIMs but are not a reliable primary option.
Two caveats: a physical passport is required (no digital copies), and buying at the airport means queueing after a long flight, so an eSIM purchased before departure is often the smoother choice.
Can you get an eSIM with a Chinese phone number?
Rarely. Mainland carriers do advertise eSIM, but in practice foreign passport holders are often declined eSIM activation at carrier stores, and the workaround most travellers use is a physical SIM for the Chinese number.
If you specifically want an eSIM, the closest option is a Hong Kong carrier eSIM that includes mainland roaming data and a Hong Kong number - workable for data, but not a mainland +86 number.
What about VPNs?
This is where travellers get confused, so here is the straightforward version.
- Corporate VPNs used by registered businesses for their employees are legal and widely used.
- Unlicensed VPN services are not authorised in mainland China. Individual use of such services sits in a grey area that the authorities have periodically tightened.
- International roaming and overseas-routed travel eSIMs are ordinary consumer products sold by carriers and travel companies. They are the compliant way to keep access to the international web, because your traffic never enters the mainland network.
Our advice for visitors: buy an overseas-routed eSIM or enable international roaming before you fly, rather than installing a VPN and hoping it survives. Reliability is the practical reason as much as anything - connection quality for third-party VPNs inside China is inconsistent.
Because of that, we do not recommend relying on a VPN for anything critical during your trip: download offline maps, save your hotel address in Chinese, and keep booking confirmations available offline.
Practical setup checklist
Before you fly:
- Buy an overseas-routed eSIM or confirm your home carrier's roaming rates for China.
- Install and verify Alipay and WeChat Pay while you still have unrestricted internet.
- Download the apps you will need: DiDi, a translation app, your train booking app.
- Cache an offline map of each city.
On arrival:
- Turn off data roaming for your home SIM if you are using an eSIM for data, to avoid charges.
- Buy a Chinese physical SIM at the airport only if you need a local number.
During the trip:
- Keep a power bank - no battery, no payment, no map.
- Note that public Wi-Fi also sits behind filtering, so it is not a workaround.
Public Wi-Fi, hotel internet and business travellers
Hotel and cafe Wi-Fi is common but filtered the same way as mobile data, and speed varies. If you are travelling for business and need to reach corporate systems, arrange your company's VPN access before departure - this is exactly the case where a licensed corporate VPN is both appropriate and expected.
Frequently asked questions
Will Google Maps work in China?
With an overseas-routed eSIM or international roaming, generally yes. On a mainland SIM, no. Local alternatives such as Amap work well on any connection.
Is the internet fast enough for video calls?
On 5G in major cities, yes - China's mobile networks are fast and dense. A routed eSIM adds a small amount of latency.
Do I need a Chinese number for Alipay?
No. A foreign number works once you verify your passport.
Can I buy an eSIM after arriving?
You can, but the airport counter route means a physical SIM for a +86 number in most cases. Buying an eSIM before departure is simpler.
What happens if my data stops working?
Carrier stores, hotel front desks and airport counters can all help, but they need your passport. Carry cash for transport while you sort it out.
Related reading: How to Pay in China Without a Chinese Bank Card - note that QR payments need a data connection - and the rest of our China Travel Essentials column.
