China eSIM Prepaid mobile data for your trip
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom
- Email in ~1 min
- Activate within 180 days
Guaranteed safe & secure checkout
Can I activate my plan later?
All plans have a 180-day activation window. If you buy a plan today and don't activate it before Mar 6, 2027, it will be activated automatically.
Based on 1000+ reviews
RAPIDeSIM is rated Excellent
Imane YounessVerified reviewCompréhensif
Compréhensif, ils m'ont aidée à activer la carte eSIM étape par étape. Passion avec ses clients, merci, vous méritez les cinq étoiles, c'est une bonne expérience.
· +1M
Travelers who trust us worldwide
What your China eSIM includes
- Data
- 1 GB – 20 GB, plus unlimited plans
- Validity
- 7–30 days from activation
- Network
- China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom
- Installation
- One-tap Quick Install — no QR code needed (iOS 17.4+). QR code and manual setup also included.
- Delivery
- By email, minutes after payment
- Activation
- On arrival, when you switch the line on — up to 180 days to do it
- Top-up
- Rechargeable anytime, no reinstall
- Hotspot
- Supported — share with your travel companions
- Phone number
- Data only — keep your own number for calls, WhatsApp and SMS
- Coverage
- China
Not included
- Local phone number
- Calls and SMS
- 5G everywhere — depends on network and device
- Unlimited without rules — Fair-use policy →
Source: computed from this product's 7 plans and its network metafield.
Everything you use at home, everywhere you go
Find your way, stay reachable, share the moment and book the next step, without hunting for Wi-Fi. Typical data use per app, to size your plan.
- Google Maps≈ 10 MB / h
- Waze≈ 20 MB / h
- WhatsApp≈ 300 MB / h (video call)
- Instagram≈ 300 MB / h
- TikTok≈ 800 MB / h
- YouTube≈ 500 MB / h (480p)
- Netflix≈ 1 GB / h (SD)
- Spotify≈ 70 MB / h
- Booking.com≈ 5 MB / search
- Airbnb≈ 5 MB / search
- Uber≈ 10 MB / ride
- Google Translate≈ 1 MB / photo
How much data do I need? Calculator
Estimates for typical use; video quality and background updates change them. Logos belong to their owners.
Visiting other countries too? These regional plans include China
One eSIM for the whole trip: same email, same install, nothing to reinstall at the border.
eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM
| eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM | RapideSIM | Roaming | Local SIM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price known before you leave | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ready before you land — no airport queue | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Keep your number & WhatsApp | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Local data rates | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| No contract, no hidden fees | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Install before you leave, activate on arrival
- Open Settings → Cellular / Mobile Data
- Tap “Add eSIM”
- Scan the QR code from your email
- Enable data roaming on your RapideSIM line
- Open Settings → Connections / Network
- Open SIM Manager → “Add eSIM”
- Scan the QR code from your email
- Enable data roaming on your RapideSIM line
No QR code? Easy install is also available — just follow the link in your email.
Full step-by-step guide with screenshots →
Full step-by-step guide with screenshots →
- Install at home, on Wi-Fi Installing needs a connection; the plan only starts at destination.
- Data only Your SIM stays in place for calls and SMS; WhatsApp works over the eSIM.
- Compatible, unlocked phone Check in 10 seconds →
Traveler reviews
Collected by Loox from customers who ordered this eSIM. Shown as they are, most recent first.
China eSIM: what to know before you travel
Which China eSIM plan should you choose?
Budget around 1 GB per week if you stick to maps, messaging and bookings. For a typical one- to two-week trip with social media, photos uploaded each evening and the odd video call, 5 to 10 GB is the right size. Beyond that — remote work, streaming, sharing your connection with the family — go for 20 GB or an unlimited plan. Picked the wrong one? It doesn't matter: the eSIM is rechargeable, so you add data mid-trip without reinstalling anything.
How much does a China eSIM cost?
Plans for China start at $2.49, and the price table above lists every option with its data, validity and exact price — no surprise charges when you land. The comparison that matters isn't with a local SIM card, it's with your operator's roaming: a few dollars for the whole trip instead of a bill calculated per megabyte. What you see is what you pay, once, and the eSIM never auto-renews.
Do you need a QR code to install your China eSIM?
No — and this is exactly the part travellers dread for no reason. Your confirmation email contains a Quick Install link: open it on the phone you're taking with you, tap once, and iOS (17.4 and later) opens the eSIM installer with every setting already filled in. No second screen, no camera, no typing an SM-DP+ address. The QR code and manual setup are still in the same email if you prefer the classic method or you're on Android.
Can you top up your eSIM once you are there?
Yes, and that is the real difference from an airport SIM card. If your data runs out halfway through your trip, you open the top-up page with your order number, pick a new package, and the data lands on the eSIM you already installed within seconds. Nothing to reinstall, no shop to find, no ID to show. Your usual number also stays active on your physical SIM throughout the trip: calls, texts and banking verification codes keep arriving as normal.
China: detailed coverage
Travel in China runs through a screen more than almost anywhere else. High-speed rail seats between Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Chengdu are held as codes on a phone, and museum entry, bike hire and menus work the same way. Add the walk to a hutong address, the Mutianyu stretch of the Great Wall, the karst above the Li River at Yangshuo, and translation used almost hourly.
That is a great deal of small usage, and roaming prices every megabyte. A China eSIM sets the number once, before you fly.
One practical planning point: a number of international apps and services are not reachable from inside the country, so many travellers decide in advance which maps, translation and messaging tools to rely on, and set them up before departure.
Data sizing. A week between Beijing and Shanghai, mostly maps, translation and photographs, sits around 3 GB. Two weeks adding Xi'an, Chengdu and Guilin runs 5–10 GB. Long video calls across the time difference push it towards 20 GB.
- Cities and rail — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi'an, Hangzhou — are densely covered, stations and metro lines included.
- Altitude and distance thin it out. The Tibetan plateau, the far western deserts and the trails around Zhangjiajie or Huangshan lose service, as do longer rail tunnels.
- Download before flying. Offline maps and a dictionary remove most of the friction on days when signal is poor.
Scale is the other thing to plan around: the country is the size of a continent, journeys are booked days ahead, and the busiest weeks fill trains far in advance.
Your own number stays active. The eSIM handles data alone, so calls, texts and bank codes still land on the line you already have.
Choose a plan below to match the route — a few days between Beijing and Shanghai, or a fortnight reaching Sichuan and the karst.
All China eSIM plans
| Plan | Validity | Price | Regular price | Per GB / day | Choose → |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $2.49 | $2.49/GB | Choose → | |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $6.49 | $1.30/GB | Choose → | |
| 10 GB Most popular | 30 days | $10.49 | $1.05/GB | Choose → | |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $21.49 | $1.07/GB | Choose → | |
| Unlimited | 7 days | $13.99 | $2.00/day | Choose → | |
| Unlimited | 15 days | $27.49 | $1.83/day | Choose → | |
| Unlimited | 30 days | $55.99 | $1.87/day | Choose → |
Source: store plan prices incl. taxes at page load. Per-GB = price ÷ data.
FAQ
China eSIM — frequently asked questions
How do I install my China eSIM?
Your China eSIM arrives by email right after payment, as a QR code. Scan it from your phone settings (Add eSIM), turn on data roaming for the new line, and you’re connected. No QR handy? Use the quick-install link included in the same email.
Follow the visual walkthrough: iPhone guide · Samsung / Android guide.
When should I install it before my trip?
Ideally at home, before you fly — the plan only starts on arrival, once data roaming is on. You have up to 180 days after purchase to activate it, so buying early costs you nothing.
Which networks will my eSIM use?
On arrival, your eSIM connects automatically to China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom — no manual setup needed. The full coverage details are listed in the Description tab above.
How long do the China plans last?
The plans on this page are valid for: 7 DAYS, 30 DAYS, 15 DAYS. The clock starts at activation on arrival, not at checkout — with a 180-day window to activate after purchase.
Can I add more data later?
Yes — this eSIM is rechargeable. Head to the recharge page with your order number, choose a package, and the data lands on your existing eSIM in seconds. No new installation needed.
How can I see how much data is left?
Enter your order number on the recharge & usage page to view your remaining balance and every plan linked to your eSIM.
Does hotspot / tethering work?
It does — turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot and share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel buddy.
What if I run out of data?
Your eSIM simply goes offline — never a surprise bill. Recharge it in a few seconds from the recharge page and you’re back online on the same eSIM.
Will WhatsApp and my usual number keep working?
Absolutely. Your home SIM stays in place for calls, SMS and your WhatsApp account, while the eSIM quietly carries your internet. Remember to switch off data on your home line to dodge roaming fees.
How does unlimited data work here?
Unlimited plans are built for normal travel use — maps, socials, streaming in moderation. Very heavy usage (large downloads, constant background streaming) may be slowed under the fair-use policy. Read the full policy.
