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🇨🇳 eSIM for China
Mainland China is where a travel eSIM earns its keep. Travel eSIMs route data through networks outside the mainland, which is why most travellers find their usual maps and messaging apps work without a VPN — we cannot promise that for every service, but it is the normal experience.
China eSIM plans and prices
In short: Num sells 14 prepaid data eSIM plans for China, from $3.28 for 500 MB per day (1 day) up to 50 GB over 180 days at $65.60. The best value per gigabyte is 5 GB per day for 1 day at $4.92 ($0.98). It connects to China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom with 5G on every plan. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects in China, it installs by QR code on any eSIM-capable iPhone, and your own number keeps working.
Live prices, updated from our provider catalogue · 3G/4G/5G. These are the amounts charged at checkout — nothing is added afterwards.
| Plan | Validity | Total data | Per GB | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 MB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 500 MB | $6.72 | $3.28 |
| 1 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 1 GB | $3.28 | $3.28 |
| 2 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 2 GB | $1.64 | $3.28 |
| 3 GB totalTop-up available | 15 days | 3 GB | $1.30 | $3.89 |
| 3 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 3 GB | $1.33 | $4.00 |
| 1 GB totalTop-up available | 7 days | 1 GB | $4.71 | $4.71 |
| 3 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 3 GB | $1.63 | $4.88 |
| 5 GB per dayTop-up availableBest value | 1 day | 5 GB | $0.98 | $4.92 |
| 5 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 5 GB | $1.21 | $6.07 |
| 1 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 1 GB | $7.58 | $7.58 |
| 10 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 10 GB | $0.99 | $9.92 |
| 10 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 10 GB | $1.20 | $11.99 |
| 1 GB totalTop-up available | 365 days | 1 GB | $14.35 | $14.35 |
| 50 GB totalTop-up available | 180 days | 50 GB | $1.31 | $65.60 |
Prices shown were generated on 2026-10-08 and can change with our provider's catalogue. The app always shows the current price before you pay.
Best China eSIM by trip length
Our pick for each trip length: the cheapest plan that lasts the whole stay and carries enough data for maps, messaging and a bit of video. Heavy streamers should go a size up.
| Trip | Our pick | Validity | Total data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A long weekend China eSIM for 3 days | 3 GB total | 15 days | 3 GB | $3.89 |
| One week China eSIM for 7 days | 3 GB total | 15 days | 3 GB | $3.89 |
| Two weeks China eSIM for 14 days | 5 GB total | 30 days | 5 GB | $6.07 |
| A month China eSIM for 30 days | 10 GB total | 30 days | 10 GB | $11.99 |
Using your eSIM in China
China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom are the operators listed on our China plans; you do not choose between them, the phone does. Every plan in the table is sold as 3G/4G/5G, so a 5G phone will use 5G where the local network has it.
The smallest plan is 500 MB over 1 day ($3.28); the largest is 50 GB over 180 days ($65.60). Every plan here can be topped up from the app without reinstalling anything.
Practical notes for China
- Mobile payment is near-universal and needs data to work — set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your home card before you go.
- Coverage is excellent in cities and on high-speed rail; remote western regions are thinner.
- Hong Kong and Macau are separate plans — see the Hong Kong page if your trip includes it.
How to get connected
- Download Num and pick China.
- Choose a plan and pay with Apple Pay.
- Scan the QR code the app gives you — Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM.
- Turn on data roaming for the Num line when you land.
Questions about China
How much does an eSIM for China cost?
Plans start at $3.28. The table on this page shows current prices — 14 options ranging from short trips to month-long stays. These are the prices you pay in the app; there are no separate activation or delivery fees.
Will my phone work with a China eSIM?
Most iPhones from the XR and XS onward support eSIM, and the handset must be carrier-unlocked. Check the compatibility page for the full list before you buy.
When does the plan start counting down?
Validity begins when the eSIM first connects to a network in the coverage area, not when you buy it. You can install it before you travel and it will wait until you land.
Can I keep my normal number while using it?
Yes. The Num eSIM runs alongside your existing SIM, so calls and texts on your usual number keep working while data runs over the travel plan. Turn your normal line's data roaming off to avoid a roaming bill.
Can I add more data if I run out?
Yes — reloadable plans can be topped up from inside the app without buying a new eSIM or reinstalling anything.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for China?
Num does not sell unlimited plans for China. The closest are the daily-allowance plans, such as 500 MB per day, which give a fixed amount each day for the length of the trip. For most travellers the fixed bundles, from 500 MB to 50 GB, are better value.
Which networks does a Num China eSIM use?
It connects to China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom and picks the strongest available network automatically. Every plan on this page supports 5G where the network offers it.
Do I get a China phone number with the eSIM?
No. Num eSIMs are data-only. Your own number stays active on your existing SIM for calls and texts, and WhatsApp, iMessage and other messaging apps keep working over the eSIM's data. If you need a local number, see our guide to eSIMs with a phone number.
What is the best eSIM for China?
It depends on how long you stay and how much you use maps and video. On this page the best value per gigabyte is 5 GB per day for 1 day at $4.92 ($0.98); the trip-length picks match a plan to a weekend, a week, two weeks and a month.