China eSIM

What you need

• A phone that takes an eSIM and is not locked to one network. Most phones sold in the last few years qualify, and the help page has the model lists and the one-minute check.
• These are data plans. You keep your own number, and calls and text messages stay on the SIM you already carry.
• Data Roaming switched on for the eSIM line. A travel eSIM reaches the local network by roaming, so that toggle is how the plan works rather than an extra charge, and it is the most common reason a new eSIM looks dead.
• Wi-Fi to install on. It takes about two minutes, which is why doing it at home is the calm version.
• Every row above says how many countries its plan covers. A plan works on the local networks its operator has agreements with, the same way roaming does.

Install guides and troubleshooting

Questions about China

When does the plan start?

Most plans start when the eSIM first connects to a network in China rather than when you buy or install it, so buying a few days early usually costs nothing. Each plan states what it does about its own clock on its own page.

Will it work on my phone?

It needs a phone that takes an eSIM and is not locked to a single network. The help page lists the models and shows the check for iPhone and Android, which takes about a minute.

Do I keep my own number?

Yes. The eSIM is a second line for data, and your usual SIM stays in the phone with your number and your calls on it.

What does a data plan mean here?

It means the plan is bought for data: maps, messaging apps, email, tickets and everything else that travels over a connection. Calls and text messages stay with your usual SIM.

Can I add more data later?

Some plans accept a top-up and some do not, which each plan states on its own page. If yours does not, buying a second plan works, and there is nothing to cancel first.

Should I install it before I travel?

Yes, on Wi-Fi at home. Installing needs a connection and takes about two minutes, and it is the step nobody wants to be doing in an arrivals hall.