Get online & keep your number
You can't easily download an eSIM or most apps once you're behind the Firewall, so sort this at home. A travel eSIM gives you data the moment you land; keeping your home SIM active is how you receive the bank SMS codes that Alipay and WeChat need.
What you need
- An eSIM-capable phone (most iPhone XS and newer, recent Androids)
- Your home SIM — keep it active for SMS
- 10 minutes on Wi-Fi before departure
- 1
Pick a travel eSIM
Airalo — multi-country, with built-in access so everyday apps work without a separate VPN. Nomad — cheapest per GB, runs on China Telecom. Holafly — unlimited data on China Mobile, strongest rural coverage. A China Unicom / China Mobile travel plan is the official local alternative.
- 2
Install it before you fly
Add and activate the eSIM profile while you still have your home internet.
Watch out You can't easily install a new eSIM once you're behind the Firewall — do it at home.
- 3
Keep your home SIM for SMS
Leave your home SIM active but set data/roaming to off. It still receives your bank's verification texts, which you'll need to finish setting up payments.
Tip A dual-SIM phone is ideal: eSIM for data, home SIM just for codes.
- 4
Decide your approach to restricted services
Many travel eSIMs route so common apps just work. If you depend on a specific blocked service, confirm your eSIM handles it, or set up a VPN at home before you go.
- 5
Download offline backups
Offline maps (Amap or Apple Maps) and offline translation, plus your hotel address saved in Chinese to show drivers.
Common problems
Which eSIM is best for me?
Multi-country trip: Airalo. Cheapest data: Nomad. Heavy or rural data use: Holafly.
Will my phone work?
It needs eSIM support — most iPhone XS and newer and recent Androids qualify — and should be carrier-unlocked. Check your model before you buy a plan.
Checked June 2026. A planning aid, not official advice — rules and app flows change, so confirm anything critical before you rely on it.