Install a travel eSIM before entering the mainland
Apple says an eSIM from a carrier outside mainland China cannot be installed on an iPhone while that phone is in the mainland. Install and activate any overseas travel profile before the mainland leg of your journey, while you still have a reliable connection. Save the installation instructions and keep the profile on the phone until the trip is over. This is Apple's iPhone guidance; check the maker's instructions separately for a different handset.
On a dual-SIM iPhone, choose the travel line for mobile data and decide whether your home line should remain active for calls or verification messages. Apple's travel guide explains that a phone must be unlocked to use an eSIM from another carrier. Check that status, the exact model and the available eSIM slots before paying for service. If you intend to retain your home number, review its roaming charges before leaving it enabled in China.
A mainland carrier eSIM depends on the exact iPhone model
Apple lists China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom as mainland operators supporting eSIM, but its supported iPhone list is narrow. At the time of checking, the list names iPhone 18 Pro model A3715, iPhone 18 Pro Max A3718, iPhone Duo A3721, iPhone 17e A3635 and iPhone Air A3518. The model number matters more than the retail name: find it in Settings, General, About, then tap the displayed part number.
Apple says other iPhone models, including ones bought outside mainland China, cannot install a mainland carrier eSIM profile. A qualifying iPhone still has to be taken to the operator's store for the required identity check and activation; Apple says to bring a government ID or passport. The iPhone Duo and iPhone Air on that list use eSIM only, while the listed Pro and 17e models can take a physical nano-SIM. A visitor with an unsupported iPhone should ask about a physical SIM rather than assuming an in-store eSIM will work.
Use a carrier office for a Chinese number
China's Ministry of Commerce guide says foreign visitors can take a passport or Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card to a China Telecom, China Mobile or China Unicom service office to apply for a SIM and activate mobile service. Their plans may include both calls and data, but the allowances differ by operator. Ask the counter to show the validity period, data allowance, call inclusion, renewal method and total amount due before registering. The government guide does not give a universal tourist price.
A local voice line can help if a service asks for a mainland number, while a data-only profile may cover maps and messages. Confirm what you are buying: data access does not establish that calls, texts or a Chinese number are included. Keep your passport for account queries and ask how to top up. Have another way to contact your accommodation if the shop is closed.
Shanghai Pudong offers SIM and Wi-Fi options at arrivals
Shanghai Airport Group's April 2026 account says Pudong International Airport has a service area in international baggage claim where visitors can buy SIM cards or rent portable Wi-Fi while waiting for luggage. Its International Services Shanghai centre in the public arrivals area also handles mobile services. The account specifically says travellers can present a passport or another valid ID there to apply for a China Telecom short-term SIM lasting seven, 15 or 30 days. Check the current tariff at the desk because the account does not publish a price.
Pudong also describes free airport Wi-Fi that can be verified by scanning the passport photo page on the login screen, without first obtaining a local phone number. This can bridge the time needed to reach the SIM desk or check a hotel address. It is an airport-specific arrangement, not a promise about every Chinese airport. Save your destination and booking details offline in case the Wi-Fi portal or passport scan does not work on your device.
Plan for services that may be unavailable
The UK government's China travel advice says Chinese authorities control internet access and identifies Google, Facebook, YouTube and X as permanently blocked services. It says other sites can also become unavailable, especially around political events. Do not assume that a working mobile signal means a particular map, account login or messaging platform will load. Download reservation details and any documents you need before departure, and arrange a second way to reach travelling companions.
The same advice says online products and services such as VPNs need a Chinese government licence under its cybersecurity rules. Follow local law and the advice of your employer or institution where relevant. Whether a particular roaming connection reaches a particular service is not established by these official sources, so a travel eSIM should not be sold or chosen on a promise of access to blocked platforms. Test essential services while a safe fallback is still available.
Set up payment and ride apps before a busy arrival
The Chinese government's guide directs foreign visitors to WeChat, Alipay and UnionPay for mobile payments. It says a foreign or Chinese mobile number may be used during registration and that supported foreign bank cards can be linked, subject to the payment provider and card issuer. Complete account and card verification before relying on a QR payment at a station, restaurant or shop. The guide also describes cash exchange and withdrawal options, so carrying a separate payment method remains sensible.
For local travel, that guide describes ride booking through Alipay, WeChat and Didi-Greater China. It says Didi can be registered with a foreign mobile number and an international credit card. Metro tickets can be bought at counters or machines; some cities also offer app QR entry. The guide specifically identifies foreign Visa and Mastercard fare-gate payment on Beijing's urban rail network, but that example should not be treated as a rule for every city. Keep mobile data available for a ride's pickup location, app messages and digital payment.
Keep your passport available for trains and urgent calls
The government's visitor guide says foreign travellers can use a passport to buy train tickets through the English 12306 website or app, after identity verification, and that foreign bank cards are among the listed payment methods. Travellers can also use a ticket office. It says to carry the original identity document used for the booking when entering and leaving the station and boarding the train. Save the booking reference offline: mobile data is useful for changes and platform information but should not be the only record of the journey.
For emergencies, the same guide gives 110 for police, 119 for fire and 120 for first aid. A separate government telephone guide lists those numbers and the main operators' customer-service lines: 10000 for China Telecom, 10086 for China Mobile and 10010 for China Unicom. Those contacts are useful when a locally registered SIM needs support. Do not presume a data-only eSIM can place an ordinary voice or emergency call; check its calling features and keep a voice-capable option available.
Networks our China plans use
These are the operators named on our plans for China, taken from the plan data, so the list follows the catalogue.
- China Mobile5G
- China Telecom5G
- China Unicom5G
- CHINA UNICOM GSM5G