China eSIM for touristsEvery app works.No VPN.
Google Maps, WhatsApp, Instagram, Gmail — open the moment you land. Pay once, scan a QR code, and you're online. No account, no app, no SIM swap.
Mainland China only. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are not included.
- From $0.05 a day
- QR code by email in ~2 min
- No account, no registration
- Full refund if it doesn't connect
Less time in settings.More time in China.
Shanghai, China31.2304° N · 121.4737° E
You've landed. You're online.No VPN. No SIM swap.
Mainland China only
Your trip. Your data. Your plan.
Choose your days and data allowance. Each eSIM covers mainland China only. One payment in USD, per eSIM.
One eSIM per device · up to 99
Package details
- 1 GB of high-speed data every 24 hours. After your daily allowance, speed drops to 384 kbps until the next reset.
- Each day is 24 hours from activation at your destination. Install in advance; activate within 60 days of purchase.
- Hotspot sharing supported. Operator fair-use restrictions may apply.
- Requires an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone. Once installed, the eSIM stays bound to that device.
Compare all tariffs
| Data allowance | 1 day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days | 10 days | 14 days | 21 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB / day | $0.56 | $1.47 | $2.08 | $3.23 | $4.49 | $6.14 | $9.70 | $12.60 |
| 2 GB / day | $0.92 | $2.36 | $3.78 | $5.29 | $7.42 | $10.39 | $15.59 | $22.25 |
| 3 GB / day | $1.31 | $3.47 | $5.78 | $7.88 | $11.30 | $15.71 | $23.65 | $33.49 |
| 100 GB / day | — | $17.17 | $27.10 | $35.79 | $55.92 | $76.63 | $118.48 | $165.28 |
| 1 GB · Total data | — | $0.90 | $1.08 | $1.26 | $1.45 | — | — | $1.60 |
| 3 GB · Total data | — | $1.64 | $1.90 | $2.07 | $2.21 | — | — | $2.31 |
| 5 GB · Total data | — | $2.36 | $2.70 | $2.74 | $2.92 | — | — | $3.49 |
| 10 GB · Total data | — | $3.70 | $4.36 | $4.72 | $4.83 | — | — | $5.70 |
| 20 GB · Total data | — | $7.24 | $8.15 | $8.72 | $9.28 | — | — | $10.05 |
| 30 GB · Total data | — | $10.49 | $11.19 | $11.86 | $12.53 | — | — | $14.23 |
| 50 GB · Total data | — | $16.15 | $17.28 | $18.62 | $19.11 | — | — | $24.72 |
Why there's no VPN
Why travelers pick it over roaming and airport SIMs
No VPN, because it never touches the firewall
ChinaeSIMGo is a roaming eSIM. Your traffic exits through a partner network outside mainland China, so Google, WhatsApp and your email load exactly like at home. Nothing to install, nothing to configure, nothing that stops working halfway through your trip.
Your phone in China
- Google Mapsworks
- WhatsAppworks
- Instagramworks
- Gmailworks
- YouTubeworks
- ChatGPTworks
- Telegramworks
- Facebookworks
- Xworks
- Netflixworks
- LINEworks
- KakaoTalkworks
Same phone, same apps. Your data roams through a network outside the firewall.
Price
Cheap, and the price is the price
Plans start at $0.56. One payment — no subscription, no auto‑renewal, no roaming bill waiting at home.
Sign‑up
There isn't one
We ask for one thing: the email to send your QR code to. No account, no password, no app.
Arrival
Online before you leave the airport
Install at home over Wi‑Fi. When you land, switch on the eSIM line and order a DiDi from baggage claim.
Your number
It stays yours
The eSIM sits next to your regular SIM. WhatsApp, iMessage and bank SMS codes keep working on your own number.
Four ways to get online
How it compares
| Option | Blocked apps work? | Setup | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChinaeSIMGo | Yes, all the time | Scan a QR code at home | From $0.56, one payment |
| VPN on hotel Wi‑Fi | Sometimes — VPNs are throttled and drop often | Install and pay before you fly; you can't get one once you're there | Monthly subscription, and you still need a connection |
| Airport SIM card | No — it sits behind the firewall | Queue, register your passport, swap your SIM | Cheap data, but you still need a VPN on top |
| Roaming with your home carrier | Yes | None | Typically $5–15 a day |
How it works
From checkout to online in three steps
- 01
Pay — email only
Choose a plan and pay by card. We only ask for an email address. Your QR code arrives in about 2 minutes.
- 02
Scan the QR code at home
Open Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM and scan it. It takes a minute on Wi‑Fi, and your plan doesn't start yet.
- 03
Land and switch it on
In China, turn on the eSIM line and enable data roaming for it. That's the whole setup.
Will my phone work?
Dial *#06#. If you see an EID number, your phone supports eSIM. That covers iPhone XS and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, and most flagships since 2019.
The phone must be carrier‑unlocked. iPhones sold in mainland China have no eSIM.
Do I really not need a VPN?
No. A VPN is needed on Chinese Wi‑Fi and local SIM cards because they sit behind the firewall. This eSIM roams: your traffic leaves through a network outside mainland China, so blocked apps and sites open normally. Hotel Wi‑Fi is still filtered — stay on mobile data or share it with your laptop via hotspot.
Which apps work?
Everything that works at home: Google Maps, Gmail, Google Search, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, Telegram, ChatGPT, Netflix, LINE, KakaoTalk. Chinese apps like WeChat, Alipay and DiDi work too.
Do I have to register or create an account?
No. There is no account, no password and no app. You enter an email at checkout and the QR code is sent there.
When should I install the eSIM?
A day or two before you fly, while you have Wi‑Fi. Installing doesn't start the plan — the clock starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in China.
Do I get a Chinese phone number?
No, it's data only. Calls and messages go through apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime. Your own SIM stays active for SMS codes.
Can I share data with my laptop or travel partner?
Yes. Hotspot is allowed on every plan and uses the same data allowance.
What if I run out of data?
Buy another plan and scan the new QR code. It takes the same two minutes.
What if it doesn't work?
Email us. If the eSIM won't connect in mainland China and we can't fix it, you get a full refund. An eSIM you haven't installed yet can be refunded within 30 days of purchase.
Is this legal?
Yes. It's ordinary international roaming — the same thing your home carrier offers, at a fraction of the price.
Next stop: China
Sort your internet before you pack.
Two minutes now saves you an hour at the airport SIM counter.
See plans — from $0.56