Works in Beijing
Beijing is where most visitors to China head first. The plan connects there and in the other main towns on China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.
China eSIM
22 plansUnlimited optionsInstant delivery5G where available
1 day
7 days
15 days
30 days
180 days
No plan of that length. Pick another.
1 day
3 days
7 days
15 days
30 days
No plan of that length. Pick another.
Lite gives you 1 GB a day at full speed and Heavy gives you 3 GB. After that the plan keeps working at a reduced speed until the next day.
Plan details
What the plan you picked above includes.
- Networks in China
- China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom
- Technology
- 3G/4G/5G
- Routed via
- Hong Kong
- Tethering
- Supported
- Top up
- Not available
- Calls and texts
- Data only, no phone number
- Fair use
- No daily cap
- Activation
- QR code by email, days start on first connection
QR code by email in secondsKeep your own numberTop up the same eSIMSecure checkout
Why RoamZivo for China
Skip the rental counter
No pocket Wi-Fi or SIM counter to find when you land in China, and nothing to return before you fly home. The eSIM is installed before you leave.
Share with your laptop
Hotspot is allowed on the plan selected above, so a second device can use the same data in a cafe or a hotel room.
How to get connected
Step by step guideCheck your phone
Your phone must be eSIM compatible and not locked to one carrier.
Install at home
Scan the QR code on WiFi before you fly. Your days do not start yet.
Switch on in China
Choose the RoamZivo line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.
Stay online
Watch your data in My eSIMs and top up the same eSIM if you need more.
China travel data guide
A China eSIM from RoamZivo is a prepaid data plan for China that you install before you fly. Plans in China run on China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, with 5G where the operator offers it. The eSIM is data only, so your own SIM stays in for calls and texts.
There are 22 plans to choose from. Data sizes run from 1 GB to 50 GB, validity from 1 to 180 days, and prices start at $1.99. Unlimited plans are listed too, each with its own fair use line. Hotspot sharing is supported on every plan. Top ups are available on some of the fixed data plans and go onto the same eSIM.
Visiting more than one country? The China, Hong Kong & Macao eSIM covers China and 2 other countries on one plan, from $2.99. The Asia Pacific eSIM covers China and 19 other countries on one plan, from $10.99. The Global eSIM covers China and 126 other countries on one plan, from $18.99.
Your days start the first time the eSIM connects in China, not when you buy, so you can install it at home days early. For a week of maps, messaging and social apps, most travellers are fine with 3 to 5 GB. Video calls or streaming need more, or an unlimited plan. Travel data in China from RoamZivo arrives as a QR code by email, with a copy kept in your account.
China FAQ
Does the eSIM work everywhere in China?
It connects wherever China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom have signal, which is the same network local customers use. The eSIM is data only.
When do my days start?
On the first connection in China, not at purchase. The plan selected above (2 GB) runs for 15 days from that moment. You can install the eSIM at home and the clock stays still until you connect.
Do I get a local phone number in China?
No. The eSIM is data only. Your own SIM stays in for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working over the eSIM data.
Can I share data with my laptop?
Yes. Hotspot sharing is supported on the plan selected above, so your laptop or tablet can use the eSIM data through your phone.
Is 5G available on a China eSIM?
Yes, China plans are sold as 4G/5G. China Mobile and China Unicom are listed with 5G, and China Telecom is listed with 4G, so the operator on your plan decides what you get. Your phone also has to support 5G itself.
Should I pick a fixed plan or unlimited for China?
Pick unlimited for a short visit to China and a large fixed plan for a long one. Unlimited plans stop at 30 days and slow to up to 1 Mbps after 1 GB or 3 GB each day. Fixed plans go up to 50 GB, with one version lasting 30 days and another lasting 180 days.
Is there a China eSIM that lasts six months?
Yes, there is a 50 GB plan for China that lasts 180 days. It is the longest plan for this destination and the only one beyond 30 days. 50 GB spread over that time is a modest daily amount, so it suits people who have WiFi at home or at work.
Should I install the China eSIM before I fly?
Yes, install the China eSIM at home over WiFi before you fly. You need a working internet connection to download it, and that is easiest to arrange before departure. Installing does not start the plan. The days begin with the first connection to a network in China.
Can I keep my home SIM active while I use the China eSIM?
Yes, your home SIM can stay active next to the China eSIM. The eSIM handles data and your own SIM keeps your number for calls and texts. Using the home SIM abroad may be charged by your carrier, so ask them what calls and texts cost in China.
Can I use hotspot in China?
Yes, every RoamZivo China plan allows hotspot. A laptop or tablet can share the phone connection, and its traffic is routed through Hong Kong or Singapore like the phone traffic. Shared data is taken from the same plan, so watch the daily full speed amount on unlimited plans.
Can I top up my China eSIM?
Top up is supported on some China plans but not on all. The plan details show whether yours has it. Where it is missing, you get more data by buying another plan and installing its QR code, so for a long stay it is simpler to start with the 180 day plan.
How do I top up if I run low?
The plan selected above does not offer top ups. Buy a new plan from this page instead and install it as a second eSIM.
