eSIM for China
Buy a prepaid travel eSIM for China and pay in cryptocurrency. You get local 4G/5G data on partner networks without a contract or a local address. No documents, no account and no email: you pay in crypto and the QR code appears on the page.
Part of our Asia plan.
Buying an eSIM for China
- Pick a plan that covers China — a single-country plan is cheapest per gigabyte, a regional plan pays off the moment you cross a border.
- Pay with USDT, BTC, ETH, SOL, TON or XMR. No email address, no account, no card.
- Scan the QR that appears on the page. Do this at home over Wi-Fi rather than on airport Wi-Fi after landing.
- On arrival, set the eSIM as your data line and turn data roaming ON for it. This is the single most common reason a correctly installed profile shows no data in China.
Coverage and network quality in China
Extremely dense 4G/5G nationwide, including high-speed rail and remote provinces.
Mobile data in China: the Great Firewall and how roaming gets around it
China has three operators: China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom. Coverage in cities, on high-speed trains and at major sights is excellent.
The real question in China is not coverage, it's the firewall. On a local Chinese SIM, Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and many news sites are blocked. A travel eSIM roams: your traffic usually leaves the country through the provider's network or an international node, often in Hong Kong or Singapore, before it reaches the internet. That is why Google often works without a VPN on a foreign eSIM. Often isn't always, so install a VPN before you fly anyway.
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay at home, too. Both now accept foreign cards, and both text a code to the number you register, which can be your home number.
There are no unlimited plans for China in our catalog, and data here costs more than in most of Asia, so pick a size that matches the trip.
Which plan to pick for China
- A week in one or two cities: 3 to 5 GB.
- Two weeks with maps, translation and video calls: 10 GB for 30 days.
- China plus Hong Kong or Macau: the Asia plan covers all three on one eSIM.
- Calls and SMS: we don't sell Chinese numbers. Regional plans with calls and SMS cover China with a number from another country, shown on the card on the number page.
Read next: Does an eSIM beat the Great Firewall? · Do you need a VPN with an eSIM? · eSIM for Asia
China eSIM plans and prices
| Data and validity | Price | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB · 7 days | $2.80 | $2.80 |
| 5 GB · 15 days | $15.28 | $3.06 |
| 10 GB · 30 days | $23.40 | $2.34 |
China is also covered by these plans: Asia, World, World Lite.
eSIM vs roaming vs a local SIM in China
- Roaming on your home plan is the expensive default — typically $10–15 a day, billed per day whether you use it or not.
- A local prepaid SIM is cheap but costs you an hour on arrival, usually an ID, and a phone number you will not keep. In China, that trade only makes sense on a long stay.
- A travel eSIM sits in between: local-network speeds, no shop visit, no paperwork, and your own number stays live on your physical SIM for calls and SMS.
Compatible devices
Check your phone: dial *#06# and look for an EID. Model by model: the compatibility page.
Practical notes for China
The Great Firewall applies to traffic routed inside China. Many travellers pair a roaming eSIM with a VPN; check the current legal position before relying on either, as rules here change and are enforced.
Related
- All destinations
- No-KYC eSIM: the complete guide
- How it works
- Check your phone supports eSIM
- Pay with Bitcoin
- Pay with USDT
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a VPN with a travel eSIM in China?
Often not for Google or WhatsApp, because roaming traffic exits outside the mainland. It isn't guaranteed, so bring a VPN as backup.
Can I use Alipay and WeChat Pay?
Yes. Set them up before the trip. The eSIM gives them data, and SMS codes can go to your home number.
Is a Chinese SIM cheaper?
Often, but it needs your passport at a store and puts you behind the firewall.
Do I need an ID or KYC to buy an eSIM for China?
No. Cypher eSIM never asks for a name, email, phone number or government ID. You pay in cryptocurrency and the QR code appears on the page — that is the whole flow, for China and everywhere else we cover.