eSIM for China
Your days start when you land, not when you pay
- Installs in minutes
- Keep your number
- Hotspot included
- No roaming fees
- Secure payment with Stripe
China data plans
6 plansEvery plan, every price, in one place. Pick the size you want and check out.
Your days start when you land, not when you pay. Validity begins the moment the eSIM connects to a network in China — install it at home without losing a single day.
Up to 5 of the same plan in one payment.
What you get with VamosData eSIM
- Data only
use your favourite apps with a fast, reliable connection - Hotspot & tetheringshare your data with a laptop or other devices
- No hidden feesthe price you see is all you pay, no roaming surcharges
- Top-up availableadd more data without buying a new eSIM
China eSIM coverage
1 local network- China Mobile3G/4G/5G
Top speed each local network supports — actual speed varies with coverage and location.
How to install your China eSIM
- 1Buy your plan and receive the QR code by email instantly.You also have it in your user area.
- 2Install before you flyOn your phone go to Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM and scan the QR.
- 3Turn on data roaming on your eSIM when you arrive in China.
Internet in mainland China, explained
Filtering applies to traffic that reaches the internet as a Chinese local connection: a local SIM, home broadband, the Wi-Fi in a cafe. Roaming takes a different path — your phone uses the local radio network, but the data is carried out to a gateway elsewhere and joins the internet from there, so it was never a local connection in the first place. That is ordinary roaming, the same mechanism as a colleague using their home operator abroad. One scope note while you plan: Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan run on separate networks and are separate destinations, so a mainland plan does not extend to them.
Travel guides for China
Practical guides from our blog about staying connected in China.
FAQs for your travel eSIM
Do you need a VPN in China if you have a travel eSIM?
For mobile data, usually not: a VamosData eSIM connects you as a roaming visitor, so your traffic leaves mainland China through a gateway abroad instead of starting as a local connection. Plenty of business travellers still want one for company systems — if that is you, install and test it before you fly, because setting one up after landing is the part people struggle with. We cannot guarantee any particular app or service, and none of this is legal advice.
Will WhatsApp, Google Maps and Instagram work in China?
On mobile data through a China travel eSIM they generally work as they do anywhere else, for the routing reason above. The honest limit is not about which SIM you bought: the moment you join hotel, cafe or airport Wi-Fi you are on a local connection again and that network decides what reaches you. If an app matters in the next hour, do that part on your own data.
How do I get internet in China as a tourist?
Install a travel eSIM at home before you fly and switch it on when you land. That is the only option you can have working on arrival, and in practice the only way to get an eSIM at all, because the Chinese carriers sell tourists physical SIM cards rather than eSIMs. The alternative is queueing for one with your passport after landing, which routes you through the local internet.
Will local payment and ride-hailing apps work while I am there?
Those apps need two things: a data connection, and usually a text message to the number you registered with. Your eSIM data handles the first while your physical SIM stays active for the second on your normal number, which is the combination most visitors end up wanting. Where you can, register the accounts before you travel — it is easier from home.
Will my phone work with the China eSIM?
Any eSIM-compatible phone bought in the last few years (iPhone XS or newer, Pixel 3 or newer, recent Samsung Galaxy, etc.) works with our China travel eSIM. Use our compatibility checker if you are unsure.
When does the China eSIM start counting?
Validity starts the moment your travel eSIM connects to a network in China, not when you buy it. You can install it before your trip without losing days.
Do I keep my regular number while using the China eSIM?
Yes. Your physical SIM stays active for calls and SMS on your normal number. The China eSIM only handles mobile data, so WhatsApp, maps and apps all run on your eSIM data.
Can I tether or use a hotspot in China?
Yes, every China eSIM plan allows tethering and personal hotspot, so you can share your eSIM data with a laptop or another device.
What happens if I run out of eSIM data in China?
You can buy a new China eSIM plan at any time and install it on top of the previous one. No need to wait or visit a shop.
Is the China eSIM refundable?
If you have not installed or activated your travel eSIM yet, contact our support and we will issue a refund. Once the QR has been scanned and the eSIM activated, it cannot be refunded because you changed your mind — but if it isn't working, contact us and we'll sort it out.