Essential Tips

The first decision is not which carrier to choose. It is whether you need mobile data only, or a mainland Chinese number as well. Data is the basic requirement. Maps, DiDi, Alipay transport codes, shared bikes and delivery apps all need a connection. A +86 number becomes useful when a courier needs to call you, a driver cannot find your pickup point, or an app asks for a local number during registration. That said, not every service requires a Chinese number. Some visitors manage with an overseas number and an international bank card. Check the apps you plan to use before you pay for a package you may not need. One point worth clearing up: a mainland SIM does not, by itself, remove mainland internet restrictions. Travel eSIMs and international roaming can behave differently depending on the provider and network, but no plan should be treated as a promise of access to every app or website.

The figures below are 2026 reference prices from published city guidance. They are useful for budgeting, not a quote from every counter. - Seven days: about ¥58–90. - Fifteen days: about ¥100–150. - Thirty days: about ¥150–195. China Mobile: 7 days for ¥90 with 30GB and 100 domestic minutes; 15 days for ¥150 with 50GB and 200 domestic minutes; 30 days for ¥190 with 80GB, 300 domestic minutes and 300 international long-distance minutes. China Unicom: 7 days for ¥58–80 with 10GB and 100 domestic minutes; 15 days for ¥100–130 with 20GB and 200 domestic minutes; 30 days for ¥150–200 with 30GB and 300 domestic minutes. China Telecom: 7 days for ¥85 with 20GB and 100 domestic minutes; 15 days for ¥125 with 100 domestic minutes. The published source did not list a data allowance for the 15-day option, or the allowances for the 30-day option, so confirm those details at the counter. Airport counters and city branches do not always stock the same plans. Ask for the total price, data allowance, minutes and validity period before paying.

Pudong International Airport is the simplest place to sort this out on arrival. China Telecom sells short-term SIM cards at the one-stop service centres in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. There is also a counter in international baggage claim, alongside mobile Wi-Fi rental and currency exchange. The arrivals-hall service centre is open 24 hours. The airport address is 900 Qihang Road, Pudong New Area. The one-stop service centres are in the public arrivals halls; the baggage-claim counter sits before you leave the restricted area. If you are already in the city, use an official carrier branch rather than a phone-accessory stall. China Telecom accepts foreign passports at 23 core branches across 16 districts, and some visits can be booked in advance. Hongqiao has a useful alternative: the One-Stop Service Center for Overseas Talents, 2nd Floor, T5 Building, EBA Center Hongqiao, 377 Songhong Road, Changning District. It offers short-term SIM packages for visitors. Call 021-6212-6377 or book a slot before going.

A travel eSIM from an international provider is usually the least fussy option for data. You can install it before departure, keep your home SIM in the phone, and have a connection when you land. Most are data-only, though, and do not give you a +86 number, local calls or SMS. A mainland carrier eSIM is a different product. It requires compatible hardware and carrier activation, including identity checks. Many iPhones bought outside mainland China cannot install a mainland carrier eSIM, so check your exact model before you plan around it. If you need a local number, a physical tourist SIM is usually simpler. Make sure your phone is unlocked and has a physical SIM slot.

Bring your original passport. Registration is not optional, and a photo or copy may not be accepted. Tell staff how long you are staying and whether you need data only, calls, SMS or a local number. Ask them to write down the package name, total price, data allowance, call minutes and expiry date. If the plan renews automatically, ask how to stop it. Before leaving, turn off Wi-Fi and load a map or web page. If calls and SMS are included, send a test text or make a short call. Save your new number and the expiry date somewhere you can find again. A few minutes at the counter can save a return trip later.

If you are staying for work, study or more than a month, compare a regular monthly plan instead of stacking tourist packages. Ask about data, domestic calls, contract length, renewal and cancellation. If your flat needs home internet, ask whether a mobile-and-broadband bundle is available; compare the total monthly bill rather than the headline price. Top-ups can be made through Alipay, WeChat or the carrier's own channels. Prices and addresses reflect published guidance from late October 2026. Stock and package details change. Confirm the total and terms at the counter, and do not buy from a reseller who will not put the terms in writing.