Can I buy an eSIM in China?

China is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting millions of international visitors each year. However, when preparing for a trip, many people often wonder about the issue of Internet connection in this country – especially whether it is possible to buy an eSIM in China. This is an extremely important question because a wrong decision can cause you to lose contact completely during the trip. This article will answer this question in detail and provide essential information for you to have the most suitable Internet connection plan.

I. Can I buy an eSIM in China?

No – you cannot buy an eSIM in China, whether you are in the country or after entering the country.

There are two main reasons:

Chinese carriers do not yet provide eSIMs for international visitors: Unlike most other countries in the world, China has special regulations on telecommunications. Major local carriers such as China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom do not currently provide eSIM services for tourists. They only support traditional physical SIMs, and even if you want to buy a physical SIM, you have to go through a complicated registration process with a lot of paperwork.

The government’s strict Internet and telecommunications control regulations make issuing new eSIMs in China unfeasible for foreigners.

II. Can you use eSIMs in China?

Although you cannot buy eSIMs in China, you can absolutely use previously purchased eSIMs to connect to the internet in this country.

Many people mistakenly think that China does not support eSIM technology, but that is not the case.

In fact, travel eSIMs issued by international providers such as Gigago still work normally in China if your device is eSIM compatible and properly installed. The problem is that devices manufactured or distributed for the Chinese market are often limited to eSIM functionality, while international devices (iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel international versions) can still use eSIM in China without any problems.

III. Why buy a Chinese eSIM before going?

Preparing and activating an eSIM before departure is a must if you want to use the internet connection when arriving in China.

While with other destinations, you can easily buy an eSIM right after landing, China does not allow this with eSIM. In addition, accessing international websites or downloading applications from China may be blocked or restricted, making it almost impossible to find and install an eSIM on the spot.

Therefore, if your device does not have a physical SIM tray (only supports eSIM), such as the US iPhone 14 or some high-end iPad models, and you do not purchase an eSIM before arriving in China, you will not be able to maintain mobile connectivity here.

IV. Important notes when purchasing an eSIM for your trip to China

Check whether your device supports eSIM and is unlocked. This is a mandatory condition to be able to install and use a travel eSIM.
Estimate the amount of data you will need during your trip and purchase enough at the beginning. Purchasing an additional eSIM package while in China may not be possible if your current eSIM runs out of data. To avoid connection interruptions, you should purchase a little more than your actual needs. For example, if you plan to use about 5GB in 7 days, consider purchasing a 7–10GB package to be safe.
You should choose an eSIM with a built-in VPN, because many popular services such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, etc. are blocked by China’s Great Firewall. An eSIM with a VPN helps you access these platforms more easily without additional installation.

Carefully consider whether you need to access special applications such as the international version of TikTok or AI platforms like ChatGPT because not all Chinese eSIMs support it. Therefore, carefully check the eSIM support information before buying.

V. Buy Chinese eSIM from esimcheap.org

Gigago.vn is one of the reputable travel eSIM providers in Vietnam, specializing in serving Vietnamese tourists with many outstanding advantages.

At Gigago, you can easily buy Chinese eSIM online, receive a QR code via email and install it in just a few minutes.

Gigago has a full range of eSIM packages suitable for a variety of users coming to China, from local packages to multinational packages, from the popular 5G China eSIM package with stable Internet access to the special package that supports accessing Tiktok, ChatGPT, CapCut through built-in VPN.

VI. Conclusion

Thus, you cannot buy eSIM in China, but you can absolutely use eSIM if you have prepared in advance. Proactively buying eSIM from reputable suppliers like Gigago.vn will help you stay connected and feel secure when experiencing your journey in one of the most interesting and complex countries in terms of telecommunications infrastructure like China.