China mainland eSIM

China mainland eSIM 2026: prices, network and coverage

9 plans, from $2.99 (1 GB, 7 days) to $16.99 (20 GB, 30 days). Network: China Mobile 5G.

Network

China Mobile 5G

Top-up

Yes, from the eSIM page, on the same eSIM

Validity starts

At the first connection at your destination

Install by

Shown on your order. An eSIM that is never installed expires

Your number

Stays active, plans are data only

Hotspot

Uses the same plan data, no separate charge

After the daily allowance

Day passes slow down to 384 Kbps

Updated October 24, 2026

Three steps, then forget about it

1. 1

   Pick a destination

   Search a country or region. The price shows in your currency, taxes in.

2. 2

   Install in minutes

   Pay and the eSIM installs itself. No physical SIM, nothing to scan.

3. 3

   Land online

   Your data is live the moment you switch on. Keep your usual number.

Good to know

How much does an eSIM for China mainland cost?

Plans start at $2.99 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days. There are 9 plans, from 1 GB to 20 GB, plus unlimited day passes.

Do Google and WhatsApp work in China with this eSIM?

Yes, on the eSIM's mobile data and without a VPN: our China plans send your data to the internet through Hong Kong, so Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and YouTube open. We checked this with our network supplier on 21 September 2026. On hotel and café Wi-Fi those services are blocked again, because the Wi-Fi goes through Chinese networks.

Does ChatGPT work in China with this eSIM?

No. The data exits in Hong Kong, and OpenAI does not offer its service in Hong Kong either.

Do I need a local SIM card?

No. The eSIM is a SIM card in digital form: you install it from a QR code before you leave, and there is nothing to buy at the airport or swap in your phone.

How is it different from roaming?

With roaming, your own carrier bills the data you use abroad, usually by the day or by the megabyte, at the prices of your plan. The eSIM is prepaid: you know the cost before you leave and nothing is added later. Keep data roaming off on your usual line, so it cannot charge you.

Which networks does the China mainland eSIM use?

Yapsim connects to China Mobile, with 5G where it is available. Each plan lists the operators it uses.

Can I add more data?

Yes. You top up the same eSIM from its page, without installing a new one.

Do I keep my phone number?

Yes. Plans are data only, so your usual line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working as always.

When do the validity days start?

Not when you buy and not when you install: the days start counting when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. A 30 day plan gives you 30 days from that first connection.

How long do I have to install the eSIM?

An eSIM that is never installed expires. The "Install by" date is shown on your order and on the site, so you can buy ahead of your trip. Install it before that date, on Wi-Fi.

Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?

Data used through a personal hotspot comes out of the same plan, and Yapsim does not charge it separately. A laptop uses far more data than a phone, so for work a day pass or a bigger plan is safer.

What happens when the data runs out?

Plans are prepaid, so there are no extra charges: when the data is used up, the connection stops until you add more from the eSIM page. Day passes give a daily allowance at full speed, then continue at reduced speed (384 Kbps) until the next day.

When should I install the eSIM?

Before you leave, on Wi-Fi. When you land, set the Yapsim line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.