When in China, you can stay connected using one of the following methods: International roaming, purchasing a local Chinese SIM card (prepaid or postpaid), renting a mobile Wi-Fi device, or using a virtual SIM card.

International Roaming: Before traveling, contact your telecom provider to check on the availability and cost of roaming services in China. Ensure that international roaming is activated. Once in China, simply turn on your phone and enable “Data Roaming” in your settings. Keep in mind that roaming charges can be quite high, so it’s important to be aware of the costs before opting for this service.

Chinese SIM Card:

Make sure your phone is unlocked and not tied to a specific carrier. If your phone is locked, you can request an unlock from your carrier. If unlocking is not an option, consider buying or renting an unlocked phone.

China’s three main carriers—China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom—respectively operate on TD-SCDMA, WCDMA, and CDMA2000 networks. You can purchase a SIM card from any of these carriers based on your phone’s network compatibility. All carriers offer both prepaid and pay-as-you-go plans.

Recharging Your SIM Card:

  • Local Carrier Recharge: Visit any carrier’s store, provide your phone number, and pay in cash to recharge your SIM card.
  • Recharge via Alipay or WeChat Pay: The easiest and quickest way to recharge. Simply use the mobile recharge feature on Alipay or WeChat, enter your phone number, and make a payment. Your account will be topped up almost instantly.

Renting a Mobile Wi-Fi Device: This option allows multiple devices to connect simultaneously. You can rent a mobile Wi-Fi device at the airport, through travel agencies, or online. Just log in with the provided account and password to access the internet.