You land at Beijing Capital Airport. You need internet immediately: Alipay needs it, Amap needs it, you need it to tell your hotel you have arrived. Two options. Walk to the China Mobile counter in the arrival hall, hand over your passport, and walk away 20 minutes later with a SIM giving you unlimited 5G data for ¥150. Or activate an eSIM you bought before departure: instant, no queue, but more expensive. Both work. The right choice depends on what you value. For internet context: Internet Survival in China.
The Options Side by Side
| Option | Cost | Setup | Data Speed | Firewall? | Home Number? |
| Local Chinese SIM (airport) | ¥100 to ¥200 / 30 days | 20 min at arrival counter. Passport needed. | 5G nationwide | Applies. Need VPN. | No. New Chinese number. |
| International eSIM | $15 to $50 / 30 days | Activate before departure. Instant on landing. | 4G/5G (varies by provider) | May bypass. Not guaranteed. | Yes. Home number stays active. |
| International roaming | $5 to $20/day | None. Already on your plan. | Often throttled | Applies. Need VPN. | Yes. |
Local Chinese SIM: The Cheapest Option
A local SIM from one of China’s three carriers gives you the fastest, cheapest data anywhere in China. China has 5G coverage in all major cities and most secondary cities. The plans are generous: ¥100 to ¥200 for a 30-day unlimited (or very high-cap) data plan.
Where to buy
Airport arrival halls at all major international airports (Beijing PEK, PVG, CAN, CTU, and others) have carrier counters. China Mobile is the largest carrier and has the most stores. China Unicom is popular with foreigners for its simpler plan structure. Bring your passport. The counter staff register the SIM to your passport as required by law.
Which carrier to choose
| Carrier | Coverage | Notes |
| China Mobile (中国移动) | Best nationwide. Best rural. | Largest network. Recommended if you are traveling to smaller cities. |
| China Unicom (中国联通) | Excellent in cities. Good nationally. | Popular with foreigners. Plans often simpler. Works well with iPhones. |
| China Telecom (中国电信) | Good in cities and east coast. | Less commonly chosen by travelers. |
International eSIM: The Convenient Option
An international eSIM lets you arrive with data already active. Airalo and Holafly both offer China eSIM plans. No queue. No paperwork at the airport. Your home phone number stays active for receiving calls and SMS (important for two-factor authentication). Some eSIMs route traffic through networks outside China, which can bypass the Great Firewall without a VPN. This is a bonus but not guaranteed. Still install your VPN regardless. Popular providers with China coverage: {ext(‘https://www.airalo.com’, ‘Airalo’)}, Holafly, and Nomad. Buy and activate before you board.
Dual SIM Strategy
If your phone supports dual SIM (physical + eSIM), or if you have a second phone: use a local Chinese SIM for data (cheap, fast) and keep your home SIM active for calls and two-factor authentication. This gives you the cheapest data plus no missed messages on your regular number. Most modern smartphones support this configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the full internet guide including VPN setup: Internet Survival in China. For the best VPN to use with any SIM: Best VPN for China.