You land in Beijing, open your phone, and find that Google Maps shows a white board, WhatsApp greets you with a blank screen, and Instagram freezes on the latest post from your balcony. Welcome to a country where the internet exists – but not the one you’re used to. Unless you’ve prepared yourself. So what eSIM do I need for China?!
You land in Beijing, open your phone, and find that Google Maps shows a blank screen, WhatsApp greets you with a blank screen, and Instagram freezes on the latest post from your balcony. Welcome to a country where the internet exists – but not the one you’re used to. Unless you’ve prepared yourself with an eSIM for China.
You don't go to Beijing without a plan.
There are two types of travelers who go to China. The first are those who think “it’ll just work out.” They end up in a hotel lobby, spending three hours searching for Wi-Fi while trying to tell their mom they’re still alive. The second are those who got an eSIM before their flight. The latter happily post stories from the Great Wall, while the former are still searching Google Translate to understand what the waiter is offering them for lunch.
The difference between these two worlds costs exactly the same as a decent pizza in Ljubljana. So let's see how not to be the first.
Why China is not like the rest of the world
China has what locals affectionately call the “Great Firewall of China.” It’s the most sophisticated online censorship system in the world, and it blocks just about everything you love: Google, Gmail, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), Signal, ChatGPT, Netflix, most European media, and even Wikipedia in certain languages.
The irony is that China has an exceptional mobile network. In the major cities you almost always have fast 4G or 5G. The problem isn't speed, the problem is how the internet works. Because of the Great Firewall, the main issue in China isn't how much data you get, but whether your apps even work once you're in the country.
The solution? An eSIM, which routes your traffic through foreign networks. In short: your phone connects to a Chinese signal, but your data travels through Singapore, Hong Kong, or some other democratic climate before returning to you. The Chinese system thinks you're a tourist in transit. But you send messages on WhatsApp without any problems.
How eSIM even works (and why it's magic)
eSIM is a virtual SIM card. You don't need plastic, you don't need a store, you don't need to wait hours in front of a counter. You buy it online, scan the QR code and within two minutes you have a working mobile data package.
Key rule for China: You activate the eSIM BEFORE landing. Why? Because some providers' websites are – ironically – blocked in China itself. If you forget and land without activation, you find yourself in a dilemma that is difficult to solve with sign languages.
Best eSIM providers for China in 2026
After more than a dozen tests of different vendors, four serious candidates emerged. All have their own strengths and all have their own weird quirks – like comparing Alfa Romeo, Tesla, Toyota and Jeep. Each has its own soul.
Holafly – the undisputed king of unlimited data
If you're looking for simplicity and don't want to think about gigabytes, it's Holafly probably your best choice. The Spanish provider is a pioneer of unlimited eSIM plans and offers something for China that others don't: built-in VPN that doesn't need to be set up separately.
Holafly It offers unlimited data with no speed caps (although hotspot sharing is limited to 500 MB/day), a built-in VPN for accessing Google, Instagram, and WhatsApp, you keep your number for messages and calls, and 24/7 support via chat and email.
Prices: from around 19 USD (17 EUR) for 5 days to larger packages up to 90 daysThe daily price decreases with duration – the longer you stay, the cheaper it is.
Important warning: Holafly uses a “Fair Usage Policy,” which means that your speed may be throttled if you use an excessive amount of data per day. In practice, this means that if you watch Netflix for 10 hours a day, your speed will drop. But if you use WhatsApp, Maps, and social media, you won’t even notice.
For whom: a traveler who wants without thinking use the internet like at home.
Saily – a little Swiss girl with a built-in fuse
Saily is a younger player in the game, but it has heavy artillery behind it – the same company behind NordVPN. Which means they take security seriously.
Saily offers a built-in VPN with over 115 virtual locations, a free ad blocker, and automatic blocking of malicious URLs. Plans range from 1GB to unlimited data, with speed throttling only kicking in after 5GB per day.
Saily is a bit like a Swiss Army knife – not just the internet, but a whole suite of tools. The built-in VPN is a plus because it means you don't have two apps fighting over each other, but everything runs seamlessly.
Prices are slightly lower than Holafly, but speeds are usually better. Basic plans start at around $4 for 1GB.
For whom: for those who care about safety, as well as value for money.
Jetpac – price record holder with tourist goodies – eSIM for China
Jetpack is an outsider that has seriously shaken up the market in the last year. It has a free VPN built-in for China, uses three different networks across China for the best connectivity, and offers one of the cheapest 30-day unlimited plans at around $65.99.
For $1 you get 1GB of data, valid for 4 days – a price that no other provider can beat. As a bonus: eSIM also applies to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, which is worth its weight in gold if you're planning a multi-week Asian tour.
In addition, Jetpac brings travel benefits that others don't have - from free airport lounge passes to Smart Delay flight delay insurance.
For whom: for those who want the best price-performance ratio, and for travelers to several Asian countries.
Airalo – a reliable veteran without VPN – eSIM for China
Airalo is the most famous eSIM provider in the world, reliable as a Toyota Corolla. Packages range from 1GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB, 20GB, 50GB to unlimited data. Prices start at $4 for 1GB for 3 days in China and go up to $49 for 50GB for 30 days.
The downside? Airalo doesn't have a built-in VPN like Saily, but it does support secure browsing with standard cellular encryption and strong authentication. In practice, this means you'll probably need to install a separate VPN (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark) to access Google.
For whom: for conservative travelers who trust well-known brands and are willing to juggle two apps.
My advice: how to decide
If you are going on a short trip (up to 10 days) and simplicity is important to you – take HolaflyIt's not cheaper, but you won't think for a second about gigabytes or VPN settings.
If you're staying longer (two weeks or more), want speed and the best price – get it JetpackTriple carrier and built-in VPN are a winning combination.
If security is important to you (you're a journalist, entrepreneur, paranoid, or all three) - take it SailyNordVPN's DNA is clearly visible here.
If you've used Airalo several times and like it, just don't forget to combine it with a good VPN.
Pitfalls to avoid
Some rules that others have learned for you:
- Activate eSIM BEFORE landing. I repeat once again: before landing. Once you are in China, some provider sites do not open.
- Sharing via hotspot is almost always limited. Holafly limits it to 500 MB per day, others are similar. If you plan to work from a laptop, check this in advance.
- There is a fair use policy. "Unlimited" in practice means "unlimited, as long as you're not overly greedy."
- Don't rely solely on hotel Wi-Fi. In higher-end hotels, sometimes Google access works (they have special business connections), but often it doesn't.
- Have a backup VPN on your phone. Free Proton VPN or Windscribe are good back-up plans if your eSIM fails.
Conclusion: the internet is the new currency of the tourist
China is an incredible destination. Ancient history, futuristic cities, food that changes your perspective on life, and people who are hospitable to a degree that takes your breath away. But if you can't use Google Maps to find that restaurant with the best xiao long bao Dumplings, if you can't send a picture of the Great Wall to your friends, or if you can't call Uber (which doesn't work in China anyway - DiDi is used) - then you've simply missed half the experience.
An eSIM is no longer a luxury for China, it is a basic necessity, like a passport or comfortable shoes. For the price of one better dinner in Ljubljana (around 50–70 euros), you get two to three weeks of worry-free living. This is probably the best money spent of the entire trip.
My personal recommendation? If I were booking a flight to Beijing today, I would take it without hesitation. Jetpac for 30 days of unlimited data or Holafly for 15 days, if you were planning a short trip. Both have a built-in VPN, both work out of the box, neither needs to be "set up" like a car radio from the 90s.
And the next time you land in Shanghai and see those travelers desperately tapping their phones in search of a signal, you'll know that the only ones who started their trip wrong are the ones who forgot their eSIM. Meanwhile, you'll be posting an Instagram story from the Bund.
Good luck. And don't forget: in China, the only thing harder to access than an entrance ticket to the Forbidden City during Chinese New Year is the internet.
