Roaming on a Non-Chinese SIM Card in China

Jun · 2025-03-10 20:53:34


Roaming on a Non-Chinese SIM Card in China


If you’re planning to stay connected during your trip to China, using roaming on a non-Chinese SIM card is a convenient option. This guide will walk you through the steps for accessing mobile data in China, whether you use a physical SIM or an eSIM.


Step 1: Check if Your Current Mobile Provider Supports Data Roaming in China

  • Does Your Provider Support Data Roaming in China?
    • If YES:
      • Check the roaming charges: Ensure the price is reasonable for your needs.
        1. If the price is reasonable: Great! Just enable Data Roaming in your phone settings before you travel to China.
        2. If the price is too high: You might want to explore other options, like purchasing a local SIM card or using an eSIM (see Step 2).
    • If NO: You’ll need to explore alternatives like eSIM or another physical SIM card (see Step 2 for details).

Step 2: Does Your Phone Use eSIM or a Physical SIM Card?

Now that you know you would not like to use your current mobile provider in China, let’s look at what type of SIM your phone uses.


1. If Your Phone Uses eSIM:

  • eSIMs are an excellent choice in China, as they allow you to have both your original and a new eSIM active at the same time.
    • This is useful: For services like **Alipay**, which often require your original SIM for verification codes.
    • Recommended eSIM Providers:
    • Important: Be sure to **activate your eSIM before traveling to China**, as activation is often not possible once you’re in the country.

2. If Your Phone Uses a Physical SIM Card:

We strongly recommend carrying a backup phone with your original SIM card installed. This ensures you can still receive important SMS messages (like bank verification codes), even if roaming is expensive.

If your current mobile provider’s roaming charges are too high and you’re using a physical SIM, there are a few options for purchasing a non-Chinese SIM with reasonable mobile data rates.

Option 1: CMLink SIM Cards (Affordable Option)

CMLink, a subsidiary of China Mobile, offers SIM cards that provide good value for money and reliable coverage in China. You can purchase them from these countries:
Important: Be sure to **activate your SIM before traveling to China**, as you won’t be able to activate it once you’ve arrived.

Option 2: CMLink Partnered Providers (More Expensive)

If you're from one of these countries, CMLink has partnerships with local providers whose SIM cards also work in China. These may be more expensive, so compare rates with your current mobile provider's roaming charges:

Step 3: What If None of These Options Work for You?
If none of the above options fit your needs, we recommend looking into using a VPN to access websites and apps blocked in China. Check out our ["Chinese SIM Card + VPN" in China](#) for more details.


Stay Tuned for Updates!

We’ll continue to update this article with more verified SIM card providers as we test them. Keep checking back for the latest recommendations!

Disclaimer: We do not have any financial relationships with the mobile network providers mentioned above. These are simply recommended based on our research and feedback from users.