# China eSIM - eSIMpass

> Prepaid data-only travel eSIM for China. Bought online, delivered by email as a QR code, installed in a few minutes. No contract, no physical SIM, no phone number.

- Product page and checkout: https://www.esimpass.co.uk/esim/esim-china
- Prices as of 2026-10-13, in GBP, taxes included
- From 3.66 GBP

## Plans on sale

| Plan | Type | Price | Checkout |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Days - 3GB Data | Fixed data | 3.66 GBP | [Buy](https://www.esimpass.co.uk/checkout?product_id=52&qty=1&gmc=esim-china&currency=GBP&options=%7B%2227%22%3A68562%7D) |
| 30 Days - 5GB Data | Fixed data | 5.31 GBP | [Buy](https://www.esimpass.co.uk/checkout?product_id=52&qty=1&gmc=esim-china&currency=GBP&options=%7B%2227%22%3A67532%7D) |
| 30 Days - 10GB Data | Fixed data | 10.24 GBP | [Buy](https://www.esimpass.co.uk/checkout?product_id=52&qty=1&gmc=esim-china&currency=GBP&options=%7B%2227%22%3A67533%7D) |
| 30 Days - 20GB Data | Fixed data | 20.86 GBP | [Buy](https://www.esimpass.co.uk/checkout?product_id=52&qty=1&gmc=esim-china&currency=GBP&options=%7B%2227%22%3A67534%7D) |
| 30 Days - 50GB Data | Fixed data | 43.20 GBP | [Buy](https://www.esimpass.co.uk/checkout?product_id=52&qty=1&gmc=esim-china&currency=GBP&options=%7B%2227%22%3A67535%7D) |

Each Checkout link opens payment with that plan selected: only the email address and payment remain.

## How it works

1. Choose a plan and pay on the product page (card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal or crypto).
2. The eSIM QR code arrives by email; install it before you travel (Settings > Mobile/Cellular > Add eSIM).
3. On arrival, select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Your own SIM stays in the phone for calls and SMS.

Data-only: the eSIM has no phone number. Requires an eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked phone.

## Your eSIM for China - and the apps that usually get blocked

The reason most travellers reach for an international eSIM in China is simple: on a local Chinese network, services like Google Maps, Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook are restricted. A roaming travel eSIM usually routes your data through a gateway outside mainland China, so those apps generally keep working without any extra setup or VPN.

Routing can vary by plan, so if uninterrupted access to one specific app is essential, check the plan details first. Install the eSIM before you fly, switch off airplane mode when you land, and you are online straight away.

## Getting online at Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou

The eSIM connects automatically when you turn off airplane mode at Beijing (PEK/PKX), Shanghai (PVG/SHA) or Guangzhou (CAN). That means maps, ride-hailing and translation are ready the moment you land - a real help in a country where signage and payment apps assume you are already connected.

## Coverage across the cities and high-speed rail

China has some of the densest mobile infrastructure in the world, with extensive 5G across the cities and strong coverage on the high-speed rail network between Beijing, Shanghai, Xian and Guangzhou. You stay online for navigation and translation through almost the entire trip, with only brief dips in the longest rail tunnels.

## China visa-free for British citizens, until the end of 2026

Until 31 December 2026, a British citizen passport lets you visit China without a visa for up to 30 days, for tourism, family visits, business or transit. It applies to standard passports that list your nationality as British citizen, not emergency travel documents. Your passport needs six months' validity and two blank pages, and you must register where you stay within 24 hours - hotels do this for you (gov.uk, updated 27 August 2026).

## Flights, time and plugs

There are daily non-stop flights from Heathrow and Gatwick to Beijing and Shanghai with Air China and China Eastern, from Heathrow to Guangzhou with China Southern, and from Manchester to Beijing with Hainan Airlines, according to the China National Tourist Office's list for summer 2026. China is seven hours ahead of the UK in British Summer Time and eight in winter. Sockets are types A and I, so bring an adaptor.

## Paying in China with a British card - and your UK plan

Paying by phone with WeChat Pay or Alipay is almost universal, while cards and cash machines are limited outside the big cities - set one of those apps up before you go. Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes cannot be exchanged in China, and fake 100-yuan notes are common, even from cash machines.

Using a UK plan costs £6 a day on EE, £8 on Vodafone and £7 or £8 on Three, with O2 data bolt-ons from £9 for 1GB.

## FAQ

### Will Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work on the eSIM in China?

Usually yes. Unlike a local Chinese SIM, a roaming travel eSIM typically routes data through a gateway outside mainland China, so normally-restricted apps keep working without a VPN. Routing can vary by plan, so check the plan details if one specific app is essential for your trip.

### Do I need a VPN as well?

Often not - the international routing usually handles it. A VPN can still be a useful backup, but install and test it before you arrive, since VPN sites themselves can be hard to reach once you are in China.

### Does it work on the high-speed trains?

Yes. Coverage on the high-speed rail network between the major cities is strong, with only short drops in long tunnels.

### Do British citizens need a visa for China?

Not for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026, for tourism, family visits, business or transit, on a passport that lists you as a British citizen (gov.uk, updated 27 August 2026).

### Can I use Scottish banknotes in China?

No. The Foreign Office says Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes cannot be exchanged in China, so bring Bank of England notes or rely on cards and payment apps.

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Source: https://www.esimpass.co.uk/esim/esim-china - eSIMpass, Elemento Logico Lda, Portugal - help@esimpass.com