PikoeSIM
Excellent
China eSIM
Plans from€0.32
100 MB 7 days
Shanghai, China
- 4G/5G data
- One prepaid price
- Check compatibility first
- Hotspot included
Choose your plan
Data for 7 days
Data for 15 days
Data for 30 days
Data for 180 days
Tech specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Country coverage | Mainland China only. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are not covered. |
| Local networks | China Telecom |
| Network technology | Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. |
| Data & validity | Fixed total data with the validity shown on each plan. No unlimited or daily-renewing allowance; pricing is per plan, not per day. |
| Calls & SMS | Data only. The plan offers no local number, standard calls or SMS. App-based calls draw from your allowance where the service is reachable. |
| Hotspot | The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. |
| Your phone | An eSIM-compatible, network-unlocked phone is required. Compatible phones vary by region, so confirm your exact model before you buy. |
How it works
Pick a plan, add the eSIM to your phone, then connect once you're in China.
01Choose your plan
Choose data and validity that cover your trip. Save the setup instructions for offline access.
02Install before you fly
Install over Wi-Fi using your plan's instructions. Check when the plan's validity starts.
03Connect in China
On arrival, turn on the eSIM and select it for mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your regular SIM.
Compare ways to get online in China
Use prepaid data on the phone you already carry. This is how PikoeSIM compares with a rental router, home-carrier roaming and a physical SIM.
Swipe or scroll to compare all four options
| What matters | PikoeSIMTravel eSIM | Pocket Wi-FiRental router | RoamingYour home carrier | Local SIMPhysical SIM card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getting connected | Download the eSIM to your phone, then follow the activation steps that come with your plan. | Book delivery or collect a rental router from the provider. | Turn on roaming and confirm your destination is covered by your home plan. | Buy a SIM card and insert it into a compatible SIM slot on your phone. |
| Extra equipment | None. You use the eSIM-compatible phone you already have. | A separate device to carry, charge and keep within range. | None. You keep using your existing phone and SIM. | A physical SIM card. You might need to remove your usual SIM to fit it. |
| Data & cost | From €0.32 for 100 MB / 7 days. You pick a fixed allowance when you order. | Rental fees and data terms vary by provider. Check delivery, loss and damage fees before booking. | Your carrier's rates apply. Some home plans already include roaming at your destination. | Prepaid prices, data allowances and validity periods differ between local operators. |
| Sharing your data | The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. | Connect phones and other devices to the router. They all need to stay inside its Wi-Fi range. | Tethering depends on your carrier and your roaming plan. | Check that the local plan allows tethering before you rely on it. |
| Calls & SMS | Data only. Make calls and send messages through internet apps. | Internet only. Regular calls and SMS still use your phone's mobile plan. | Calls and SMS are billed under your carrier's roaming terms. | A local number, calls and SMS depend on the specific plan you buy. |
| After your trip | There's nothing to send back when your trip ends. | Return the router and accessories on time. Late or missing returns can trigger extra fees. | No hardware to return afterwards. | You don't need to return any rental device. |
Frequently asked questions.
Answers to common setup and buying questions.
How do I pick the right China data plan for my trip?
Start with how you actually use data. Light browsing with hotel Wi-Fi usually fits 3 GB over 7 days at €3.99. A holiday of 14 days across several cities is better served by 10 GB for 30 days at €13.71. For a shorter vacation with mostly hotel Wi-Fi, the 3 GB plan works. These data plans are fixed totals. The 50 GB option at €67.80 lasts 180 days but is 50 GB for the whole period, not per month. The best fit depends on your usage, so these are recommendations, not a single best value.
Which mobile network does this China eSIM connect to?
Listed networks: China Telecom. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions.
How do I know if my phone is compatible with this eSIM?
Confirm your exact model, regional variant and lock status before you buy this esim card. In China mainland, Apple lists eSIM support only on the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air. On a supported iPhone, check for No SIM Restrictions under Settings > General > About. On Android, Pixel phones add an eSIM under Settings > Network & internet > SIMs > Add SIM, but regional iOS and Android models differ, so follow the maker's guidance for your device.
What is the right time to install and activate the China eSIM?
Install over reliable Wi-Fi and keep the supplied activation steps available offline. Installing and the start of validity can be separate events, and the trigger depends on your plan's instructions. Do not treat 'instant installation' as a speed or coverage guarantee; the install still needs Wi-Fi and a compatible phone. Set the travel eSIM as the data line once you reach the covered destination.
Will my usual phone number still work while using this eSIM?
You can keep your existing SIM and messaging accounts. This travel plan has no local phone number and no standard voice calls or SMS. Verification texts to your regular number depend on that SIM, your carrier and the service sending them, so check your carrier's charges before leaving the home line switched on.
Does this plan allow me to share data via hotspot?
The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. The data hotspot (tethering) draws from the same total allowance. Set cloud backups, software updates and large downloads to Wi-Fi so a laptop does not quietly drain the remaining data.
Does the data allowance renew daily or is it a fixed total?
No. The listed allowance is the total for the whole validity period, so a 30-day plan does not refresh one day to the next. There is no plan valid for 1 day here; the shortest validity is 7 days. Watch usage on your phone and save video streaming or full photo backups for Wi-Fi if you need the plan to last the trip.
Which regions does this China eSIM cover?
Mainland China only. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are not covered, so check any onward plans separately.
Can I add more data or get a refund if needed?
Check the options, features and purchase conditions that come with your order. It's a prepaid plan with a fixed allowance; read the purchase terms to check if it is no contract or has renewal conditions. A new plan does not automatically extend the current one, and whether you can top up or reuse the profile depends on the plan. Keep your order reference for support; refund eligibility depends on the purchase terms and any activation or use.
What should I do if my China eSIM shows no internet connection?
Confirm you are in the covered destination, the travel line is on and selected for data, and your allowance and validity still stand. Follow the supplied roaming and APN steps, then briefly toggle airplane mode or restart. If reception is weak, try another spot. Keep the profile installed while support investigates and share your phone model, location and order reference.
How do I prevent my home SIM from using roaming data?
Set the travel eSIM as the mobile-data line, disable automatic data switching and leave roaming off on your regular SIM. Apply any roaming instruction only to the travel line. Calls and texts on your home number can still incur carrier charges.
Can I use WhatsApp, YouTube, and other usual apps in mainland China?
Do not count on this plan to get around internet restrictions. Apps such as WhatsApp or YouTube may be unavailable in mainland China regardless of your connection, and no particular website, app or VPN is promised. Download essential documents before you leave and arrange a contact method you can actually use at the destination.
Will I get a Chinese phone number for bookings and payments?
No. It is data only and includes no mainland phone number or SMS. A service may still demand its own registration, identity check or payment method. Finish any supported setup in advance; extra data does not remove those requirements.
Using your China eSIM on the ground
China eSIM plans sized to your trip
Sort the small details before a mainland China trip: your hotel name in Chinese, the correct airport and a saved copy of every booking. Mobile data lets a tourist retrieve those on the move, but an internet connection is not the same as payment approval or local-number verification.
The 10 GB, 30-day plan at €13.71 suits a trip of 2 weeks or more, or a longer multi-city route. If your days are mostly hotel Wi-Fi and light browsing, 3 GB over 7 days at €3.99 is the lighter option. The 50 GB plan at €67.80 spans 180 days but gives a single 50 GB allowance for the whole period, not a monthly reset, and 30 days is not always one month.
The 100 MB and 500 MB options are the cheapest here but suit only occasional essential tasks. Regular navigation, photo uploads or hotspot use calls for a larger plan. Every allowance is a fixed total, not a fresh amount one day to the next, and chasing the best price alone is not automatically affordable if you then need a second plan. No plan can promise best coverage across all of mainland China; signal quality varies by operator and location.
Plan for city transfers and long rail trips
Listed networks: China Telecom. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions. Save tickets, addresses and your return route before leaving Wi-Fi. Extra gigabytes mean more data to spend, not a stronger signal. Signal quality depends on local network conditions, not your data allowance.
stop in reach.Shanghai, China
Shanghai: plan past the airport connection.
Check whether your flight lands at Pudong or Hongqiao before saving an arrival route. From Pudong, the Maglev runs to Longyang Road Station, where you change to Metro Line 2 for the roughly one-hour ride to People's Square. Hongqiao is served by Metro Lines 10 and 2.
Match the connection to your hotel area and landing time, and save the hotel name and address in Chinese along with the exit or pickup point you plan to use. Check current departures rather than trusting a screenshot from an earlier trip.
If you head out to photograph the skyline after check-in, keep the return route saved. A data connection does not guarantee access to every overseas site or app, so prepare the maps and contact method you rely on before leaving home.
Save before you goAirport code, hotel address in Chinese, onward transfer and arrival notes.
Beijing: keep the booking and your ID together.
For the Summer Palace or Temple of Heaven, Beijing's municipal parks sell tickets online through the 'Visiting Beijing Parks' (畅游公园) platform, which has an English language option. Foreign visitors can book with a passport or permanent residence permit, so confirm the current steps for your chosen park and date.
Keep the confirmation and carry the same identity document you used to book. Entry is by QR code plus a valid ID such as a passport; an eSIM only provides internet access, not admission or identity checks.
Agree on a specific entrance and meeting time before the group splits, since big park grounds make a message like 'at the gate' useless. Screenshot the entrance name and your accommodation address for the way back.
Save before you goTicket confirmation, booked entrance and ID requirements.
Choose your China plan
Compare data amounts and durations to find the plan that fits your trip.
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