Best eSIM for China: How to stay connected with unlimited data

Staying connected in China isn’t just nice to have – oftentimes, it’s essential.

China runs on technology. Almost everything, from paying for a snack to booking a hotel, runs through an app.

Even in the isolated ethnic villages and remote edges of Guangxi, the easiest way to pay for a drink or local crafts from a street vendor is by app.

From translation and transport, to payments and maps, you won’t want to find yourself without connection (even if you prefer to switch off and be fully present on your travels).

Using your roaming data will likely rack up a huge bill, and local sim cards are difficult to obtain.

The answer? ↠ Install an eSIM for China before you arrive.

Choosing an eSIM for China

Given how dependent China is on apps, choosing the right eSIM can make a world of difference to your trip.

But here’s the catch: while being connected is essential for travel in China, China’s extensive internet censorship means that most of the apps you probably use day-to-day can’t be accessed on national networks.

These include WhatsApp, Instagram, Google, Facebook, Google Maps and many similar apps that you may depend on normally when travelling.

This adds an extra layer of consideration when choosing a China eSIM.

Of course, the priority is staying connected – and being able to access the Chinese apps such as AliPay and WeChat.

Every eSIM will help you achieve that goal, but not all offer equal functionality. Therefore, choosing the best eSIM for China specifically is crucial.

Some of the main considerations when choosing your China eSIM are:

• Making sure you have adequate data (because topping up could be hard). Almost all of the eSIM websites are blocked on Chinese wifi, so you won’t want to run out of data.
• Making sure you have adequate coverage, especially in more remote areas. Interestingly, connection is even more important here because these are the places where you’re unlikely to be able to use card or cash to make payments.
• Choosing an eSIM that works with a VPN so you can access your normal apps – or choosing an eSIM that bypasses the need for a VPN (hard to find but possible with the one we recommend).

📲 If you want to tick all the boxes, choose Holafly.

Holafly’s eSIM for China comes with unlimited data, excellent coverage and an in-built VPN so you won’t need one on top.

↠ Click here and use code ALAJODE to save an extra 5%.

Why we recommend Holafly as the best eSIM for china

Given everything mentioned above, our number one pick is Holafly.

Holafly stands out for one thing in particular: unlimited data.

Sometimes unlimited data doesn’t really mean unlimited, but we put that to the test during a 10-day trip through Guizhou and Guangxi.

The result: the data never slowed or stopped.

Even on bus journeys of 4+ hours – most of which were spent uploading photos or watching videos online – the eSIM continued to perform.

Not only that, but it had the most consistent and reliable coverage compared to all the other eSIM’s we tested.

other reasons we rate Holafly:

Unlimited data is one of the biggest packs of choosing a Holafly eSIM for China, but it’s not all.

Some of the other features that set Holafly apart include:

• No VPN needed. Unlike other China eSIM options, Holafly has its own in-built VPN so you can still access apps and websites that are blocked under Chinese Internet restrictions.
• Reliable coverage. While other eSIM’s offered patchy service in places, especially near the Vietnam border, Holafly had consistently good data through all areas.
• Fast connection speeds. Similarly, the Holafly eSIM at least 4G in most places.
• Total flexibility. Unlike other China eSIM’s, which require you to choose a fixed number of days, Holafly lets you choose the exact number of days you need. That means you don’t end up paying for more than you need.
• Easy set up. Some eSIM’s are easier to set up than others and, fortunately, Holafly seems to be one of the simplest.
• Pricing. Not only are Holafly’s prices highly competitive for unlimited data, they also have a loyalty scheme that offers extra discounts (as well as the exclusive reader discount you can enjoy right here).
• Hotspot other devices. With just one eSIM, you can connect multiple devices at once, making it even better value for money.

Tips for Using an eSIM in China

If this is your first time setting up an eSIM for travel, here’s what you need to know.

1 – Check your phone is compatible with an eSIM

Before buying, it’s worth double checking that your phone is compatible with an eSIM. The good news: almost all phones are!

if you’re using a phone from 2018 onwards, it should be fine. The only time you might have an issue is if your phone is locked by your carrier.

2 – Install your eSIM before you fly

In most cases, you can install an eSIM after arriving, but it’s best to do so before you leave.

In the case of travelling to China, installing it before you fly is essential.

This is because you will need a stable internet connection to install your eSIM – and the link is probably blocked in China.

Don’t worry – installing is different to activating. You can do the latter while on the flight.

3 – install a VPN for back up

While we had no issues with the Holafly eSIM during a 10-day China trip, there’s no guarantee that the servers will be available the entire time.

Therefore it’s best to install a VPN as a backup so you can still access WhatsApp, Instagram and all the other apps that are blocked.

You’ll also need a VPN if you plan to connect Wi-Fi at any point and want to use these apps.

TOP TIP | If you plan to use wifi in China, ake sure you install a VPN (or two!) on your phone before you arrive – otherwise many sites and apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, etc will be blocked. We’ve had the most success with this one (and it’s super affordable too!).

4 – Keep your data roaming on

You’ll need this to keep your data roaming on when using an eSIM.

However, you want to make sure your phone is using the eSIM rather than your phone data. This is usually easy to choose in the settings.

Make sure you research how to do this for your phone make and model before you arrive in China!!

5 – Save your Activation QR code somewhere

Since you’ll almost definitely be offline when you activate your China eSIM, it’s worth saving a copy of the activation PDF.

The last thing you want is to arrive and not be able to activate it!

Click here to save 5% extra on your China eSIM with our exclusive Alajode reader discount.