China SIMCards Guide

# Complete Guide to Buying a SIM Card in China for Foreigners

1. Choosing the Right Chinese SIM Card Plan

Short-Term SIM Cards (Best for Trips Under 30 Days)

• Best for: Tourism and short business trips

#### Advantages

• Easy to purchase at airports with English-speaking staff available
• No long-term contract required
• Flexible 7/10/15/30-day plans
• Automatically expires after the package ends with no extra charges

#### Reference Prices

(Prices may vary slightly by city and provider)

• 7-Day Plan — RMB 100

- 30GB data + 100 call minutes

• 10-Day Plan — RMB 120

- 35GB data + 150 call minutes

• 15-Day Plan — RMB 150

- 50GB data + 200 call minutes

• 30-Day Plan — RMB 250

- 80GB data + 300 call minutes

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Long-Term SIM Cards (Best for Extended Stays or Frequent Visits)

• Best for: Studying, working, living in China, or travelers who visit China frequently and need a long-term Chinese number

#### Advantages

• Much more cost-effective
• Monthly fees between RMB 30–100 usually include plenty of data and call time

#### Disadvantages

• Some plans may require contracts or prepaid balance commitments
• Long-term users need to recharge regularly
• If the account is suspended due to insufficient balance, reactivation may be required

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2. Popular Airport Locations to Buy SIM Cards

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

• Terminal 1: SIM card service counters near the arrival exit
• Terminal 2: One-Stop Service Center (International Services Shanghai)

Beijing Capital International Airport

• Terminal 3: Hotel booking and tourism information counter near Arrival Exit B

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

• Terminal 2: International SIM card sales counters

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport

• Terminal 1: China Telecom store near the international and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan arrivals exit

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3. Helpful Tips Before You Buy

Required Documents

You must present your original passport when purchasing a SIM card. It is helpful to prepare photos of your passport information page and entry stamp page in advance.

Registration Process

Staff at the counter will assist with real-name registration, phone number selection, and SIM activation. Some airports can also help cut the SIM card to fit your device if needed.

Which Carrier Should You Choose?

China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom all provide wide coverage across China. For short-term travel, the standard airport tourist packages are usually sufficient, so there is no need to worry too much about carrier differences.