Buying a SIM card in China as a foreigner

You need a Chinese number for almost everything. Getting one takes 30 minutes — if you bring the right two things: your passport, and cash.

The cash problem: most phone shops accept Alipay, WeChat Pay or cash — not foreign credit cards. But you need mobile data to pay by phone. Land with cash, or you are stuck in a shop that cannot take your money.

Where to buy

Where	Verdict
Official carrier store (营业厅) — China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom	Best. Required to register foreign passports. Look for the carrier logo in malls, on main streets, near stations.
Airport counter in the arrivals hall	Easiest. Staff usually speak English and sell clearly marked tourist packages. Slightly more expensive.
Small phone accessory shop	Often cannot register a foreign passport. Do not waste your time.
Street vendor, or a "travel SIM" sold before you fly	Avoid. The number may not be registered in your name, which breaks every app that ties to identity.

What happens at the counter

Show your passport and say you want a SIM card. Card 2 on the main page has this in numbered Chinese.
Staff scan the passport and take a photo of your face. This is real-name registration — a legal requirement, not a formality.
Choose a plan. Ask for data and SMS; data-only is not enough for verification codes.
Pay. Cash if you have no working payment app yet.
They insert and activate the card. Test it before you leave the counter.

Time: 20-30 minutes. Cost: roughly 50-150 yuan for a starter plan. The number stays active as long as you keep topping up, and it is tied to your passport, not your visa.

When registration fails

This happens, and it is not your mistake. China's real-name system was built around the 18-digit national ID; a passport is a substitute bolted on later, and each carrier handles it differently. Information that is completely correct can still be rejected.

Try a different carrier, not just a different shop. Success rates differ.
Try a larger flagship store rather than a small branch.
If the staff suggest a workaround, take it — they know their system.
Fallback: an eSIM bought before you fly gives you data, so you can at least function while you sort out a number.

Physical SIM or eSIM?

	Physical SIM	Travel eSIM
Gives a +86 number	Yes	No
Receives Chinese SMS codes	Yes	No
Apps that require a Chinese number	Work	Blocked
Buy before you fly	No — in person only	Yes
Good for	Anything beyond a few days	Short trips, or a stopgap

The honest summary: an eSIM keeps you online, but it does not open the apps that need a Chinese number. If you are staying more than a few days, buy the physical card.

Do this before you leave the counter

Make a test call and send a test SMS.
Turn mobile data on and load a page.
Screenshot the plan details and your new number.
Ask how to top up — the carrier's app or a shop.

Process, price range and airport counter locations reflect carrier practice as of October 2026. Prices vary by city and plan.

Card 2 has the words for the counter

Numbered Chinese you can hand over, with the matching English underneath so you know what you are asking for.

See the cards