Staying online in China is straightforward once you pick an option and do a little prep at home. This is a fair comparison, then a checklist.
Options at a glance
| Travel eSIM | US carrier roaming | Pocket Wi-Fi | Local SIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Install at home | Often nothing to do | Pick up and return a device | Buy in China, with a passport |
| Usual apps | Work like they do back home | Depends on your carrier | Depends on the device | Local networks. Many apps from home may not behave as usual |
| Price | Prepaid | Depends on your carrier | Rental, sometimes a deposit | Often low for the data |
| Extra gear | None | None | A device to charge and carry | A free SIM slot, unless the carrier offers eSIM |
| US number | Stays on the phone | Stays | Stays | Only if the phone is dual-SIM |
A travel eSIM
A travel eSIM is a digital SIM on your phone, beside your home SIM. You keep your number for texts and use the eSIM for data.
People choose it because setup is at home, there is no device to return, and the price is prepaid. Usual apps are designed to work like they do at home.
Check that the phone is eSIM-compatible and carrier-unlocked. Most travel eSIMs are data only. Read the data amount, and whether a daily plan slows down after a set number of gigabytes.
Plans are prepaid in USD. See the China plans for sizes and prices. Valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau). Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Maps and your other apps work just like back home. No extra setup needed.
Roaming with your US carrier
The appeal is zero setup and one bill. Check what China actually includes, the daily or monthly cost, and whether speeds drop. For a short trip on a plan that already includes China, roaming can be the simple choice. For a longer trip, a prepaid eSIM is easier to budget. Your carrier’s page is the source for the number. We will not guess it.
Pocket Wi-Fi
One device can serve several phones. It also works with phones that cannot use eSIM. You carry it, charge it, and return it. If the group splits up, whoever does not have the device is offline. How apps behave still depends on that provider.
A local SIM
You can buy one in China and register it with your passport. It can be a cheap way to get a lot of data, and it can include a Chinese number. You have to find a store. It uses local networks, so many apps from home may not work as you expect. Some long stays use a local SIM for a Chinese number and an eSIM for the apps they use at home.
Which one
- Solo or couple, and the phone supports eSIM: a travel eSIM is usually the easiest.
- Short trip, and your US plan already includes China: check roaming first.
- Family, or older phones: look at pocket Wi-Fi.
- Long stay, and you need a Chinese number: a local SIM, possibly next to an eSIM.
Checklist before you fly
Phone
- Phone is eSIM-compatible. Check here.
- Phone is carrier-unlocked.
- Software is up to date.
- A charged power bank, and a plug adapter. China uses more than one plug type.
Connection
- You picked a size. How much data.
- eSIM installed at home on Wi-Fi. Setup guide.
- Your haalaan line (it may show as CMLink or Travel) is installed, and the home line is set as the default for calls and texts.
- You know how to turn on data roaming for your haalaan line (it may show as CMLink or Travel). Settings.
Apps
- WeChat installed.
- Alipay or WeChat Pay set up with your card.
- A local maps app, plus offline maps.
- A translation app with an offline Chinese pack.
- Logged in to banking, email, and social apps at home, in case a new login asks for a text code.
- Booking confirmations saved offline.
Money and accounts
- Tell your bank you are traveling, if they ask for that.
- Turn the home line’s data roaming off before you land.
- Know whether your two-factor codes arrive by text or in an authenticator app.
Before you go
- Check official entry rules. China travel essentials points at the sources.
- Save support@haalaan.com. Support is 24/7.
- If you want a city shape for the days, start with the China city guides.
See the plans on the China eSIM page, or compare the best eSIMs for China.
FAQ
Is an eSIM better than pocket Wi-Fi for China?
An eSIM suits a solo traveler or a couple who do not want another device. Pocket Wi-Fi suits a group that stays together, or phones that cannot use eSIM.
Will my apps work on a local Chinese SIM?
A local SIM uses local networks, so many international apps may not work as you expect. On a haalaan eSIM, Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Maps and your other apps work just like back home. No extra setup needed.
Can I use an eSIM and keep my home number?
Yes. Your home SIM stays on the phone for calls and texts. The eSIM handles data.
Does a haalaan eSIM cover Hong Kong and Macau?
China plans are valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau). Going to Hong Kong or Macau too? Add a Hong Kong or Macau eSIM at checkout, or choose Greater China for one eSIM across all three.
What if I change my mind after buying?
Full refund if not installed, within 30 days of purchase. Installed eSIMs can't be refunded.
Valid in mainland China (not Hong Kong or Macau).
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