No app, no account
Buy in your browser. Your eSIM lands in your inbox, and your phone does the rest.
How it worksChina eSIM
Your eSIM arrives within minutes, starts when you first connect in China, and tops up whenever you need more.
Choose your plan.
Before you buy, just confirm your device is eSIM-compatible and network-unlocked.
Plan details
- Connects on 3G, 4G and 5G where the local network has it
- Hotspot and tethering on plans that support it, where the local network allows
- Keep your own number, data only (no calls or texts)
- Activates on first connection, not at purchase
- Top up any time while your plan is running
Need broader coverage?
Regional and Global eSIMs cover China and plenty more.
Your eSIM arrives within minutes, starts when you first connect in China, and tops up whenever you need more.
Across China, you're in good hands. Off to China? You're in good hands.
Four things we'll tell you before you pay, not after.
You’ll know your network
200+ networks. Named on every plan. Connected via trusted networks in 195+ destinations.
Explore networks
Unlimited, explained.
A daily full-speed allowance. Then 1 Mbps for the rest of the day. Your full-speed data resets the next day.
Unlimited explained
Emailed within minutes
Buy at the gate if you have to. Install now, ready when you land.
When to install 1 / 4
Networks vary by destination and are listed on each plan. All trade marks are the property of their respective owners. Halo is not affiliated with these operators.
Before you go.
Staying connected in China
China has dense mobile coverage across its cities, high-speed rail network and the great majority of its populated areas. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu and Xi'an are all comprehensively served, and the high-speed rail lines hold a signal for most of their length. A Halo eSIM installs before you fly and starts counting on its first connection after you arrive. The practical thing to plan for in China is not coverage but access: many services travellers rely on elsewhere are not reachable from inside the country, so set up whatever you intend to use before you go and download offline maps rather than assuming you can search for one on arrival. Coverage on the Tibetan plateau and in the far western deserts is concentrated around towns and roads.
How much data you'll need
Five to eight GB for a week. Maps, translation and messaging carry most of it, and translation in particular gets far more use here than in most destinations. Add data for long rail journeys where you will stream or download. Hotel Wi-Fi is common but subject to the same access constraints as mobile data.
5G
Our China plans run on networks carrying 5G, which is extensively deployed across the major cities and along the high-speed rail corridors.
Updated September 2026
Questions? We've got answers.
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Will my usual apps work in China?
Many widely used services are not reachable from inside China, and that applies to mobile data and hotel Wi-Fi alike. Decide before you travel which apps you need and set them up in advance, and download offline maps rather than relying on being able to load one when you arrive.
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Is there coverage on the high-speed trains?
Yes, for the majority of most routes. The lines between Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi'an hold a signal along most of their length, with drops in the longer tunnels. It is a comfortable way to stay connected while covering long distances.
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Can I call and send SMS on my China eSIM?
Halo eSIMs are exclusively data-only eSIMs. While you can engage in voice calls and messaging through WhatsApp, Facetime, and other widely used VOIP apps, traditional phone calls and SMS are not supported.
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Is my device compatible with this China eSIM?
Most phones from 2018 onwards support eSIM, including iPhone XR and XS and newer, Pixel 3 and newer, Galaxy S20 and newer. If it's a reasonably recent phone, you're probably fine. Check our device compatibility page if you want to be sure.
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When should I set up my China eSIM?
Before you leave, while you're still on Wi-Fi. Your plan only starts counting when you first connect to a network at your destination, so there's no cost to installing early. China plans run from 1 to 30 days from that first connection. One less thing to sort at the airport.
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Which networks does my China eSIM use?
Each plan lists its own networks and speed policy under Plan details on this page. Which networks a plan uses is set by our network partners and can change without notice, so we show them per plan rather than for the destination as a whole. Your device finds and connects to a supported network on its own when you arrive.
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Can I top up my China eSIM?
Yes, on the fixed-data plans. Running low? Purchase another plan for the same destination from your order page. The new data gets added to your existing eSIM. No reinstall needed. Top-ups are not available on the Unlimited (daily) plans. To keep using data after an Unlimited plan ends, buy a new plan.
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Can I hotspot with my China eSIM?
Hotspot availability depends on the plan. Halo adds no separate hotspot cap and does not meter hotspot data differently, so on plans that support it you can share your connection with a laptop, tablet or travel companion where the local network allows. Hotspot is provided by the network operator in China rather than by Halo, so it is not something we can guarantee on every plan.
Still have questions?
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