How do tourists access the internet in China?
If you are planning to travel to China, you must know the ways to access the internet. In China, wifi is almost everywhere in sights, restaurants, and even subway stations, however, new devices need verification code by texting to get the permission. In this case, many travelers get confused and have trouble with the network when they are in China. In this blog, I will show you all the ways to access the internet to help you have a good experience!
Mobile Internet in China
Before considering which approach is the best for you, you should understand the internet using rules and online services prerequisites first.
- China has a very mature fundamental internet infrastructure, wifi and signals are everywhere from cities to most rural countries, from restaurants to sights. With developed app technology, it is common for people there to use mobile as the key to everything. Building on this situation, China’s anti-telecom and anti-internet fraud mechanisms are rigorous and well-developed, and local sim card only approved with ID authentication. For foreign travelers, their passports can be used as ID authentication.
- A mobile phone with a local number is the first step in experiencing mobile services such as booking sights tickets, receiving notifications, or buying subway tickets. In China, receiving verification codes by texting works more generally than by email; sometimes local number it is the only way to get the codes from local institutions.
- Additionally, international travelers can only buy local number SIM cards after they land in China. There are many spot shops in the airports, and the assistant will help you select the cards depending on your needs.
Overview
In general, there are two approaches to mobile internet access: using a SIM card or an eSIM card. Every approach to the network has pros and cons.
A Comprehensive Guide to China SIM Cards & eSIM – SimcardChina
The first scenario is that if your home country’s mobile carrier offers roaming services in China and can receive text messages from China, such as T-Mobile in the United States, it is recommended that you purchase an eSIM card product online (make sure to confirm that your mobile device supports it). After arriving in China, activate and use the eSIM card’s data for internet access, while using your home country’s phone number to receive various verification messages from Chinese app service providers.
The second scenario is that if your home country’s phone number cannot receive verification messages from China, using only the eSIM card’s data for internet access will be quite inconvenient. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you purchase a local Chinese SIM card. By spending a bit more time at the airport counter upon arrival to activate it, you can enjoy cheaper internet data, as well as receive Chinese text messages and phone calls (such as hotel booking confirmations, online ride-hailing services, etc.).
Regarding confirming whether your home country’s phone number can receive verification messages from China, it is recommended that you refer to the following tutorial article link for instructions. You can try registering for WeChat to confirm if you can normally receive messages from China.
Learn more:The Most Detailed Guide To WeChat Regisration – SimcardChina
Various Mobile Internet Options
1. International services from Local Mobile Network Operators
Generally, local mobile network providers had international phone plans or international pass services, which are the most convenient for travelers to buy and use. For example, in the U.S., T-mobile provides Go5G plans for $50 per month with up to 5GB of high-speed data and international passes for additional high-speed data needs; StarHub from Singapore provides $23+ per day with unlimited data; Maxis from Malaysia provides $8.7 per day with unlimited data. Generally, this option somehow costs the most expensive. Remember to activate the plan before leaving your home country, since most foreign websites or apps would not work without a VPN in China mainland, no matter whether connected with wifi or not. Though you can access the internet with this approach, many convenient online services require verification codes by texting, such as booking tickets or buying e-transportation cards, without a local number, you would probably not experience the convenient services.
In addition, there are many WeChat-based mini-programs in China that offer a variety of online booking services. It’s worth noting that some of these mini-programs only support registration and booking with a local Chinese phone number, such as the official booking mini-program for the Forbidden City tickets. If you don’t have a local Chinese phone number, you won’t be able to make a reservation.
What‘s more, wifi in some public places also needs verification codes by texting to give new travelers access.
2. eSIM Card
eSIM card is a convenient way to get a data plan and VPN, and you can enjoy local mobile services without a local phone number. Please note that eSIM cards cannot be switched between devices, and only a selection of newer devices support this feature. In this case, if your home country’s mobile works with an eSIM, you can only use one eSIM card when you buy another one for traveling. Special reminder, most eSIM cards are operated by foreign mobile network providers, which do not support receiving SMS messages or making voice calls. However, registering and logging in to commonly used apps in China typically require SMS verification codes. Unless you are certain that your home country’s phone number can receive SMS verifications from Chinese apps, relying solely on an eSIM may cause inconvenience during your travels in China.
Here is a list of commonly used apps in China that require SMS verification for registration:
| APP | Classification of Uses | Verification Code |
|---|---|---|
| Communication, Payments | √ | |
| Alipay | Service Platform, Payments | √ |
| Baidu Map | Maps & Navigator | √ |
| Amap | Maps & Navigator | √ |
| Trip | Hotels & Travel | × |
| Railway 12306 | Travel | √ |
| JD or Taobao | Online Shopping | √ |
| Meituan | Food Pick-up and Delivery | √ |
For specific details, please refer to the article：
TOP 10 Must-Have China Apps for International Tourists – SimcardChina
3. Pocket Wifi + VPN
Even though Wi-Fi is almost everywhere in China, pocket wifi can save your roaming fees. Most pocket routers provide 4G and 4G LTE services for $60+ a week. The pocket wifi supports multiple devices and connects you to the internet anywhere and anytime. There are some pocket wifi contained VPN functions and most of them not, please keep an eye on this detail to ensure your purchase feed your need. Most pocket wifi merchants provide delivery services between countries, get one and activate it when departure ensure you have access to network when arriving.
4. Chinese local SIM card
The most seamless, cheap, and secure approach is using a Chinese local SIM card. There are 3 mobile network providers in China: Chinese Unicom, Chinese Mobile, and Chinese Telecom. China’s mobile communications networks cover 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, with 4G LTE and 5G networks expanding their coverage. With a local sim card, you can experience 5G services with more than 10g fast-speed data, and the additional data plans are also easy to add with affordable prices.
Major airports and authorized operator service Center in the city often sell SIM cards for foreigners. However, airport purchases tend to be more expensive. Chinese law requires real-name registration for SIM card activation, so you’ll need to provide your passport or a photocopy.
We recommend a more suitable product for you, which is a prepaid SIM card product newly launched by local operators in China specifically for foreign tourists. You can purchase them online by using credit or debit cards. Once you arrive in China, go to the service spot and our assistant will help you to settle down all the settings so that you can start your China journey.
For more information, please refer to：Shop – SimcardChina
Every approach to the network has pros and cons
- International services from Local Mobile Network Operators are convenient but also expensive, travelers should check the list of companies from the plans and make sure China is included;
- The eSIM cards support travelers who have those kinds of devices. The benefits are buying and activating online and short-comings are not available to receive verification texting from Chinese apps and public places wifi.
- The China local SIM card definitely can guarantee international travelers the smoothest network experience, and it is also the most cost-efficient plan. The cons are international travelers need to configure a VPN in advance and get it at the airport-specified business spots after arrival.
