China eSIM — 30-day plans from $3.90

Yes. Your data traffic routes through Hong Kong before reaching the internet, so the Great Firewall doesn't apply to it. WhatsApp messaging, voice calls, and video calls all work normally on your DataSIM eSIM throughout mainland China — without installing a VPN.

All of them. Google Search, Gmail, Google Maps, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), and most Western news sites work normally because your traffic exits via Hong Kong. You essentially get unrestricted internet, the same as you would back home.

No — that's the point. Most travelers struggle with VPN apps in China because many VPN services are detected and blocked. Because your DataSIM eSIM routes data outside the Firewall automatically, there's nothing to set up. You can still install a VPN if you want extra privacy, but it isn't required to access blocked apps.

DataSIM China plans are all valid for 30 days: 3 GB for $3.90, 5 GB for $5.92, 10 GB for $11.70, 20 GB for $20.50, and 50 GB for $50. No contracts, no hidden fees, and you can top up anytime in the app.

No — buy and install it before you fly. China restricts new eSIM purchases from within the mainland, and many provider apps and websites are blocked by the Great Firewall. Install on home Wi-Fi, then your plan automatically activates when you connect to a network in China. If you already have a DataSIM eSIM installed, topping up data while in China still works fine.

No. Hotel Wi-Fi in China runs through local Chinese internet and is subject to the Great Firewall — WhatsApp, Google, and Instagram will not work on hotel Wi-Fi. Use your DataSIM eSIM data instead (you can tether a laptop to it). This is the same for every traveler, regardless of provider.

Yes — one eSIM covers all of mainland China on China Mobile 5G, with strong coverage in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Xi'an, and tourist destinations like the Great Wall and Forbidden City.

This plan is for mainland China only. Hong Kong and Macau are separate jurisdictions with their own networks — and they don't have the Great Firewall, so Western apps already work there on any plan. If your trip includes Hong Kong or Macau, you'll need a separate plan for those regions, or check the multi-country options in the DataSIM app.

Google Maps works on the eSIM but locations can be slightly offset in China due to a national mapping system China uses for coordinates — this is a quirk of how China handles geographic data, not a problem with the eSIM. For more accurate navigation in China, many travelers also download Apple Maps (which corrects for the offset) or use Baidu Maps as a backup.

Most phones from 2019 onward do — including iPhone XS and later, Google Pixel 3 and later, and recent Samsung Galaxy models. Your phone must be carrier-unlocked. Note: iPhones bought in mainland China don't support eSIM (Apple removed the feature locally), but iPhones from any other country are fine.

Top up instantly in the DataSIM app — top-ups work from inside China since you'd be using your eSIM data to access the app, not a blocked website.