Need a China eSIM before you fly? Start with the three mainland carriers, then compare five unlimited-style options—including hotspot rules and who suits city trips vs. longer stays.

China’s three big carriers

  • China Mobile — widest coverage; usually the safest default, including outskirts.
  • China Unicom — strong in cities; often fine for sightseeing and business trips.
  • China Telecom — check handset compatibility carefully; more options for long stays.

Five eSIM picks (high level)

  • DJB China eSIM — custom day counts, Unicom network, hotspot OK; airport pickup available on some flows.
  • Asia Pacific Telecom — multi-carrier choice; hotspot may lock the plan—read the rules.
  • WaySim — China Mobile focus; hotspot often allowed with device caveats.
  • Flying Voice / similar — manual carrier switch can help weak signal; extensions may be limited.
  • JOYTEL — daily high-speed buckets; roaming IP may block some apps; weaker remote coverage noted.

Hong Kong–China dual cards exist too (Hong Kong IP), usually pricier. For messaging apps behind the firewall, plan VPN / non-blocked data carefully and follow local rules.

FAQ quick hits

  • LINE may need a non-blocked path (home roaming, VPN, or uncensored plans).
  • “Unlimited” often means high-speed quota then throttle.
  • Voice/SMS depends on the specific plan—not all travel eSIMs include local numbers.