Start your trip off right. Here is the best eSIM for China to stay connected from the moment you land.
I have spent 16 years traveling the world, including places like Cuba where getting online is genuinely difficult. I have navigated confusing airports, unreliable hotel WiFi and phone plans that stopped working the moment I left a major city.
But China felt different. It was intimidating.
Even before I left, I knew this trip would require me to be connected in a way I had never needed before.
Everything in China runs through your phone. Transportation, payments, maps, translation. I kept hearing that in the cities nobody uses cash anymore, and that without apps like Alipay and WeChat you would struggle to pay for things as basic as street fruit or a sit-down dinner.
That is not an exaggeration. It is just how daily life works there.
So I needed to make absolutely sure I had data from the moment I landed. That is what led me to getting Holafly’s eSIM for China. And it is what I would recommend to anyone heading to China for the first time.
Why Use an eSIM in China?
An eSIM is a digital SIM card that lives inside your phone. There is no physical card to buy, insert or lose. You purchase a plan online, receive a QR code by email and scan it to install your eSIM before you even leave home. That is it.
Your phone runs two lines at once: your regular home number still works for calls and texts, and your eSIM handles data while you travel. You can keep your WhatsApp number, stay reachable and have internet access from the moment you land.
Most modern smartphones support eSIMs. iPhones from the XS onward work, as do most recent Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and other Android phones. The one thing to check is that your phone is unlocked. If it is locked to your home carrier, no travel eSIM will work on it.
Why I Used Holafly in China
I visited Beijing and Xi’an on this trip, and one of the first things I needed to do after landing was order a Didi car. Didi is China’s rideshare app, the equivalent of Grab in Southeast Asia or Uber back home.
Without data, you cannot book it. Without booking it, you are standing outside an unfamiliar airport hoping to figure out another way.
With my Holafly eSIM already installed, I turned it on right after we hit the tarmac and had data immediately. No lineup. No kiosk. No handing over my passport to a stranger at an airport counter.
I walked off the plane connected and ready.
I hadn’t used an eSIM in a while before this trip and I had actually forgotten how easy the setup was. Holafly gives you the option to scan a QR code at home in advance, and then all you do is flip it on when you arrive. That is the whole process.
While you are waiting in the immigration line I messaged my Mother to let her know I had landed safely. And once I had my bag I booked a car with Didi, walked out and my driver was where the app said he would be.
This is how a good trip begins.
Why Holafly Specifically
There are a few eSIM providers out there and I have tried more than one. What keeps me coming back to Holafly comes down to a few things: unlimited data, real customer support and a benefit called Always On that I will explain below.
But the bigger picture is that Holafly gives me peace of mind. I do not worry about connectivity when I travel anymore, I can focus on enjoying my holiday.
24/7 Real Human Support
Many people compare prices and speeds but service matters more, especially when you cannot get connected.
In Thailand, I had an issue with a different eSIM provider and contacted their support. I was sitting on a bench next to baggage claim, worried that if I walked further into the airport I might lose the WiFi signal I was relying on to sort things out.
It was 30 minutes of unhelpful back and forth, and finally they suggested I call the local phone company directly to resolve it.
I had to point out that I could not call anyone because I had no phone service, and also that I do not speak Thai.
Holafly has 24/7 support through their website chat and WhatsApp, and it is actual people, not bots.
I have never been told to figure it out myself. For anyone who is not super confident with tech, that is worth a lot.
Unlimited Data
Holafly covers over 200 destinations with unlimited data, including China. They also offer 15+ regional eSIMs and 1 global eSIM covering 110+ destinations, so if your trip extends beyond China or you are combining destinations, one provider has you covered.
For China specifically, unlimited data is not just convenient. It is essential.
I used my phone constantly in Beijing and Xi’an. Google Maps, translation apps, Alipay, WeChat, booking transportation, checking hours, posting photos. And because everything is done on your phone in China, a data cap would have caused real problems.
With Holafly I just used my phone. No counting, no rationing, no worrying about running out on day four of a ten-day trip.
There are no hidden costs either. The price you see when you buy is the price you pay.
Using Holafly as a Hotspot in China
This ended up being one of the most useful things about Holafly on this trip.
I brought my laptop to China and I had a VPN installed. But in Xi’an it failed more than a few times and I could not access the sites I needed.
Rather than wrestling with the hotel WiFi, I just used my Holafly eSIM as a hotspot and connected my laptop through that. It worked without any issues.
The data signal was also strong where I did not expect it to be. Even deep underground in the Beijing metro, where I needed to use my phone to pay for tickets, I had a reliable connection.
Always On: 1 GB Backup Every Month
This is the best benefit I never knew I needed until I had it.
Once you install your Holafly eSIM, Always On activates automatically. Every month, you get 1 GB of backup data with global coverage, including China. You do not have to do anything to get it. It is just there.
Think about what that covers: a flight delay, a long layover, a last-minute change of plans where you end up somewhere you did not expect to be.
Not every airport offers free WiFi. Your eSIM plan might have ended but Always On keeps you connected. You can message someone, pull up a map, check a booking, call for help. It is a safety net that runs in the background.
Holafly Plans: Monthly Coverage for Frequent Travelers
If you travel frequently throughout the year, Holafly also offers monthly subscription plans. These cover over 160 destinations with one eSIM and include hotspot capabilities on the unlimited plans.
You stay connected wherever you go without buying a new eSIM for every trip.
Is China a Good Place to Use an eSIM?
Yes, and more than that, it is the kind of destination where having reliable data is not optional.
China has strong mobile coverage across the country, particularly in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an and Chengdu, where 4G and 5G networks are fast and widely available. Holafly connects to premium local networks so you get solid speeds wherever you are.
One thing worth knowing before you go: many apps and websites that you use at home are blocked in China.
This includes WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube and Google.
A lot of travelers try to get around this with a VPN, but VPNs can be unreliable in China and mine failed on me more than once in Xi’an.
With Holafly I did not have that problem. My phone worked exactly as it does at home. I could use WhatsApp to stay in touch with family, access my usual apps and get my work done. That alone made a significant difference to how the trip felt.
How to Install Your Holafly eSIM for China
This is the part that worries people most and I promise it is simpler than you think. The whole installation takes about two minutes. And if you purchase and then your plans change, Holafly offers a six-month refund policy, so there is no risk in buying early. Here is exactly what to do:
Step 1: Check your phone is eSIM compatible and unlocked. You can visit Holafly to check your device. If your phone is locked to your home carrier, contact them to unlock it before you travel.
Step 2: Buy your plan. Go to esim.holafly.com or download the Holafly app. Choose how many days you need for China and complete your purchase. Use the code BACON at checkout to get 5% off your eSIM, or 10% off Holafly Plans for the first 12 months.
Step 3: Install your eSIM at home before you leave. You will get a QR code by email within minutes. Go to your phone settings and scan it. The whole process takes about a minute. Do this at home on your own WiFi, not at the airport.
Step 4: Do not activate it yet. Once installed, leave your eSIM ready but not active until you land. When your plane touches down, go into your settings, switch on the Holafly line and make sure data roaming is enabled for that line.
Step 5: Walk off the plane with data. That is it. You are connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use WhatsApp and my regular apps in China with Holafly? Yes. This is one of the biggest advantages of Holafly in China. Holafly has a built-in VPN that’s why you are able to use all apps as usual. Apps that are normally blocked in China, including WhatsApp, work through your Holafly eSIM. You do not need a VPN.
Can I use Holafly as a hotspot in China? Yes. Holafly’s China plans include hotspot capabilities, so you can share your connection with a laptop or another device. Both the Light and Unlimited version have hotspot capability with Light offering 25gb, and the Unlimited is unlimited hotspot usage. I used this regularly in Xi’an when the hotel WiFi was not reliable.
Can I keep my regular phone number? Yes. Your home SIM stays in your phone. Holafly is a data-only eSIM, so you still receive calls and texts on your regular number while using Holafly for internet.
What if I need help installing it? Holafly’s support team is available 24/7 via website chat and WhatsApp. They can walk you through the installation step by step.
Can I buy a plan at the last minute? Yes. You receive your QR code by email within minutes of purchasing. That said, I always recommend installing it at home the day before you fly so you are not doing it on airport WiFi on a tired brain.
Is my phone compatible? Most iPhones from the XS onward and recent Android phones from Samsung, Google Pixel and others support eSIMs. Visit esim.holafly.com to check your specific device.
What is the difference between a regular plan and Holafly Plans? A regular Holafly eSIM is purchased per trip with a set number of days. Holafly Plans is a monthly subscription that gives you continuous coverage in 160+ destinations with one eSIM, which is ideal if you travel frequently throughout the year.
Getting set up with a Holafly eSIM before your China trip takes about five minutes and removes one of the biggest sources of travel stress before it even starts. Use code BACON on Holafly’s website for your discount and step off the plane already connected.
This post is in partnership with Holafly, an eSIM I have used in many destinations and am happy to recommend.