ConnectivityPhone & internet
Getting a phone and data
What to use on the way in, what to get once you land, and what to ask at the counter.
Layer 1 · data
A travel eSIM gets you online before you land. It is sold as data only — there is no Chinese number attached to it.
Layer 2 · a Chinese number
A real-name SIM from a Chinese carrier is what banks, payment apps and government services send codes to. Only this layer solves that.
The order that works
- 01
Before you fly: install a travel data eSIM while you still have internet at home. Keep your home SIM for its own codes.
- 02
On arrival: if you need a +86 the same day, head for the one-stop service centre in international arrivals — but check the hours on the airport site that morning.
- 03
Once you have an address: register with the police, then open a proper number at an operator-owned store in the city.
- 04
Before any of this: ask your employer. If HR issues company numbers, everything above is unnecessary.
What each option actually does
| Option | Who it is for | Buy before arrival | +86 | Chinese SMS codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel data eSIMSold as data-only. No Chinese number, so it will not receive Chinese bank verification codes. Install before you fly. | You want maps, translation and your existing apps working the minute you land | Yes | No | No |
| Trip.com / airline bundled eSIMSame product class as above, delivered as a QR code on the booking. Still a data plan, still no +86. | You are already booking flights and hotels in the same place | Yes | No | No |
| Hong Kong / Macau tourist SIMA Hong Kong number is not a mainland number. Do not treat mainland bank verification as solved. | You transit through Hong Kong and want a number there | Yes | HK | No |
| Airport counter, on arrivalPudong and Hongqiao publish a one-stop service centre for foreign nationals. Counter hours vary — check the airport page on the day you fly.Vetting in progress | You need a +86 the same day and you are landing international | No | Yes | Yes |
| Carrier store in the cityReal-name registration at an operator-owned store, in person, with your passport. This is the number banks and government apps expect. | You are staying, and want a number that survives renewal | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mainland carrier eSIMDevice support is narrow and activation is in-store. Do not assume a US eSIM-only phone can be written to a mainland carrier. | Your handset is a China-market model that supports carrier eSIM | No | Yes | Yes |
| Company / HR-issued numberAsk your administration before you queue at the airport. If the company issues one, the airport trip is wasted.Vetting in progress | Japanese and Korean employers in particular often issue one | No | Yes | Yes |
| Roaming on your home planExpensive as a data plan. Keep it as the backup that receives your home bank's codes, not as your data solution. | You only need your home number to keep receiving its own codes | Yes | No | No |
A Chinese number
Real-name registration means you have to open it yourself, in person, with your passport. Nobody can do this for you.
What to bring
- Your passport — the original. Foreign passports are accepted for real-name registration
- Your visa or residence permit, valid on the day. Some stores also ask for an address
- You, in person. The account has to be in your own name
The three carriers
Providers
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