SIM for Cell Phone in China
Oct 15, 2016, 1:51 pm
#346
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
actually, that is exactly what i meant 
because getting a sim card at 5AM at PEK wont be that easy, let alone a HK one, so I was hoping to land with a SIM in hand.
I found at least 2 stores who have sell the China mobile (HK) data only sim card, Unicom HK I did not find, plus delivery wont be that easy for me since I will be there for 2 nights at a hotel:
http://www.trusling.com/prepaid-sim-...-hongkong.html
https://www.ksonline.sg/products.php...d=272&cat_id=4
1,5 GB for 26SGD (17 euros) sound fair to me
because getting a sim card at 5AM at PEK wont be that easy, let alone a HK one, so I was hoping to land with a SIM in hand.I found at least 2 stores who have sell the China mobile (HK) data only sim card, Unicom HK I did not find, plus delivery wont be that easy for me since I will be there for 2 nights at a hotel:
http://www.trusling.com/prepaid-sim-...-hongkong.html
https://www.ksonline.sg/products.php...d=272&cat_id=4
1,5 GB for 26SGD (17 euros) sound fair to me
Oct 15, 2016, 5:25 pm
#348
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,991
Oct 19, 2016, 10:28 am
#349
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,096
The vendors outside Sheung Shui station still have placards offering one-card two-number SIMs. Don't know about pricing.
As to regular Mainland SIMs, the Chinese government is carrying though with its threat to cut-off unregistered cards. For China Mobile in Beijing, the cutoff was this week.
As to regular Mainland SIMs, the Chinese government is carrying though with its threat to cut-off unregistered cards. For China Mobile in Beijing, the cutoff was this week.
Last edited by 889; Oct 19, 2016 at 10:34 am
Oct 19, 2016, 3:01 pm
#350
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,654
The vendors outside Sheung Shui station still have placards offering one-card two-number SIMs. Don't know about pricing.
As to regular Mainland SIMs, the Chinese government is carrying though with its threat to cut-off unregistered cards. For China Mobile in Beijing, the cutoff was this week.
As to regular Mainland SIMs, the Chinese government is carrying though with its threat to cut-off unregistered cards. For China Mobile in Beijing, the cutoff was this week.
Is it still possible to buy unregistered SIM cards at PEK, PVG, etc.? They always had people at a small kiosk near the PEK T3 exit who would sell you SIM cards (probably at tourist prices but you could get them for cash with no questions asked).
Oct 19, 2016, 4:04 pm
#351
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: C2, BTS, VIE
Programs: A3 *G, AA Exec Plat Pro, Accor Silver, IHG Plat, HH Diamond, PP
Posts: 321
The general idea i understand is to prefer HK SIMs opposed to Mainland ones, because there no firewall censorship on the HK SIMs, is that still correct?
Oct 19, 2016, 4:35 pm
#352
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,654
Oct 28, 2016, 10:28 pm
#353
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,654
There does exist a 4G version of the cross border SIM cards. Ordered this a few weeks ago and got it this week: https://www.amazon.com/China-Unicom-...dp/B01LXBV2WE/
Unlike the other cross border SIM cards though, this one apparently only has a HK number. Instead of free incoming calls, incoming calls cost HK$0.45/min; the tradeoff is that unlike the Cross Border King Dual Extra, which has a HK$18/month fee, this one only has fees of HK$6/month.
It's good as long as activated before the end of next year and I'm almost certain to go back to China before then.
Unlike the other cross border SIM cards though, this one apparently only has a HK number. Instead of free incoming calls, incoming calls cost HK$0.45/min; the tradeoff is that unlike the Cross Border King Dual Extra, which has a HK$18/month fee, this one only has fees of HK$6/month.
It's good as long as activated before the end of next year and I'm almost certain to go back to China before then.
Jun 15, 2023, 12:34 am
#354
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,232
Hmm. This is the only thread that is on point for my China prepaid SIM card question...
The last time I was on the Mainland was in 2017 BC (before covid), Back then I could go to a local shop and purchase a prepaid SIM. All I needed to do was bring my passport so they could take down the particulars.
Now it's 2023 and was wondering how much more is involved in purchasing a prepaid SIM, if you're still even allowed to? This will be for several months and will be in Guangzhou. Thoughts?
TIA
The last time I was on the Mainland was in 2017 BC (before covid), Back then I could go to a local shop and purchase a prepaid SIM. All I needed to do was bring my passport so they could take down the particulars.
Now it's 2023 and was wondering how much more is involved in purchasing a prepaid SIM, if you're still even allowed to? This will be for several months and will be in Guangzhou. Thoughts?
TIA
Jun 15, 2023, 1:29 am
#355
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,991
Hmm. This is the only thread that is on point for my China prepaid SIM card question...
The last time I was on the Mainland was in 2017 BC (before covid), Back then I could go to a local shop and purchase a prepaid SIM. All I needed to do was bring my passport so they could take down the particulars.
Now it's 2023 and was wondering how much more is involved in purchasing a prepaid SIM, if you're still even allowed to? This will be for several months and will be in Guangzhou. Thoughts?
TIA
The last time I was on the Mainland was in 2017 BC (before covid), Back then I could go to a local shop and purchase a prepaid SIM. All I needed to do was bring my passport so they could take down the particulars.
Now it's 2023 and was wondering how much more is involved in purchasing a prepaid SIM, if you're still even allowed to? This will be for several months and will be in Guangzhou. Thoughts?
TIA
-The real ID requirement sort of spoiled the pre-paid SIM business
-I think you will need to go to a Moblie/Telecom/Unicom store
-The good news is that cell phone rates are very cheap now, and you can easily add minutes or data via Ali/Wx
-I haven't used a true post-paid account during the past 5 years; now we can downgrade or suspend at any time
Jun 15, 2023, 9:47 am
#357
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MM, SQ KrisFlyer, SPG/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,232
One of my friends told me that the last time he went back, he had to go to a company customer service center, and he was asked to record a statement saying that he wouldn't use his phone for things that the government didn't want you to do in addition to the passport thing. I thought that was kind of weird.
Jun 15, 2023, 12:34 pm
#358
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 41,991
Since it's necessary to visit a service center in order to use your SIM, why not buy the SIM from the service center as well?
Jun 15, 2023, 2:40 pm
#359
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: Marriott Titanium (Lifetime Gold), Caesars Diamond
Posts: 1,392
One of my friends told me that the last time he went back, he had to go to a company customer service center, and he was asked to record a statement saying that he wouldn't use his phone for things that the government didn't want you to do in addition to the passport thing. I thought that was kind of weird.
Your phone number is strongly linked to your identity in China. In other places they take down the passport data but the link is not so strong.
Jun 16, 2023, 12:30 am
#360
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,874
I'm not entirely sure if this is still the case, but back before 2020 there were certain starter packs with special offers or plans that could only be purchased from smaller stores and not directly from carrier service shops. That being said, I haven't gone looking since then (back then I'd keep an eye on these things even though I'd kept the same China Mobile number since 2006 because I'd volunteer to help exchange students with phone service every year).