Jul 11, 2024, 10:03 pm
Last edit by: gudugan
Overview
This thread covers information on using cell phones and accessing the internet in China, with a focus on mobile data and SIM cards. The scope is broad and flexible, allowing for updates and additions by members who have been around for more than 90 days. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask them in new posts within the thread.
1. Buying a SIM Card in China
Members who have been part of the forum for over 90 days can update this post with new details or relevant links, but lets try to prevent it from becoming a Frankenstein. The structure of the post is designed to remain timeless, with core information that is unlikely to change.
This thread covers information on using cell phones and accessing the internet in China, with a focus on mobile data and SIM cards. The scope is broad and flexible, allowing for updates and additions by members who have been around for more than 90 days. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask them in new posts within the thread.
1. Buying a SIM Card in China
- Current Requirements: SIM cards must now be registered directly with network operators: China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom.
- Registration Process:
- Where to Buy: Larger stores of the network operators can register new SIMs. Smaller stores may not have this capability, so it's advisable to check before visiting.
- Region "Lock": A SIM card may be locked to a specific region (e.g. Beijing, Shanghai, Sichuan) and you may only be able to get help in stores in that region. You may also receive data that is locked to that region, and additional data that can be used countrywide. Get the SIM card in the region where you travel the most frequently.
- Required Documents: A passport is typically sufficient for registration.
- Choosing a Plan: You may need to select a card type and a plan. Be careful that if you stop paying the SIM card, they may suspend or cancel your service. There are cheap plans (e.g., Y10 per month) that are meant for keeping the number long term; however, they may not be readily offered so be sure to ask.
- Service Passcode (服务密码): This is a six digit code you get when opening a new account, often sent by SMS. Resetting it later is possible but pretty annoying, perhaps not possible to do over the app if you don't have a Chinese ID card (身份证). Make sure you write this down.
- Payment Methods:
- WeChat and Alipay: These are the easiest methods for transferring money to your SIM account or purchasing data blocks.
- Roaming: The SIM you use in your home country probably supports roaming in China, but you might need to activate roaming and possibly select a specific plan. This can be expensive but isn't always, and it is the best option for many people, especially those on shorter duration trips.
- Travel-Specific SIMs and eSIMs: Buying SIMs and eSIMs tailored for travel is a popular strategy. These options often provide better rates and convenience for travelers.
- Network Access: If you roam on your own SIM, your network access will be the same as it is in your home country. Using a local SIM or most WiFi networks in China will restrict you to China's internet (i.e., no Google, Facebook, X, etc.).
- VPN Usage: While it's possible to get by without these services in China, if you want to access them on a local data connection or most WiFi networks, you should look into a VPN. For more detailed information, please refer to the dedicated VPN thread https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/chin...vpn-china.html
Members who have been part of the forum for over 90 days can update this post with new details or relevant links, but lets try to prevent it from becoming a Frankenstein. The structure of the post is designed to remain timeless, with core information that is unlikely to change.
SIM for Cell Phone in China
Jun 1, 2010 | 9:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 15
SIM for Cell Phone in China
I'll be travelling to various areas in mainland China next week. I have a blackberry 8830 world edition with an unlocked (according to Sprint) GSM. I was planning on getting a World Data Plan Pkg from Sprint for the 2 weeks I'm travelling which should get me access to emails.
However instead of using $2/min voice, I was thinking of purchasing China SIM. Does anyone have any information on SIMs, where purchased, how much, $/min, etc?
There is a China travel site that lists a price of $29 for the SIM which includeds $8 talk time and can be delivered to hotel. Rates back to US are $0.38/min. A contact in China says SIM rate is usually $1.20/min.
However instead of using $2/min voice, I was thinking of purchasing China SIM. Does anyone have any information on SIMs, where purchased, how much, $/min, etc?
There is a China travel site that lists a price of $29 for the SIM which includeds $8 talk time and can be delivered to hotel. Rates back to US are $0.38/min. A contact in China says SIM rate is usually $1.20/min.
Jun 1, 2010 | 10:05 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,372
I suggest you buy a SIM on the street. The cost should be around y50. Rates are a bit south of y1/minute; there are many different plans and pricing formulas, including free incoming/roaming.
Jun 1, 2010 | 5:50 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Tri-State Area
Posts: 4,728
I can see you didn't look very hard or use the search function?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ard-china.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ard-china.html
Jun 1, 2010 | 6:06 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: New England
Programs: UA 1K / HH Diamond
Posts: 239
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)
Don't get in the States via the net. You can get them in the airport when you landed. Either China Mobile or China Unicom. Half the price than your 29 USD at least.
One thing though, if you callIng international, it won't be cheaper than your 2usd/min
Don't get in the States via the net. You can get them in the airport when you landed. Either China Mobile or China Unicom. Half the price than your 29 USD at least.
One thing though, if you callIng international, it won't be cheaper than your 2usd/min
Jun 1, 2010 | 7:22 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 15
I can see you didn't look very hard or use the search function?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ard-china.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...ard-china.html
Jun 1, 2010 | 11:53 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,372
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)
Don't get in the States via the net. You can get them in the airport when you landed. Either China Mobile or China Unicom. Half the price than your 29 USD at least.
One thing though, if you callIng international, it won't be cheaper than your 2usd/min
Don't get in the States via the net. You can get them in the airport when you landed. Either China Mobile or China Unicom. Half the price than your 29 USD at least.
One thing though, if you callIng international, it won't be cheaper than your 2usd/min
Jun 2, 2010 | 8:31 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: LH, DL
Posts: 1,757
Best thing to do is to go to a newsstand or small shop on most streets (will sell cigarettes, soft drinks and all kinds of little things) and say sim - ka.
If not (ie you dont' feel like it, or are intimidated), check into the hotel and ask the front desk and concierge to help you and if there is a place nearby where you can buy one. Say you want a local sim card and could they help you. Just to make sure, say you want a card like theirs. Should be simple.
The instructions (at least for China Mobile) if I remember correctly should be in Chinese, so if you're stumbling with that, once again the front desk and concierge should be happy to help. Very simple stuff. No need to worry about it.
If not (ie you dont' feel like it, or are intimidated), check into the hotel and ask the front desk and concierge to help you and if there is a place nearby where you can buy one. Say you want a local sim card and could they help you. Just to make sure, say you want a card like theirs. Should be simple.
The instructions (at least for China Mobile) if I remember correctly should be in Chinese, so if you're stumbling with that, once again the front desk and concierge should be happy to help. Very simple stuff. No need to worry about it.
Jun 2, 2010 | 2:53 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,372
There are prepend numbers that get the rates down to around y2 per minute, and even the highest rates to the US (no difference in call quality, as far as I can tell) aren't much more than a dollar per minute.
Jun 4, 2010 | 10:13 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,946
Do be aware, though, that some SIM cards charge more for usage outside the "home" area (i.e. the city/province it was purchased in). If you're traveling a lot go into a carrier shop (either China Mobile or China Unicom) and ask for a SIM with discounted roaming (in China the concept of "domestic roaming" still exists) or a nation-wide rate package.
Jun 4, 2010 | 2:15 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,372
Do be aware, though, that some SIM cards charge more for usage outside the "home" area (i.e. the city/province it was purchased in). If you're traveling a lot go into a carrier shop (either China Mobile or China Unicom) and ask for a SIM with discounted roaming (in China the concept of "domestic roaming" still exists) or a nation-wide rate package.
Jun 6, 2010 | 12:18 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, SPG/Marriott Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 180
Also interested in data
Hey Everyone,
I'm also looking for info on a Chinese SIM card, but I also really need one with a data feature (3G, EDGE or GPRS....anything will do).
I did a little research on the offerings from China mobile, but if I understood correctly, it seems that the prepaid cards with the data plan are not effective until the first day of the next month after you purchased the card. Does anyone know anything about this?
If someone can recommend a particular card that includes both voice and data, I would appreciate it.
I'm also looking for info on a Chinese SIM card, but I also really need one with a data feature (3G, EDGE or GPRS....anything will do).
I did a little research on the offerings from China mobile, but if I understood correctly, it seems that the prepaid cards with the data plan are not effective until the first day of the next month after you purchased the card. Does anyone know anything about this?
If someone can recommend a particular card that includes both voice and data, I would appreciate it.
Jun 12, 2010 | 10:46 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,540
In my own research, I saw there is a 98 RMB 3G pre-pay plan from China Unicom that requires a passport and isn't available at all China Unicom offices. I didn't get a chance to test this out.