Short answer
For most short trips, a travel eSIM installed before you board is the simplest option: no shop visit, no passport registration, and data from the moment you land. Choose by data allowance and whether the plan routes outside the mainland, then keep your home SIM for calls.
Four options compared
- Travel eSIM: install at home, works on landing, no registration, priced per GB
- Local SIM: cheapest per GB, but needs a passport registration at a shop
- Pocket Wi-Fi: good for a group, another device to charge and carry
- Home roaming: effortless, usually the most expensive per MB
Why it matters more in China than elsewhere
Payments, maps, ride-hailing and ticket entry all assume a working data connection. Hotel Wi-Fi alone leaves you stuck at the moments that matter — in a taxi, at a turnstile, at a counter with a QR code in front of you.
Practical notes
- Install and activate the eSIM at home while you have support and time
- Check your phone is unlocked and eSIM-capable before buying a plan
- Keep the home physical SIM installed for banking SMS
- Download offline maps as a backup regardless of which option you pick
Related guides
More questions answered
Official sources
Policies and booking channels change — check the official channel before you rely on it.