Prices in pounds · Three prices checked 6 November 2026
Three roaming in China vs a travel eSIM
In China, Three uses its Go Roam Around the World Extra prices. Here is what that costs for a long weekend, a week and a fortnight, next to a data-only travel eSIM for the same trip.
صورة: Aaron Katz on Unsplash
Three vs eSIM in China: 3, 7 and 14 days
Three’s lowest published option in China for each trip length, next to a Graba SIM China plan with about 0.7 GB a day.
- 3 days
- 7 days
- 14 days
Three roamingGraba SIM eSIM
| Trip | Three | Graba SIM eSIM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| A long weekend3 days | £17.503-day pass | £7.253GB, 15 days | The eSIM is £10.25 less |
| A week7 days | £42.007-day pass | £10.995GB, 30 days | The eSIM is £31.01 less |
| A fortnight14 days | £82.255-day pass + 3 × 3-day passes | £21.7510GB, 30 days | The eSIM is £60.50 less |
What’s included: Three: your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data. Graba SIM: data only, prepaid; your Three SIM stays in your phone for calls and texts. Graba SIM prices are live; Three prices checked 6 November 2026.
Sources: Three roaming (checked 6 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Graba SIM China plans: data, validity and total price
Each plan is a one-off price for one eSIM. It starts when it first connects in China, and hotspot use comes out of the same data.
Using your phone in China
- PEK Beijing Capital
- PKX Beijing Daxing
- PVG Shanghai Pudong
- SHA Shanghai Hongqiao
- CAN Guangzhou
- Beijing and the Great Wall
- Good in the city; the popular wall sections such as Mutianyu are covered, wilder sections less so.
- Shanghai
- Strong signal across the city and on the metro.
- Xi’an
- Good in the city and at the Terracotta Army site.
- Guilin and Yangshuo
- Good in town; Li River cruises pass through quieter stretches.
- High-speed rail
- Signal is good on most bullet train routes.
Networks our China plans use: China MobileChina UnicomChina Telecom
- Set up the apps you will need before you fly: payment apps such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, plus maps and translation. Both payment apps let you add a foreign card.
- Hong Kong and Macau are separate destinations. A China plan may not include them, so check the coverage list if you are stopping there.
Going further with Three
- Hong Kong (a stopover in Hong Kong): Three charges £8 a day (Go Roam Around the World).
- Macau (a day trip to Macau): Three charges £8 a day (Go Roam Around the World).
What you get for the money
Three Go Roam Around the World Extra
- £8 a day if you joined or upgraded on or after 18 December 2025; £7 a day if you joined between October 2021 and December 2025.
- Unlocks your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data a month.
- Three only charges on days you use your phone, but your Spend Cap has to be high enough to cover the daily charge or pass, or roaming can stop.
Graba SIM China eSIM
- 5 plan sizes for China, from 1GB, 7 days to 20GB, 30 days, each a one-off price.
- Runs on China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom in China, with 5G where the network offers it.
- Data only. Your Three SIM stays on for calls and texts, so bank codes still reach you in China.
Three in China: questions
How much does Three roaming cost in China?
£8 a day in Go Roam Around the World Extra (£7 on plans from 2021 to 2025), or £42 for a 7-day pass. Unlocks your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data. For a trip, that is 3 days: £17.50 (3-day pass); 7 days: £42.00 (7-day pass); 14 days: £82.25 (5-day pass + 3 × 3-day passes).
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than Three in China?
It depends on the trip. Comparing Three’s lowest published option with a Graba SIM plan of about 0.7 GB a day: 3 days, the eSIM is £10.25 less; 7 days, the eSIM is £31.01 less; 14 days, the eSIM is £60.50 less. Three’s price also includes your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data.
Will I need a Chinese phone number?
Not for most travel. The plan is data-only, and your UK number keeps receiving texts. Some local services ask for a Chinese number, so set up payment apps before you go.
Does a China eSIM cover Hong Kong?
Not always. Hong Kong and Macau have their own networks and are listed separately. Check the plan’s coverage list, or add a Hong Kong plan for a stopover.