Will Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work in China?
Over these eSIMs, usually yes: they route your data outside mainland China, as each plan’s internet location shows. On Chinese hotel Wi-Fi those apps are often blocked.
Prices in pounds · for UK travellers
eSIM for China from the UK
Beijing, Shanghai or Xi’an? See how a travel eSIM handles China’s internet rules, what UK networks charge there and the price in pounds.
Photo: Aaron Katz on Unsplash
- QR code by emailinstall before you fly
- Keep your UK numberdata-only eSIM
- 24/7 live chatin the Graba SIM app
- Pay your way
Before you buy: straight answers
Do I need a Chinese number for Alipay or WeChat Pay?
No. Both let you sign up with a UK number and a foreign card. Set them up at home before you fly.
Does it cover Hong Kong and Macau?
Not always. They are separate destinations, so check the plan’s coverage list if you are stopping over.
What your trip to China costs
Set your trip length and how you use your phone. eSIM bars are data-only plans that cover the whole trip; UK network bars use your UK allowance and include calls and texts. EE and Vodafone don’t publish a price for China that we can check, so they aren’t charted.
Sources: O2 roaming (checked 6 November 2026) · Three roaming (checked 6 November 2026) · Airalo fixed-data plans (checked 9 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
China eSIM
How long is your trip?
Pick the trip that sounds most like yours. Every plan is data only, paid once, with no contract.
Prices in GBP
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questionsWe’ll show the maths behind our suggestion.
Swipe to compare plans
On every plan here
- Uses China Mobile, with 5G where available
- Starts when you first connect, so you can install it before you fly
- QR code by emailInstall it in minutes
- Keep your numberData only, your SIM stays in
- 24/7 live chatIn the Graba SIM app
- Pay onceNo contract, guest checkout
More options
Other sizes for different kinds of trip.
- Long weekend1GB · 7 days£2.75
- Light month5GB · 30 days£10.99
- Heavy use50GB · 30 days£92.50
- Long stay50GB · 180 days£118.50
Only need a day?
A day pass gives you full-speed data for one day, then slower data for the rest of the day.
500MB to 10GB a day
From £1.99
See day passesHow we choose these plans
For each trip we pick the current plan that costs the least while lasting the whole trip and gives about 0.3 to 0.7 GB a day, enough for maps, messages and social media. A plan may last longer than the trip. Everyone uses data differently, so check your phone’s recent data use. “Best value” only appears when that plan also costs the least per GB of all the plans that fit.
Which apps work in China on this eSIM?
Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube are blocked on local Chinese networks and SIM cards. This eSIM’s data joins the internet outside mainland China, so they open as normal. Most of our China plans join the internet in Hong Kong; check the internet location on the plan you choose.
- Google MapsWorks
- WhatsAppWorks
- InstagramWorks
- TikTokTikTok isn’t available in Hong Kong
- SnapchatWorks
- WeChatWorks
- YouTubeShows the catalogue for the internet location
- ChatGPTOpenAI doesn’t offer ChatGPT in Hong Kong
- GeminiGoogle doesn’t offer Gemini in Hong Kong
- NetflixShows the catalogue for the internet location
Arriving in China
- PEK Beijing Capital
- PKX Beijing Daxing
- PVG Shanghai Pudong
- SHA Shanghai Hongqiao
- CAN Guangzhou
- SZX Shenzhen
- TFU Chengdu Tianfu
- XIY Xi’an
Signal where people go
- 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
These plans route your data through Hong Kong and Singapore, outside mainland China, as shown on each plan. That is why apps such as Google Maps and WhatsApp, which don’t work on Chinese Wi-Fi, usually keep working over a roaming eSIM.
Your UK network in China
China is outside the EU, so Europe roaming deals on UK plans don’t cover it. What each network publishes for China, and a week of it:
| Network | What it charges | 7 days | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
 EE | Varies by plan EE doesn’t publish one price for every country: it prices roaming by destination, plan and start date. Check EE’s roaming tool for China. | No published price | EE roaming |
| O2 | O2 Travel £7 a day with the O2 Travel Bolt On: unlimited calls, texts and data, at up to 2 Mbps. | £49.00£7 a day × 7 | O2 in China vs eSIM |
| Vodafone | Check Vodafone Check what Vodafone charges in China in its roaming charge checker. Its European roaming passes only cover Zone B. | No published price | Vodafone roaming |
 Three | Go Roam Around the World Extra £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. | £42.007-day pass | Three in China vs eSIM |
Sources: EE (checked 29 October 2026) · O2 (checked 6 November 2026) · Vodafone (checked 29 October 2026) · Three (checked 6 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Graba SIM vs Airalo: the same plans, side by side
Plans with exactly the same data allowance and validity for China, both data-only and priced in pounds. Coverage and networks can differ, so check the plan details before you buy.
Highlighted: the lower price for each plan. Holafly sells unlimited data only, priced in US dollars, so it isn’t in this like-for-like table.
Sources: Airalo fixed-data plans (checked 9 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Compare prices for China
Know before you go
- 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.
- Hotel and café Wi-Fi in China runs through mainland China’s internet, so some apps you use at home may not work on it.
Crossing a border from China?
A China plan covers China only. This is what your UK network charges next door:
| Going on to | O2 | Three | Vodafone | eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Konga stopover in Hong Kong | £7 a day | £8 a day (Go Roam Around the World) | Check Vodafone | Hong Kong plans |
| Macaua day trip to Macau | Standard rates | £8 a day (Go Roam Around the World) | Check Vodafone | Macau plans |
Set it up before you fly
- Check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM on our compatibility page.
- Install the plan at home on Wi-Fi with our iPhone or Android guide.
- When you land at Beijing Capital, switch mobile data to the eSIM and turn on data roaming for it only.
Questions about China
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.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming in China?
For a week with about 0.7 GB a day, the Graba SIM 5GB, 30 days plan costs £10.99, less than each published UK network option for China (the lowest is Three at £42.00). UK network prices include calls and texts; the eSIM is data only.
What do UK networks charge in China?
EE: EE doesn’t publish one price for every country: it prices roaming by destination, plan and start date. Check EE’s roaming tool for China. O2: £7 a day with the O2 Travel Bolt On: unlimited calls, texts and data, at up to 2 Mbps. Vodafone: Check what Vodafone charges in China in its roaming charge checker. Its European roaming passes only cover Zone B. Three: £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.
What if something goes wrong?
Live chat in the Graba SIM app is open 24/7. Email and contact-form requests are answered Monday to Friday.
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