How much eSIM data for a trip in China?
✓ Prices checked 22 Oct 2026For 14 days in China with normal daily use, TripUtils estimates 6–9 GB. A 10 GB plan is the usual buffer. Not a live price. Maps, translation and messaging fit normal use — in China the bigger question is routing, not GB. Install the eSIM before you fly; Saily lists China Telecom and China Unicom as its networks, and its China plan does not cover Hong Kong or Macau.
Photo: Van Anh Nguyen / PexelsTravel essentials in China
The four things that save the most money or hassle before you go.
eSIM for China
Mobile data in China from the moment you land, instead of costly roaming. Install before you fly.
See Saily plans →Airport transfer
Pre-book a ride from the airport to your stay – or compare with a taxi or public transport on arrival.
Find a transfer →Tours & tickets
Attractions, tours and activities in China – compare prices on more than one site.
Browse Klook →Flight delayed?
3+ hours late or cancelled? Up to €600 per passenger under EU261, depending on distance.
Check claim (AirHelp) →Affiliate links: TripUtils may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure. TripUtils does not show live prices.
What to do next
EU roaming does not cover China. A 10 GB plan is the usual buffer. Open Saily and pick a live China plan.
Saily plans for China — snapshot
As listed on saily.com on 22 Oct 2026, in US dollars. Prices change; the live price is on Saily.
| Data | Valid | Price (as listed) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | US$4.49 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | US$10.99 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | US$15.99 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | US$26.99 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | US$39.99 |
Saily also lists unlimited plans for China; the price depends on the number of days.
For 14 days at 6–9 GB (10 GB planning size), the smallest listed plan that fits is 10 GB for 30 days (US$26.99 on 22 Oct 2026).
7, 14 or 30 days at a glance
Roaming in China on an Austrian plan: what A1 and Drei charge
China is outside EU roam-like-at-home, so the EU data in an Austrian plan does not apply there. Published prices, checked on 22 Oct 2026 (euros incl. VAT):
| Network | Option | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Roaming Pass (Zone 2) | per started GB | €5.90 |
| Drei | Roaming-Paket Go | 1 GB, 15 days | €5.00 |
| Drei | Roaming-Paket Go Select | 5 GB, 15 days | €10.00 |
For the 10 GB planning size (14 days), A1’s Roaming Pass would bill 10 × €5.90 = €59.00; on Drei, 2 packages (Go Select + Go Select) cover it for €20.00. A1 says the Roaming Pass is switched on automatically for every tariff signed since 24 June 2026, and it blocks roaming data at a default limit of €60, which you can raise yourself.
Magenta prices depend on the tariff — look them up in Magenta’s roaming finder. Older tariffs without these options can cost more. Sources: A1, Drei, Magenta.
Paying in China: Chinese yuan (renminbi) (CNY)
In China you pay in CNY, not euros. For a euro account, card payments and ATM withdrawals in CNY are foreign-currency transactions: many banks add a foreign-transaction fee or a marked-up exchange rate. Check your bank's fee list before you go. If a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in euros instead of CNY, choosing CNY is usually cheaper, because otherwise the merchant's or ATM operator's rate applies.
Compare card, ATM and cash for your own amounts: money calculator.
Cards for foreign currency
Multi-currency account often used for travel spend. Check live card and ATM fees on Wise before you apply.
Some links may be affiliate links. Commissions do not change calculator results. See the affiliate disclosure. Affiliate disclosure.
Planning size
| Habits | 14-day range | Planning size |
|---|---|---|
| Normal (maps, messages, social) | 6–9 GB | 10 GB |
| Normal + daily video | 14–21 GB | 30 GB |
Will Google and WhatsApp work on a China eSIM?
It depends on how the plan routes data, not on the eSIM itself. China’s tourism ministry says Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp are not directly accessible in China. Home-network roaming and some travel eSIMs get around this because the data leaves mainland China through a gateway abroad. A Chinese SIM card or hotel Wi‑Fi does not.
For Saily specifically, its own China page (checked 18 Oct 2026) says Google and Instagram work through the app’s virtual-location feature and that WhatsApp needs a VPN. So treat blanket “no VPN needed” claims with care: install a VPN you trust before departure as a backup and test WhatsApp on your first day.
Before you fly to China
- Buy and install the eSIM at home. Saily says its app may be hard to reach inside China and that you cannot buy an eSIM once you are there.
- Check your phone: Saily notes that devices sold in mainland China do not support eSIM. Its China plan does not cover Hong Kong or Macau, which are separate destinations.
- Keep your home SIM switched on for bank and login codes — most travel eSIMs are data-only.
- Hotel and café Wi‑Fi is filtered and often sends its login code to a Chinese number, so plan on mobile data.
- Coverage is strongest in the big cities; Saily says Tibet and Xinjiang may be slower or less consistent.
Assumptions and sources
Light 0.20 / normal 0.50 / heavy 0.95 GB per day, plus optional extras, plus about 20% buffer. No live retail prices.
Chinese New Year and Golden Week (1–7 October) are China’s busiest domestic travel periods; trains and hotels fill up, data use does not change.
Sources (checked on the date shown):
- Saily: eSIM for China (plan list) (2026-10-22)
- Travel China (Ministry of Culture and Tourism): SIM Cards & Networks (2026-10-18)
- What Works in China: Can I use my phone in China? (2026-10-18)
- The Canberra Times: China travel – how to use Google, WhatsApp and secure your banking (2026-10-18)
- WorldStandards: plug, socket & voltage by country (2026-10-18)
These are planning ranges, not live prices.
Regional plans and guides
China is also covered by these Saily regional plans: Asia and Oceania (22 countries), Global (121 countries).
Guides: Best eSIM for China · Set up an eSIM on iPhone/Android
Plan the trip: transfers and things to do in China
After landing: pre-book a transfer from the airport or use a taxi or public transport on arrival. For tours and tickets in China, compare prices on more than one site – TripUtils has not checked these offers and does not rank them by price.
Airport transfer
Pre-booked airport and city transfers: you see the price for the route and car type before you book.
Some links may be affiliate links. Commissions do not change calculator results. See the affiliate disclosure. Affiliate disclosure.
Tours and tickets in China
Tours, tickets, day trips and local transport passes; strong range in Asia. Search your city – the offer differs by place.
Mobile tickets for museums and attractions. Search your city – not every sight is listed.
Self-guided audio tours on your phone. Search your city – coverage differs by place.
Some links may be affiliate links. Commissions do not change calculator results. See the affiliate disclosure. Affiliate disclosure.
Flight delayed or cancelled? Flight delay compensation (EU261)
Common questions
Is 10 GB enough for 14 days in China?
Maps, translation and messaging fit normal use — in China the bigger question is routing, not GB. Install the eSIM before you fly; Saily lists China Telecom and China Unicom as its networks, and its China plan does not cover Hong Kong or Macau. The 6–9 GB estimate plus buffer lands on 10 GB. Hotel Wi‑Fi is not counted. Streaming video on mobile is the usual reason to go larger.
Should I roam in China instead?
China is not EU roaming. Home-network roaming usually sends data back through your own carrier, which is why blocked apps often work on it — but day passes are charged per day. Type your A1, Magenta or 3 fee and compare it with an eSIM quote.
Do I need a VPN in China with an eSIM?
On Saily, according to its own China FAQ: not for Google or Instagram if you use the virtual-location feature, but yes for WhatsApp. On hotel or café Wi‑Fi you need a VPN for blocked apps whatever SIM you use. Install it before you travel, because some VPN apps are not in Chinese app stores.
Does a China eSIM work in Hong Kong and Macau?
Not the Saily China plan. Saily lists Hong Kong and Macau as separate destinations, so add the matching plan if your trip includes them.
Can I buy the eSIM after landing in China?
Do not rely on it. Saily says you will not be able to purchase an eSIM once you are physically in China, and installing one needs a working internet connection.
Do you show live Saily prices?
No. The plan table on this page is a dated snapshot from saily.com (22 Oct 2026); the live price is always on Saily. The GB figures are TripUtils estimates.