Roaming
Roaming in China costs up to $16 a day and still leaves you blocked from the apps you use most. The Great Firewall doesn't care what you're paying your home carrier. In this guide, I cover what works, what doesn't, and what I set up before I fly.
The problem with roaming in China isn't that it doesn't work, it's that it works on Chinese terms. Your signal shows full bars, your data is technically running, and you're paying up to $16 a day for it.
But Google Maps won’t load, WhatsApp won’t connect, and Instagram is completely unreachable. Here’s what I found about the real cost of roaming in China, what those restrictions actually feel like day to day, and how I set myself up before flying to avoid the worst of it.
While you're setting things up, it’s also worth checking basics like adapters. What plug types are used in China? covers it.
Roaming means your phone connects to a Chinese local network (China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom) while your home carrier manages the billing. You don't swap SIM cards, and your existing number stays active. It's the easiest setup.
China's Great Firewall blocks WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Google services, and YouTube. This is the part most people don't account for when planning their roaming setup.
The key factor is how your carrier routes data: if traffic goes through your home country's infrastructure before reaching you in China, blocked services remain accessible. If data routes directly through Chinese networks, normal restrictions apply.
In practice, this varies by carrier and even by plan. Some US roaming connections bypass the Firewall because traffic is routed back through domestic servers first. Others don't.
China is not an EU country, so "Roam Like at Home" rules don't apply. There are no regulated caps or free roaming agreements with any region, every carrier sets its own price.
AT&T
AT&T's International Day Pass costs $12 per day in China and gives you unlimited access to talk, text, and the ability to tap into your regular mobile data allowance.
Pay-as-you-go without a pass is brutal: calls at $1.79/minute, data at $2.05/MB — one minute of a 720p YouTube video would cost around $72. Activate the Day Pass before you leave.
| Plan | Cost | What's included |
| International Day Pass | $12/day | Unlimited talk, text + home data allowance |
| Pay-as-you-go | $2.05/MB data | Not recommended |
Verizon
Verizon's TravelPass costs $12 per day in China and gives you unlimited talk, text, and data (first 5GB at high speed, then 3G). Pay-as-you-go rates are $1.79/minute for calls, $0.50/text, and $2.05/MB for data.
The monthly International Plan at $100 gives you 20GB high-speed data and 250 international minutes, worth it only for longer trips.
| Plan | Cost | What's included |
| TravelPass | $12/day | Unlimited talk/text + 5GB high speed |
| International Monthly | $100/month | 20GB + 250 call minutes |
| Pay-as-you-go | $2.05/MB | Not recommended |
T-Mobile
T-Mobile is the most generous of the US big three for international travel. Depending on your plan, you get free unlimited data at 2G speeds (128kbps - usable for messaging, not much else) plus free texting in 215+ countries including China.
T-Mobile's free roaming is a decent safety net, but don't rely on it as your primary connection. For anything beyond basic messaging, add the International Pass for high-speed data from $5/day.
| Plan | Cost | What's included |
| Included (most plans) | Free | 2G data + free texting |
| International Pass | From $5/day | High-speed data add-on |
Rogers
Rogers Roam Like Home costs $16 CAD per day in international destinations including China, and gives you access to unlimited talk and text, plus your existing data allowance. For a week in China that's around $112 CAD before you've even used much data.
| Plan | Cost | What's included |
| Roam Like Home | $16 CAD/day | Unlimited talk/text + home data |
| Pay-as-you-go | Very expensive | Not recommended |
Bell
Bell's Roam Better pass costs $16 CAD per day in China, with a maximum billing cap of 20 days per billing cycle. Similar to Rogers in structure and cost, the cap is a useful safety net for longer stays.
| Plan | Cost | What's included |
| Roam Better | $16 CAD/day | Talk, text + data |
Telus
Telus Easy Roam is available from $5/day on 5G+ Complete plans, or at standard rates for other plans. China is included in their Easy Roam destinations. Telus also now offers a global roaming plan at $95/month that includes 250GB of data in 68 destinations, China included.
| Plan | Cost | What's included |
| Easy Roam (standard) | $16 CAD/day | Talk, text + data |
| Easy Roam (5G+ Complete) | From $5/day | Talk, text + data |
| Global 5G+ Plan | $95 CAD/month | 250GB in 68 destinations |
China is not included in EU roaming packages, so every UK carrier treats it as an international destination with separate pricing.
EE
EE's Travel Data Pass costs £8.45 per day for China, giving you 500MB of data. For calls, a separate World Select Talk and Text add-on costs £6.26 per day. You often need to buy both separately, which adds up fast (expect £14+ per day for full coverage).
| Plan | Cost | What's Included |
| Travel Data Pass (China) | £8.45/day | 500MB data only |
| Talk & Text add-on | £6.26/day | Calls and texts |
Vodafone
Vodafone UK includes China in Zone B countries at £2.57/day on plans that include Global Roaming. Plans without roaming face higher international charges. If your plan includes Global Roaming Plus, China is one of the better-priced UK roaming destinations.
| Plan | Cost | What's included |
| Zone B (China) | £2.57/day | Data + calls on eligible plans |
Three
Three's Go Roam Global Extra covers 92 countries including China at £7/day. Three used to be the UK's best deal for international roaming, but pricing has risen significantly since Brexit.
| Plan | Cost | What's included |
| Go Roam Global Extra | £7/day | Data + calls in 92 countries |
O2
O2 offers a Travel Bolt On from £6-7/day for destinations outside Europe, which includes China. O2 is the only major UK network still offering free EU roaming on all plans, but China requires a separate bolt-on.
| Plan | Cost | What's included |
| Travel Bolt On | £6–7/day | Data + calls outside EU |
Lebara
Lebara used to be the standout UK option for China travel. It previously included China in its Roam Like Home service, meaning you could use your full UK allowance there at no extra cost, up to 30GB. That ended on 7 July 2025.
From that date, standard PAYG rates apply in China, which at £93/GB makes it one of the most expensive options on this list. If you're a Lebara customer heading to China, check for available roaming add-ons in the Lebara app before you leave (buying one in advance is the only way to avoid the PAYG rates).
| Plan | Cost | What's included |
| Roaming add-on (China) | Check Lebara app | Data + calls, varies by add-on |
| Pay-as-you-go | £93/GB | Not recommended |
China falls completely outside EU roaming regulations. The Roam Like at Home rules that let you use your French, German, or Polish plan across all 27 EU member states do not apply here.
China is treated as a non-EU international destination by every European carrier, which means full international rates apply regardless of your plan.
Orange (France)
Orange charges around €5–8/day for international roaming in China depending on your plan. Their Destinations+ add-on covers China and includes data, calls, and texts at a flat daily rate. Without it, pay-as-you-go data costs can reach €10/MB.
| Plan | Cost | What's Included |
| Destinations+ (China) | ~€6/day | Data + calls + texts |
| Pay-as-you-go | ~€10/MB | Not recommended |
Deutsche Telekom (Germany)
Deutsche Telekom's DayFlat International option covers China at around €7.95/day, giving you data, calls, and texts at your home rates. Without a day pass, data costs around €9.83/MB, one of the most expensive pay-as-you-go rates in Europe.
| Plan | Cost | What's Included |
| DayFlat International | ~€7.95/day | Data + calls + texts |
| Pay-as-you-go | ~€9.83/MB | Not recommended |
Play (Poland)
Play charges around €3–5/day for China roaming on their international add-on plans. Without an add-on, data costs around €8/MB. Their international pass is one of the more affordable EU options for China travel.
| Plan | Cost | What's Included |
| International add-on | ~€3–5/day | Data + calls |
| Pay-as-you-go | ~€8/MB | Not recommended |
The bottom line for EU travelers is straightforward: China sits outside every roaming agreement you benefit from at home. Budget €5–8 per day minimum if you're roaming, and still factor in a VPN or eSIM if you want access to Google, WhatsApp, and your usual apps.
eSIMs are usually cheaper than roaming for China, and many route traffic through foreign servers, meaning they bypass the Great Firewall automatically, giving you access to Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram without needing a separate VPN.
| Provider | Data | Price (from) | Validity | Firewall bypass |
| Holafly | Unlimited | $3.90 | 1–90 days | Yes, built-in VPN |
| Airalo | 1–20GB | $4.00 | 3–30 days | Confirm before buying |
| Nomad | 1–20GB | $4.00 | 7–30 days | Often yes, check plan |
If your main concern is staying in touch, Does WhatsApp Work in China and How to Access It explains exactly what setup you need.
This is the best solution for most people. Buy before you fly, scan the QR code, and you're online the moment you land. Many China eSIMs route traffic through foreign servers and bypass the Great Firewall without extra setup.
We’ve tested these in detail in Best eSIMs for China if you want a full breakdown.
A local Chinese SIM from China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom is the cheapest option per GB. The downsides are significant: you need to register with your passport in-store, the process is mostly in Chinese, and local SIMs route through Chinese networks.
You'll need a separately installed VPN on top. For longer stays where cost matters more than convenience, it's worth considering. For a 1–2 week trip, it's usually not.
A portable hotspot device that connects to Chinese networks and creates a personal WiFi signal for multiple devices. Useful for groups or travelers with several devices.
The same Firewall restrictions apply, traffic routes through local Chinese networks. Rental costs typically run $8–$15/day plus shipping, and you need to return the device at the end of your trip.
Not sure if it’s worth carrying another device? Pocket WiFi in China guide breaks down when it actually makes sense.
Hotels, cafes, and airports in China all have free WiFi, but it runs through the same Great Firewall as everything else. Google and WhatsApp won't work on hotel WiFi without a VPN or eSIM. Treat it as a supplement, not a solution.
| Option | Price | Convenience | Great Firewall | Best for |
| eSIM (Holafly) | From $3.90/day | Very high | Bypassed | Most tourists |
| eSIM (Airalo/Nomad) | From $4.00/day | High | Check per plan | Budget travelers |
| Local SIM | ~$10–20 total | Low | Blocked (need VPN) | Long stays |
| Pocket WiFi | $8–15/day | Medium | Blocked | Groups |
| Free WiFi | Free | Low | Blocked | Backup only |
Yes, most major US, Canadian, and UK carriers work in China through China Mobile or China Unicom networks. The question isn't whether it works, it's whether it's worth the price.
AT&T and Verizon charge $12/day, Canadian carriers charge $15–16 CAD/day, and UK carriers range from £2.57 to £8.45/day for China specifically.
Sometimes, it depends on how your carrier routes traffic. If your carrier routes traffic through your home country's infrastructure before reaching you in China, blocked services like Google remain accessible. If data routes directly through Chinese networks, normal restrictions apply.
Possibly, for the same reason as Google, it depends on your carrier's routing. If you're not sure, an eSIM with a built-in VPN is the more reliable option since it's designed specifically to bypass these restrictions.
For most travelers, eSIM wins. It's cheaper than roaming day passes, many providers bypass the Great Firewall automatically, and there's no surprise bill at the end of the trip. Roaming makes sense if you're only in China for 1–2 days and already have a carrier day pass included in your plan.
For tourists, a travel eSIM is the easiest option. Local SIMs from China Mobile or China Unicom are the most affordable long-term but require in-person registration and don't bypass the Firewall.
For typical tourist use (maps, messaging via WeChat, social media, and occasional video calls) plan for 1–2GB per day. A 2-week trip needs roughly 15–20GB if you're a moderate user, or unlimited if you're working remotely or streaming regularly.
Contact your carrier before departure and activate their international roaming pass or day pass. Alternatively, buy a China eSIM before you fly, it's usually simpler and cheaper.
Yes, most modern smartphones work on China's 4G LTE networks. Make sure your phone is unlocked and supports the relevant frequency bands. The practical limitation isn't hardware, it's the Great Firewall blocking the apps you rely on daily.
Our mission is simple: to make sure you never have to ask, “What’s the WiFi password?” again. All our tips come straight from personal experience — because we’d never recommend something we haven’t put to the test ourselves.
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