Quick answer
China runs on three carriers: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. For a visitor they perform almost identically in big cities — 4G at 35–80 Mbps, 5G at 200–500 Mbps — and a prepaid package of roughly CNY 100 for about 30 GB over 30 days is the standard tourist price point with all three. China Mobile is the largest (around 1 billion mobile users); coverage differences only really matter in western regions and remote areas.
Why this matters in 2026
China's mobile network is the infrastructure behind everything you will do: about 4 million 5G base stations blanket the country, subway platforms run at full bandwidth, and mobile payments assume you are always online. Understanding which carrier to pick, what a fair price is, and where coverage thins out takes five minutes and prevents both overpaying at the airport and losing signal where you did not expect it.
Key facts at a glance
- The three carriers: China Mobile (中国移动), China Unicom (中国联通), China Telecom (中国电信)
- Scale: China Mobile around 1 billion mobile subscribers; China Telecom roughly 400 million; China Unicom roughly 340 million
- 5G footprint: more than 4 million 5G base stations nationwide; full coverage in all tier-1 and most tier-2 cities
- Tourist price point: about CNY 100 for 30 GB / 30 days, passport registration required
- Real-world speeds: 35–80 Mbps on 4G; 200–500 Mbps on 5G in city centers
The three carriers, for visitors
China Mobile (中国移动)
The incumbent: around 1 billion mobile users, the widest rural and high-speed-rail coverage, and the most counters at airports. If your route includes smaller cities, mountain areas, or long rail segments, China Mobile's network holds signal the longest. Prepaid tourist packages start near CNY 100.
China Unicom (中国联通)
The second choice for most travelers, with strong city coverage and historically the most traveler-friendly prepaid rules. Unicom also operates the Hong Kong arm whose eSIMs (about USD 19 for 30 GB / 30 days) are popular with visitors. In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu you will not notice a difference from China Mobile.
China Telecom (中国电信)
Roughly 400 million users, strong in southern China and in home broadband. For a short city trip it is equivalent to the other two; its 5G rollout in tier-1 cities is equally dense. Airport counter availability is slightly thinner than China Mobile's.
What the network actually delivers
Speeds you will see
In Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Chengdu, expect 35–80 Mbps on 4G and 200–500 Mbps on 5G in central districts. Speeds drop inside high-speed rail carriages to a still-usable 10–40 Mbps, with brief dead zones in tunnels and mountainous segments. Elevators, basement food courts, and some metro segments between stations are the usual dead spots.
Coverage where it thins
The three carriers are nearly interchangeable east of the Chengdu–Xi'an line. In Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai, and parts of Yunnan and Gansu, China Mobile keeps signal in more towns and along more highways, and some guesthouses only get one carrier's signal. If your itinerary is west of Chengdu, pick China Mobile.
5G access
Every visitor SIM and travel eSIM that supports 5G will attach to it automatically in covered areas; there is no separate 5G package to activate at the tourist price point. Phones without n41/n78 band support simply fall back to 4G.
Buying and using a package
Where to buy
Airport arrival-hall counters (all three carriers, roughly 06:00–22:00 at major hubs), operator flagship halls in the city, and convenience-store top-up for existing packages. Bring your passport — real-name registration is mandatory and takes 5–10 minutes.
What to pay
The standard tourist package is about CNY 100 for roughly 30 GB / 30 days. Shorter 7-day packages run CNY 30–50 for 10 GB. Data-only top-ups cost CNY 10–30 per extra GB. Anything materially above these numbers at an airport counter is a markup, not a policy.
Recharging
Top up at the operator's app (Chinese interface), at convenience stores, or at any operator hall. A CNY 50 or CNY 100 top-up card is the simplest path if you do not read Chinese.
Costs and pricing breakdown
- Standard tourist package: about CNY 100 for 30 GB / 30 days
- Short-trip package: CNY 30–50 for 10 GB / 7 days
- Extra data: CNY 10–30 per GB
- Travel eSIM alternative: USD 16–27 for 30-day plans, no Chinese registration
- Unicom HK eSIM: about USD 19 for 30 GB / 30 days
- SIM card fee: usually free or CNY 10–20, sometimes waived with a package
Pitfalls to avoid
- Buying at the airport without comparing: the three counters sit side by side; prices for equivalent packages vary by CNY 20–50.
- Ignoring band support on older phones: phones without band n41 or n78 will never see 5G in China.
- Assuming one SIM works in all regions: remote western areas may only be served well by one carrier — check your route.
- Losing the registration link: your passport is tied to the SIM; a lost SIM cannot be reissued without it.
- Expecting eSIM from mainland carriers: mainland operators do not issue eSIMs to foreign passports — that is what the Hong Kong and travel eSIM providers are for.
Alternatives and trade-offs
- Travel eSIM: no registration queue, works the moment you land, costs USD 16–27 for a typical trip.
- Local SIM: cheapest per GB and usable for payments verification, at the cost of 30–60 minutes of paperwork.
- Roaming on your home carrier: zero effort, USD 10–15 per day — fine for 1–2 days, expensive beyond that.
- Two-SIM combo: local SIM for data plus your home SIM for bank SMS; the setup most long-stay visitors land on.
Local context
Locals rarely think about carriers the way travelers do — family plans, workplace discounts, and number portability have made switching routine, and quality in cities is uniformly high. The visitor-relevant truth is simpler: in any big Chinese city, all three networks are excellent, and the decision that actually matters is local SIM versus travel eSIM, not which carrier.
Verifying current information
Package lineups change quarterly. Confirm current tourist packages on the carriers' English pages (China Unicom at 10010.com) or ask at two airport counters and compare before buying. Recent traveler reports are the fastest way to learn current airport counter prices.
The bottom line
Three carriers, one practical answer: in cities they are equivalent, so buy whichever package is cheapest at the counter you are standing at — around CNY 100 for 30 GB / 30 days is the fair number. Head west of Chengdu, and China Mobile becomes the default. Pair a local SIM with your home SIM for verification, and the network disappears as a concern for the rest of the trip.
FAQ
Which carrier is best for tourists?
In major cities they are equivalent. For routes into western China, choose China Mobile for the widest coverage.
Can I buy a SIM without speaking Chinese?
Yes. Airport counters in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou handle passport registration for foreigners daily; pointing and a translation app cover the rest.
Do I need 5G?
No. 35–80 Mbps on 4G already streams, navigates, and pays without friction; 5G is a bonus, not a requirement.
Can I keep the SIM for a future trip?
Prepaid packages expire, typically 30–90 days after the last top-up, but the number can usually be kept alive with a small recharge. Ask at the counter when you buy.
Is Wi-Fi faster than mobile data?
Hotel Wi-Fi can be fast but is filtered and often requires a Chinese number to log in. Mobile data is the dependable default.
Do speeds drop during holidays?
Congestion rises around national holidays (early October, late January), with evening speeds dipping by roughly 10–30% in crowded districts. Still usable.
Prices and policies in this guide were last verified on 2026-10-11. If a posted price differs, trust the counter.