Quick answer
Buying a SIM card in Beijing is a 10-minute passport transaction. All three carriers staff arrival-hall counters at Capital Airport (T2/T3) and Daxing Airport, and city flagship halls in Wangfujing, Xidan, and Zhongguancun handle registration during business hours. A standard tourist package costs about CNY 100 for roughly 30 GB over 30 days; 7-day packages run CNY 30–50. Bring your passport — real-name registration is mandatory.
Why this matters in 2026
Beijing is usually a traveler's first stop, and everything here — the subway fare gates, Didi pickups outside the rail station, museum reservations — assumes a working Chinese phone number. Sorting the SIM at the airport counter, 20 steps from baggage claim, is the cheapest moment of your trip; sorting it on day three from a hotel is the most annoying.
Key facts at a glance
- Airports with carrier counters: Capital Airport T2/T3 and Daxing Airport, all three carriers, roughly 06:00–22:00 (some counters longer)
- City flagship halls: Wangfujing, Xidan, Zhongguancun; typically 09:00–18:00
- Standard price: about CNY 100 for 30 GB / 30 days; short 7-day packages CNY 30–50
- Required document: passport, with real-name registration taking 5–10 minutes
- Getting into town without a SIM: Capital Airport Express train CNY 25, Daxing Airport Express CNY 35, taxi CNY 100–150 to the city center
Where to buy, option by option
Capital Airport (PEK), T2 and T3
China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom all staff counters in the arrival halls, generally from around 06:00 to 22:00, with some counters covering more hours. Counters sit between baggage claim and the exit. Staff register your passport, activate the SIM on the spot, and can install it in your phone. Expect 10–20 minutes including any queue.
Daxing Airport (PKX)
The newer mega-hub south of the city has the same three carriers in its arrival area, usually with shorter queues than Capital. If you land at Daxing on an evening flight, counters typically still operate until about 22:00; a very late arrival means falling back to a city hall the next morning or relying on a travel eSIM.
City operator halls
Flagship halls in Wangfujing, Xidan, and Zhongguancun register foreign passports during business hours (about 09:00–18:00). This is the fallback if you skipped the airport, and the right place for reissues, plan changes, and refunds. Bring the passport that the SIM is registered to — staff cannot help without it.
What a fair package looks like
Around CNY 100 for 30 GB / 30 days is the standard tourist price across all three carriers. A 7-day, 10 GB package should cost CNY 30–50. Extra data runs CNY 10–30 per GB. Prices between the three airport counters vary by CNY 20–50 for equivalent packages, so it is worth reading two or three signs before committing.
Using the SIM in Beijing
Getting connected on arrival
The counter activates the SIM in minutes; full-network registration usually completes within 60 seconds of insertion. The Airport Express train to the city runs from T3 (CNY 25) and from Daxing (CNY 35), and both lines take payment apps — which your fresh SIM just made possible.
Getting around the city
Beijing's subway starts at CNY 3 and tops out around CNY 9 for ordinary trips; buses are CNY 2 flat with a scan. Didi from either airport to the city center costs CNY 100–150. All of these run on mobile data, which is why the SIM belongs at the top of your arrival checklist.
Recharging and support
Top up with cash at any convenience store, at operator halls, or in the carrier's app. If your SIM stops working mid-trip, any operator hall in the city can diagnose it — the Wangfujing and Xidan halls are the most accustomed to foreign passports.
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
- Capital Airport Express train: CNY 25 from T3
- Daxing Airport Express train: CNY 35
- Taxi or Didi airport to city center: CNY 100–150
Pitfalls to avoid
- Landing at Daxing after 22:00: counters close; plan a travel eSIM or a city hall visit the next morning.
- Losing the passport–SIM link: the number is registered to your passport, and reissues are impossible without it.
- Paying the first price you see: equivalent packages across the three counters differ by CNY 20–50.
- Trusting hotel Wi-Fi instead: Beijing hotel networks are fast but filtered, and many museum and rail bookings need mobile data and SMS.
- Discarding the SIM card pin and packaging: the card size, PIN, and registration details matter if the SIM needs reactivation.
Alternatives and trade-offs
- Travel eSIM bought before departure: USD 16–27 for a 30-day plan, active the moment you land, no counter queue — the best pairing for evening arrivals.
- Local SIM from the airport: cheapest per GB (about CNY 3 per GB on the standard package) and a real Chinese number for reservations.
- Home-carrier roaming: zero setup at USD 10–15 per day; acceptable for a 1–2 day stopover, expensive beyond.
- Combination: airport SIM for data plus your home SIM for bank verification codes.
Local context
Beijingers burn through data on the subway — the network covers all 27 lines including deep platforms, and carriages stream video at rush hour without buffering. The city's operator halls are used to students, expats, and visitors registering numbers, so "passport, please" is the entire exchange. If your Chinese is minimal, the airport counters at Capital T3 are the most practiced at guiding foreigners through the process.
Verifying current information
Counter hours and package lineups shift. Confirm hours for your arrival terminal on the airport's official site, compare two carrier counters before buying, and check a recent traveler report for your terminal to see current package prices.
The bottom line
Buy the SIM where you land: about CNY 100 for 30 GB / 30 days at any carrier counter in Capital T2/T3 or Daxing, passport in hand, 10 minutes. If you land after the counters close, bridge with a travel eSIM and visit a Wangfujing or Xidan hall the next day. Either way, you will have a working Chinese number before your first subway ride.
FAQ
Can I buy a SIM at Beijing Capital Airport at night?
Counters generally run from about 06:00 to 22:00. For later arrivals, plan a travel eSIM or a city operator hall the next day.
Do I need a Chinese ID?
No. A passport is sufficient; real-name registration for foreigners is routine at airports and city halls.
Which carrier should I choose in Beijing?
All three are excellent in the city. China Mobile has the edge for day trips outside Beijing.
Can the counter help me set up the phone?
Yes. Staff install the SIM, confirm data works, and can top up the account before you leave the counter.
How much data do I need for a week in Beijing?
Maps, translation, payments, and messaging fit comfortably in 5–10 GB; streaming video pushes it toward 20 GB.
Can I keep the number after my trip?
Usually yes with a small recharge before the 30–90 day expiry window closes. Ask at purchase.
Prices and policies in this guide were last verified on 2026-10-11. If a posted price differs, trust the counter.