eSIM for China
One eSIM for Beijing, Shanghai and beyond. WhatsApp and Google keep working. No SIM counter, no commitment.
Covers Beijing to Guangzhou
No passport needed to activate
Free data, data per GB, or unlimited data
One eSIM for 176 + countries
Trusted by 1.3M+ users
Global data & calling
One eSIM for the globe
A Free Global Connection
Compare all plans
Why Firsty is different in China
Same price as everywhere else Roaming in China with your home operator gets pricey fast. With Firsty it's €0.98 per GB on Prepaid and from €2/day on Unlimited, the same as in Japan, Thailand or Italy. No China surcharge. Buy data that never expires Most travel eSIMs sell GBs that expire in 7 or 30 days: use it or lose it. With Firsty Prepaid, the GBs you buy stay on your account forever. Bought 10 GB and only used 4 between Beijing and Xi'an? The other 6 are still there for Hong Kong, Tokyo, or anywhere else.
How it works
How Firsty works in China
How much data do you need in China?
3 to 5 days
Beijing, Xi'an + Shanghai by bullet train
Grand tour / remote worker
Aww, We love you too!!
Where's Life Taking You next?
Get connected to the Firsty Network
Price table
Prepaid (use anywhere, never expires)
Data | Price | €/GB |
|---|---|---|
1 GB | €4,50 | €4,50 |
3 GB | €7,50 | €2,50 |
5 GB | €9,50 | €1,90 |
10 GB | €17,00 | €1,70 |
20 GB | €26,40 | €1,32 |
50 GB | €49,00 | €0,98 |
Unlimited (day pass or monthly)
Duration | Price | €/day |
|---|---|---|
1-6 days | €3,00/day | €3,00 |
7-14 days | €2,75/day | €2,75 |
15-19 days | €2,50/day | €2,50 |
20+ days | €2,20/day | €2,20 |
Monthly subscription | €59/month | €2,00 |
Where in China does Firsty work?
Beijing: Fast 4G and 5G across the city, on the metro and at Mutianyu and Badaling on the Great Wall.
Shanghai: Strong 4G and 5G from the Bund to Pudong, including metro stations.
Guangzhou & Shenzhen: Full city coverage, and easy to keep the same eSIM when you cross to Hong Kong.
Xi'an & Chengdu: Reliable in both cities, including the Terracotta Army and the panda base.
Guilin & Zhangjiajie: Good in towns and on the Li River; patchy on remote trails and mountain tops.
Tibet & the far west: Signal in Lhasa and main towns; expect gaps on long mountain and desert roads.
Questions and answers
As we develop our app you might encounter things you're not sure of. We're here to help. Below you'll find frequently asked questions on the Firsty eSIM, Firsty's data plans, and more.
Does eSIM work in China?
Yes. Travel eSIMs like Firsty work in China on your own eSIM-compatible phone. Install before you fly and it connects when you land. One catch: phones bought in mainland China often don't support eSIM, so check your settings first.
Do I need a VPN to use WhatsApp and Google in China?
Not with Firsty. Your data is routed outside mainland China, so WhatsApp, Google, Instagram and YouTube work as they do at home. On hotel Wi-Fi or a local SIM they're blocked, so that's where you'd need a VPN.
Does Firsty work everywhere in China?
In cities and along the main travel routes, yes. Firsty uses China's major networks, which cover Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu and Guangzhou well. Expect gaps in the far west, in Tibet outside Lhasa and on remote mountain trails.
Does Firsty work on China's high-speed trains?
Yes. You'll have signal on most of the high-speed network, including Beijing–Shanghai and Beijing–Xi'an. Expect short drops in long tunnels and mountain stretches, so download your films before you board.
Can I get a Chinese phone number with my eSIM?
No, Firsty is data-only, so there's no +86 number. Keep your home SIM switched on for bank texts and Alipay or WeChat Pay codes. Calls work through WeChat, WhatsApp or FaceTime, and international calling to 200+ countries is in the app.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for China?
Yes. Firsty Unlimited starts at €2/day and includes hotspot, so your laptop or travel buddy can get online too. You get 5 GB a day at high speed, then 512 Kbps until your next day or top-up. Save big downloads for hotel Wi-Fi.
What phones work with Firsty in China?
Any carrier-unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone bought in the EU, US, UK, Canada, Australia or Japan after 2018. That's iPhone XS or newer, recent Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel and most modern Android phones. Most phones sold in mainland China don't support eSIM.