Not sure whether to get a SIM or an eSIM for China? Set your phone type, whether you need Google/WhatsApp, whether you need a China number for Didi and food delivery, and how long you're staying — the picker does the rest in seconds.
The picker
The four options
Every plan trades something off. Here's the one-line version; the Connectivity Overview has the full side-by-side table.
Local SIM card
Real +86 number from China Mobile / Unicom / Telecom at the airport. Cheapest for a real number, but needs a physical slot and domestic routing (Western apps need a VPN).
Data-only eSIM
Cross-border data eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad). Western apps work out of the box, and you keep your home SIM for OTPs. No China number, so no Didi or food delivery.
Numbered eSIM (+86)
An eSIM with a virtual +86 number — Western apps and a China number in one profile. Convenient, but verification codes (OTP) often fail, so don't rely on it for 2FA.
Home roaming eSIM
Your home carrier's roaming or travel eSIM. Keeps your home number with zero setup, but costs the most and is often throttled after a cap.
Full comparison
Want the 11-dimension breakdown — +86 number, network routing, OTP, calls, public Wi-Fi, price, hotspot and the catch for each? Read the Connectivity Overview, then come back and run the picker with your own trip details.