China, Hong Kong & Macau

Staying connected in China, Hong Kong & Macau

These plans suit itineraries that cross mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, such as the popular Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau circuit, a Canton Fair trip with a few days in Hong Kong, or flying into Hong Kong and taking high-speed trains into the mainland. Crossings at Shenzhen, West Kowloon station and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge are quick, so a single eSIM saves switching plans mid-trip.

Data matters most on the mainland legs, where payments, taxis and tickets all run through your phone; in Hong Kong and Macau, Google and WhatsApp work as usual again. Avoid Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week, when the border crossings are packed.

Coverage and networks

This plan covers the destinations listed below, as published in the plan information (3 in total). Check every stop on your route against the table before buying.

There are 2 eSIM options for China, Hong Kong & Macau. Each network belongs to the option it is listed with, so compare them before choosing.

Signal and speed depend on where you are, your device and network conditions, and can differ between plans.

Choosing a data allowance

eSIM plans for China, Hong Kong & Macau currently last 1 to 30 days and come in these types:

• Daily data (500MB to 100GB per day): suits a steady routine. Check when the daily allowance resets and what happens once it is used.
• Total data (3GB to 50GB): one allowance for the whole trip, handy when some days are heavier than others.
• Unlimited: always read the fair-use policy; after a set amount, speed may be reduced.

Suggestions for this trip

• Count the total days from arriving at your first stop to leaving your last, then choose a plan at least that long: a 6-day tour needs a 6-day plan, an 8-day tour an 8-day plan.
• A typical tour of maps, QR payments and photo posts: 1GB of daily data; if you video call home often, choose 2GB or 3GB a day.
• Two or three weeks of business across several cities: 20GB or 30GB of total data on a 20- or 30-day plan, or an unlimited plan (fair-use policy applies).

Count your arrival and departure days. Before paying, check the exact plan for when validity starts, how days are counted, and whether hotspot, calls or SMS are included; these differ between plans.

Before you go

• Blocked on the mainland: Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp do not work on domestic networks or Wi-Fi in mainland China, although they work normally in Hong Kong and Macau. Whether an eSIM reaches them while on the mainland depends on the plan, so ask Simtel about the exact plan before you buy.
• Apps for the mainland: WeChat and Alipay (linked to an international card) for payments, Amap or Baidu Maps for directions and DiDi for rides.
• Three currencies: The mainland uses renminbi, Hong Kong uses Hong Kong dollars and Macau uses pataca but also takes Hong Kong dollars; Alipay is accepted by many merchants in all three.
• Multiple crossings: Each trip in and out of the mainland means immigration checks, so make sure your entry documents match the number of crossings in your plan.
• Public Wi-Fi: Mainland public networks usually need a Chinese phone number for the login code, while Hong Kong and Macau offer free government networks in public places.
• eSIM setup: Before buying, make sure your phone supports eSIM and is not carrier-locked. Install the eSIM before you fly, on a stable Wi-Fi connection, following the instructions sent with your plan.
• On arrival: Set the travel eSIM as your mobile data line and follow its roaming instructions. Turn off data roaming on your home SIM to avoid unexpected charges.