# eSIM for Greater China Viasimo's Greater China eSIM starts at $2.29 for 1 GB over 7 days, running on local 5G networks where available. Plans last 3 to 180 days, arrive by email in minutes and install from your phone's settings, with no app. Canonical page: https://viasimo.com/destinations/greater-china/ ## Greater China eSIM prices | Plan | Data | Days | Price | Price per GB | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Unlimited, 3 days | Unlimited | 3 | $12.99 | - | | Unlimited, 5 days | Unlimited | 5 | $18.99 | - | | 1 GB, 7 days | 1 GB | 7 | $2.29 | $2.29 | | Unlimited, 7 days | Unlimited | 7 | $25.99 | - | | Unlimited, 10 days | Unlimited | 10 | $35.99 | - | | 3 GB, 15 days | 3 GB | 15 | $4.79 | $1.60 | | Unlimited, 15 days | Unlimited | 15 | $51.99 | - | | 3 GB, 30 days | 3 GB | 30 | $5.00 | $1.67 | | 5 GB, 30 days | 5 GB | 30 | $8.00 | $1.60 | | 10 GB, 30 days | 10 GB | 30 | $12.99 | $1.30 | | 20 GB, 30 days | 20 GB | 30 | $20.99 | $1.05 | | 50 GB, 30 days | 50 GB | 30 | $52.99 | $1.06 | | Unlimited, 30 days | Unlimited | 30 | $95.99 | - | | Unlimited, 60 days | Unlimited | 60 | $189.99 | - | | Unlimited, 90 days | Unlimited | 90 | $289.99 | - | | 50 GB, 180 days | 50 GB | 180 | $62.00 | $1.24 | | Unlimited, 180 days | Unlimited | 180 | $569.99 | - | ## Which networks does the Greater China eSIM use? The host network is chosen automatically when you arrive. ## eSIM Details - **Data**: 1 GB – 50 GB or unlimited - **Validity**: 3–180 days - **Speed**: 4G LTE / 5G - **Hotspot / tethering**: Supported on most devices - **Activation**: Starts when you first connect in your destination - **Speed management**: Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced - **Top-ups**: Add more data from your account, before the plan expires - **Text messages (SMS)**: Data only: use an app for verification codes - **Connects via**: Singapore - **Unused validity**: 180 days before it must be installed ## Greater China: what to know before you land Source: https://viasimo.com/destinations/greater-china/#destination-guide · Researched October 2026 by Viasimo This plan covers mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau on one eSIM, which suits the common Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Macau combination as well as longer trips to Shanghai or Beijing. All three have dense 4G and 5G. The real difference is the internet itself: Hong Kong and Macau are open, while the mainland sits behind the Great Firewall. ### Greater China: quick facts | Fact | Greater China | | --- | --- | | Emergency number | 999 in Hong Kong and Macau; 110 (police) and 120 (ambulance) on the mainland | | Main airports | Hong Kong International Airport (HKG); Macau International Airport (MFM); Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG); Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK); Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN); Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX) | | Plug types | Type G, A, C, I (220V) | | Currency | Hong Kong dollar (HKD), Macanese pataca (MOP), Chinese yuan (CNY) | | Apps worth having | Alipay, WeChat, Amap, DiDi, Octopus, 12306 | ### Crossing from Hong Kong to Shenzhen and Guangzhou (Greater China · https://viasimo.com/destinations/greater-china/#guide-crossing-from-hong-kong-to-shenzhen-and-guangzhou) Most visitors cross into the mainland from Hong Kong at Lo Wu or Lok Ma Chau on the MTR East Rail line, or by high-speed train from West Kowloon. At West Kowloon you clear mainland immigration inside the station itself, in a Mainland Port Area, before boarding trains to Shenzhen Futian, Guangzhou South and beyond. Around the land border, your phone may hop between Hong Kong and mainland networks, because the towers on each side are so close. Both are covered by this plan, so data keeps working either way, but the rules change with the network. On a Hong Kong network everything is open; on a mainland one, how blocked apps behave depends on the eSIM's routing. Once you are clear of the border, cycle airplane mode if your phone is still clinging to a weak Hong Kong signal. Then check your key apps. In Shenzhen and Guangzhou, switch to Amap or Apple Maps and use Alipay for the metro and DiDi. For a day trip, remember that you need to carry your passport for both crossings. ### Macau by ferry or the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (Greater China · https://viasimo.com/destinations/greater-china/#guide-macau-by-ferry-or-the-hong-kong-zhuhai-macau-bridge) There are two main ways to get from Hong Kong to Macau. The first is the ferry from the Hong Kong–Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan or from the airport, which runs along the coast and the Pearl River estuary. The second is the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, which is 55 km long and includes a 6.7 km undersea tunnel. Shuttle buses run across it 24 hours a day and take about 40 minutes. On both routes you may lose signal briefly, especially in the bridge tunnel, but the estuary is busy and close to land, so you will usually pick up a network again quickly. When you arrive at Macau, your phone switches to CTM. In Macau, everything that works in Hong Kong works too. Casinos and hotels have strong indoor coverage, and the historic centre around Senado Square and the Ruins of St Paul's is well served. From Macau you can also walk across the Gongbei border into Zhuhai on the mainland, and the plan carries on there. ### Beijing, Shanghai and the high-speed rail network (Greater China · https://viasimo.com/destinations/greater-china/#guide-beijing-shanghai-and-the-high-speed-rail-network) Many Greater China trips extend beyond the south to Shanghai, Beijing and Xi'an. All the big cities have strong 4G and 5G, and the high-speed rail network between them is generally well covered, with short drops in tunnels and in mountainous sections such as the routes into Sichuan and Guilin. Train tickets are sold through the official 12306 app and website, which has an English version and accepts foreign passports, and through travel agencies. Book early around Chinese New Year, the May Day holiday and the National Day week in early October, when trains sell out. Tourist sites like the Great Wall at Mutianyu or Badaling, the Terracotta Army near Xi'an and West Lake in Hangzhou all have mobile coverage. More remote landscapes, such as parts of Zhangjiajie, Jiuzhaigou or the Tibetan plateau, have patchier signal. Download Amap offline areas and save your hotel addresses in Chinese characters before you set off. ### Sources for the Greater China guide - [Travel eSIM in China: VPN and the Great Firewall (eSIMDB)](https://esimdb.com/blog/travel-esim-china-vpn-great-firewall/) - [Does eSIM work in China in 2026? (Yesim)](https://blog.yesim.tech/?p=41202) - [WeChat Pay and Alipay to accept global credit cards (Travel Weekly Asia)](https://www.travelweekly-asia.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/WeChat-Pay-and-Alipay-to-accept-global-credit-cards) - [Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong%E2%80%93Zhuhai%E2%80%93Macau_Bridge) - [Hong Kong West Kowloon station (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_West_Kowloon_station) - [Visa policy of mainland China (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_mainland_China) ## Ten days in Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Guilin's karst country Multi-country route · 10 days · Source: https://viasimo.com/destinations/greater-china/#itinerary A southern China loop that starts and ends in Hong Kong: a ferry to Macau, a walk across the border to Zhuhai, the fast train to Guangzhou, then high-speed rail into the limestone peaks around Guilin and Yangshuo before returning via Shenzhen. **When to go:** October to December is the most comfortable season, with dry, clear days; spring is humid and misty around Guilin, summer is hot with typhoon risk on the coast, and Chinese public holidays such as Golden Week in early October fill trains and sights. ### Day 1 in Greater China: Hong Kong: Central and Victoria Peak - **Base:** Hong Kong - **Plan:** Ride the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak and walk the Lugard Road loop for the view over the harbour. Come down to Central, take the Mid-Levels escalator through SoHo, and visit Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road. In the evening, cross the harbour on the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui. - **Mobile signal:** Excellent 5G on csl, SmarTone or 3 across Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, including the MTR and the Star Ferry. ### Day 2 in Greater China: Hong Kong: Kowloon markets and temples - **Base:** Hong Kong - **Plan:** Visit Wong Tai Sin Temple and the Chi Lin Nunnery with the Nan Lian Garden next door. In the afternoon, explore Mong Kok's Ladies' Market, the flower and bird markets, then walk down Nathan Road to the Temple Street night market in the evening. - **Mobile signal:** Strong throughout Kowloon, though the busiest market streets can slow data at peak times. ### Day 3 in Greater China: Lantau: the Big Buddha and Tai O - **Base:** Hong Kong - **Plan:** Take the MTR to Tung Chung and the Ngong Ping 360 cable car to the Tian Tan Buddha and Po Lin Monastery. Walk the Wisdom Path, then take the bus down to Tai O fishing village with its stilt houses. Return to the city in the evening. - **Mobile signal:** Good on the cable car and at Ngong Ping; patchy on Lantau's hill trails if you walk rather than ride. ### Day 4 in Greater China: Macau: the historic centre - **Base:** Macau - **Getting there:** TurboJET or Cotai Water Jet ferry from Hong Kong, about 1 hour, or the bus over the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, about 40 minutes. - **Plan:** Take the ferry to Macau. Walk from Senado Square up to the Ruins of St Paul's and the Mount Fortress, then on to the A-Ma Temple at the southern tip. In the evening, visit the Taipa Village lanes and try a Portuguese egg tart. - **Mobile signal:** Hong Kong signal fades mid-crossing; your phone switches to CTM in Macau. On the bridge bus, expect a short gap in the undersea tunnel. ### Day 5 in Greater China: Macau to Guangzhou via Zhuhai - **Base:** Guangzhou - **Getting there:** Gongbei border crossing on foot, then the intercity train from Zhuhai to Guangzhou South, about 1 hour. - **Plan:** Walk across the Gongbei border into Zhuhai and take the intercity train to Guangzhou. In the afternoon, visit the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, then walk Shamian Island's colonial streets. After dark, walk the Pearl River waterfront to see Canton Tower lit up. - **Mobile signal:** Your phone moves to China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom at the border. Check WhatsApp and Google straight away; keep a VPN installed as a backup. Good 5G in Guangzhou. ### Day 6 in Greater China: Guangzhou: Yuexiu Park and dim sum - **Base:** Guangzhou - **Plan:** Start with dim sum at a traditional teahouse, then walk Yuexiu Park to the Five Rams statue and the Zhenhai Tower museum. Visit the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, then go to Beijing Road's pedestrian street with its glass panels over old road layers. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card if you have not already. - **Mobile signal:** Strong across the city and on the metro. Use Amap or Apple Maps, which are more accurate than Google Maps in the mainland. ### Day 7 in Greater China: High-speed train to Guilin and on to Yangshuo - **Base:** Yangshuo - **Getting there:** High-speed train from Guangzhou South, about 2.5 to 3 hours. - **Plan:** Take a high-speed train west from Guangzhou South into Guangxi. Get off at Yangshuo station in Xingping for the Li River scenery, or continue to Guilin and take the express bus to Yangshuo. In the evening, walk West Street and up a riverside path to see the peaks at dusk. - **Mobile signal:** Good on the high-speed line with brief drops in long tunnels through the hills; good 4G and 5G in Yangshuo town. ### Day 8 in Greater China: Li River and Xingping - **Base:** Yangshuo - **Plan:** Take a bamboo raft or boat on the Li River between Yangshuo and Xingping, passing the karst peaks shown on the 20-yuan note. In Xingping, walk the old street and climb Laozhai Hill for the view over the river bend. Book river trips in advance in busy seasons. - **Mobile signal:** Generally covered on the river, but signal weakens in the narrow stretches between the peaks and on Laozhai Hill's upper steps. ### Day 9 in Greater China: Cycling the Yulong River - **Base:** Yangshuo - **Plan:** Hire a bike or e-bike and ride the lanes along the Yulong River past rice paddies and villages to the Dragon Bridge, an old stone arch. Take a bamboo raft back downstream if you like. In the late afternoon, climb Moon Hill for its natural arch and the view across the valley. - **Mobile signal:** Coverage is good on the main roads but drops in the side valleys; download an offline map before cycling. ### Day 10 in Greater China: Back to Hong Kong via Shenzhen - **Base:** Hong Kong - **Getting there:** High-speed train from Guilin or Yangshuo, about 3 to 3.5 hours to Shenzhen or West Kowloon. - **Plan:** Take the high-speed train back east. Some trains run direct to Hong Kong West Kowloon, with immigration for both sides in the station; otherwise change in Shenzhen and cross at Futian or Lo Wu. Spend the evening on the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade for the Symphony of Lights show. - **Mobile signal:** Your phone switches back to a Hong Kong network after immigration. Apps blocked in the mainland work normally again on Hong Kong data and wifi. ### Staying connected on this Greater China route - Test WhatsApp, Google and your banking app as soon as you cross into Zhuhai, and keep a VPN installed in case a service blocks the roaming route. - Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you reach the mainland; many small vendors there do not take cards or cash. - Taiwan is not on this plan, so switch data off if you add a side trip to Taipei. ### Sources for the Greater China itinerary - [Wikivoyage: Yangshuo](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Yangshuo) - [Hong Kong Tourism Board: Discover Hong Kong](https://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/index.html) - [Macao Government Tourism Office](https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/) - [UNESCO: Historic Centre of Macao](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1110/) - [GOV.UK: Foreign travel advice, China](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china) ## About this eSIM ### Three systems on one plan Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China have separate mobile markets, currencies, immigration controls and internet rules, even though you can cross between them in under an hour. In Hong Kong the eSIM can use csl, 3 or SmarTone; in Macau, CTM; and on the mainland, China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom. Your phone will show the network name changing as you cross. Coverage is not the issue. Hong Kong has some of the densest mobile networks in the world, including in the MTR, and Macau's casinos and old town are well served. On the mainland, the big cities, high-speed rail lines and main tourist sites all have strong 4G and widespread 5G. This plan is most useful when you cross more than once. A typical trip might land at Hong Kong, spend a day in Macau, take the train to Guangzhou or Shanghai and return through Shenzhen, and buying separate plans for each leg would mean three installs and three allowances. Here the same eSIM simply moves to the next partner network each time, and the airport arrival is the same whether you land at Hong Kong, Pudong or Baiyun: switch off airplane mode as you taxi in and give it a minute. ### How the internet changes at the boundary In Hong Kong and Macau, the internet is broadly open, and Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Western news sites work normally on wifi and mobile data. On the mainland, those services are blocked on local connections, including hotel wifi and Chinese SIMs. Travel eSIMs in mainland China normally work by roaming, with traffic leaving the country through a gateway abroad, often Hong Kong. eSIMDB and Yesim both explain that this is why blocked services usually load on a roaming eSIM without a VPN. It still depends on where a plan's traffic exits, and Yesim notes that some services, including some AI tools and TikTok, can restrict Hong Kong IP addresses. Test your key apps as soon as you cross and keep a VPN installed as a backup, because downloading one in the mainland is difficult. ### Paying and getting around Each territory has its own way of paying. In Hong Kong, the Octopus card, now also available in Apple Wallet, covers the MTR, buses, ferries and many shops. In Macau, prices are in patacas, but Hong Kong dollars are widely accepted. On the mainland, mobile payment is the norm, and many places are reluctant to take cash or foreign cards directly. Alipay and WeChat Pay both let visitors link a foreign Visa or Mastercard, according to Travel Weekly Asia, and Alipay also gives you DiDi taxis and metro QR codes in many cities. For maps, Google Maps is reliable in Hong Kong and Macau but has poor data on the mainland. Use Apple Maps or Amap across the border. ### Before you fly Set up Alipay and link your card at home, because verification texts go to your normal number, which stays in the phone. Install a VPN and test it before you travel. Download Amap, and save your hotel addresses in Chinese characters to show taxi drivers. Check entry rules for your passport: mainland China has expanded visa-free entry for many nationalities, including the UK and Canada from February 2026, and offers a 240-hour visa-free transit for eligible travellers who arrive from one country and leave for another. Note that Taiwan is not part of this plan. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does an eSIM work in Greater China? Yes. Your Greater China eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. Coverage runs on 4G LTE and 5G where the network has rolled it out, and falls back to 4G elsewhere. ### Do I get 5G in Greater China? Yes, where it has been deployed. 5G runs on The local networks we use in Greater China, and your eSIM uses it automatically on a 5G-capable phone, dropping back to 4G LTE outside covered areas. No country is covered everywhere, so 5G availability varies by location. ### Will WhatsApp and Google work when I cross from Hong Kong into mainland China? Usually, yes. Travel eSIMs in the mainland roam on local networks but send data out through a gateway abroad, often Hong Kong, so blocked services typically load without a VPN. It depends on where a plan's traffic exits, and some apps restrict Hong Kong IP addresses. Test your key apps right after crossing and keep a VPN installed as a backup. ### Does the Greater China eSIM cover Taiwan? No. This plan covers mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau only. Taiwan has separate mobile networks and is not on the covered list. If your trip continues to Taipei, you will need a separate plan or a wider Asia plan that includes Taiwan. ### Is there signal in the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge tunnel? Expect a short gap. The bridge is 55 km long and includes a 6.7 km undersea tunnel, where your phone may lose service for a few minutes. Shuttle buses take about 40 minutes for the whole crossing, and you will reconnect on the bridge sections and when you arrive at the Macau or Zhuhai port, where the phone switches network. ### Can I pay with Apple Pay or a foreign card in mainland China? Not easily in most places. Mobile payment through Alipay and WeChat Pay is the norm, and many smaller shops and restaurants do not take foreign cards directly. Both apps let visitors link a foreign Visa or Mastercard, so set one up before you travel. In Hong Kong and Macau, cards and the Octopus card are widely accepted. ### Which maps app should I use in mainland China? Use Apple Maps on an iPhone or Amap on either platform. Google Maps has poor and often offset map data in the mainland, so walking directions and pins can be wrong. Amap has an English interface, accurate public transport routing and is widely used by locals. In Hong Kong and Macau, Google Maps works well. ### How much data do I need for 7 days in Greater China? For 7 days in Greater China, Viasimo sells 1 GB for $2.29 and unlimited data for $25.99. Our sizing recommendation, not a measurement: maps, messaging and the occasional lookup, about 1 GB a week; maps, social, photos and some browsing, about 3 to 7 GB a week. The data calculator on this site works it out from how you actually use your phone. ## Information and verification - **Prices and plans**: Every price and allowance on this page is read from the live catalog, not typed in. Verified October 17, 2026.