Getting a SIM card in Shanghai is straightforward: bring your passport to an official China Unicom or China Mobile store, pass a quick facial-recognition check.
Why do you need a Chinese +86 number in Shanghai?
I'll be honest: I put this off for two days when I first moved to Shanghai, and those two days were painful. A Chinese phone number is the key that unlocks almost everything digital in this city. WeChat (your social life, your wallet, your mini-program portal to everything), Alipay (the other wallet), Didi (ride-hailing), Meituan and Ele.me (food delivery), even opening a Chinese bank account. All of them either require or work dramatically better with a mainland +86 number.
Now, technically, WeChat and Alipay have loosened their rules for tourists since late 2023. You can register with a foreign number and link an international credit card. But here's the catch: many WeChat mini-programs (which you'll use constantly for everything from ordering coffee to paying utility bills) still demand a +86 number to log in. Didi technically works with a foreign number, but drivers can't call you, which means a lot of cancelled rides. Meituan requires a local number for delivery. If you're staying more than a week or two, just get the SIM. Trust me.
What are your options for getting a SIM card?
Let's break this down simply. You have three ways to get connected:
- Physical SIM card at a carrier store in the city (widest plan selection, but requires finding the right store)
- Tourist SIM at the airport (convenient, costs more, limited plans)
- Third-party eSIM (buy before you land, data-only, no +86 number)
How do you buy a SIM card at a carrier store?
Step 1: Pick Your Carrier
China has three carriers: China Mobile (中国移动), China Unicom (中国联通), and China Telecom (中国电信). For expats, China Unicom is generally the go-to. Their stores in busy areas tend to have staff with some English, and their network uses FDD-LTE bands that are broadly compatible with phones bought overseas. China Mobile has the widest national coverage but their older network bands can cause issues with some foreign-bought handsets.
Step 2: Find the Right Store
This is important: not every little carrier shop on the street can process a foreign passport. You need an official flagship or authorized store (营业厅) with the specialized scanner hardware. Tiny reseller kiosks won't work. Look for larger stores in busy commercial areas. You can search 中国联通营业厅 on Amap/Gaode Maps to find your nearest official location. When in doubt, ask your hotel front desk to point you to the closest one.
Step 3: Bring Your Passport (the Real One)
Chinese law requires real-name registration (实名制) for every SIM card sold. You'll need your original physical passport. Not a photocopy, not a photo on your phone, not your driver's license. The actual passport. The store staff will scan your passport and do a quick facial-recognition check (they'll ask you to look into a camera for a few seconds so the system can match your face to your passport photo). The whole process takes about 15 to 30 minutes.
Step 4: Choose a Plan
Carrier stores offer a range of prepaid monthly plans. Typical pricing:
- Budget plan: Around 29 to 39 RMB/month for 3 to 5 GB of data and some call minutes
- Mid-range plan: Around 59 to 79 RMB/month for 10 to 20 GB of data and more call time
- Heavy-use plan: Around 99 to 129 RMB/month for 30+ GB of data and generous call minutes
For most expats, a 59 to 79 RMB plan is the sweet spot. You'll need to pay the first month upfront when you buy the SIM. Bring cash (RMB) just in case, as not all stores accept international credit cards.
Can you get a SIM card at the Shanghai airport?
Pudong Airport (PVG)
After you clear customs and grab your bags, look for the telecom counters in the arrivals halls. China Telecom has an official counter in Terminal 1 (near Gate 11, open 07:00 to 22:00). A government-run "one-stop international service station" opened in Terminal 2 in mid-2024 that also sells SIM cards.
China Telecom's short-term tourist SIM packages: 7 days for 85 RMB, 15 days for 125 RMB, or 30 days for 195 RMB. Other carriers offer packages in the 150 to 200 RMB range for 20 GB of data with 30 days of validity. That's pricier than city stores, but it means you walk out of the airport with a working phone.
You can also pre-book a SIM for airport pickup through Trip.com (China Unicom 5G cards starting around 190 RMB, with pickup at both Pudong and Hongqiao arrivals).
Hongqiao Airport (SHA)
Hongqiao handles mostly domestic flights, so its SIM kiosk options are more limited. Both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have telecom counters in the arrivals areas, but the selection is thinner than Pudong.
Can expats use an eSIM in China?
Here's where I need to set expectations clearly. As of mid-2026, China's domestic carriers launched eSIM for smartphones in October 2025, but it requires a Chinese national ID card for activation. Foreign passport holders cannot use the domestic eSIM service.
What does work: third-party international eSIM providers like Airalo, Holafly, or Saily sell data-only eSIMs that piggyback on Chinese carrier networks. You buy and install them before your trip, and they activate when you land. Prices vary: roughly 30 to 80 RMB equivalent for a few GB over 7 to 30 days.
The limitation? These are data-only. You get mobile internet but no Chinese phone number, no ability to receive SMS verification codes from Chinese apps, no way to make local calls. They're great as a backup or a bridge for your first day, but they don't replace a real SIM for anything beyond a short trip.
Which apps should you set up first?
Once you've got your +86 number, download the essentials. Do this the same day, ideally at a cafe with good Wi-Fi. For a deeper walkthrough of mobile payments, read our guide to Alipay and WeChat Pay for expats.
WeChat (微信)
Your everything-app. Messaging, payments, mini-programs for ordering food and coffee, scanning QR codes to pay, splitting bills with friends. Register with your new +86 number, link an international Visa or Mastercard for WeChat Pay, and verify your identity with your passport.
Alipay (支付宝)
The other payment giant. Some shops prefer Alipay, some prefer WeChat Pay, most accept both. Register, link your international card, and complete the passport verification. Alipay also has a surprisingly good in-app translation feature and lets you hail Didi rides and order food through mini-programs.
Didi (滴滴出行)
China's Uber. Register with your +86 number so drivers can actually call you when they can't find your pickup spot (this will happen). The app has a decent English interface. For the full rundown on trains, taxis and bikes, see our guide to getting around Shanghai without a car.
Meituan (美团) or Ele.me (饿了么)
Food delivery. Meituan is larger in Shanghai; Ele.me (owned by Alibaba) is the strong second. Both have English modes. You need a +86 number and a delivery address.
Amap / Gaode Maps (高德地图)
Google Maps doesn't work well in China (the GPS offset alone will drive you crazy). Amap is the local standard. It shows real-time bus and metro routes, walking directions, and ride-hailing options, and it supports English.
How do you top up or recharge your plan?
Your prepaid balance will run down. Several easy ways to recharge (充值):
- WeChat or Alipay: Open the app, find "Mobile Top-up" or 充值, enter your phone number, pick an amount (minimum 50 RMB on these platforms since September 2025), and pay.
- Carrier app: Download your carrier's official app (search 中国联通 or 中国移动). You can check your remaining data and recharge directly, with top-ups starting from as little as 10 RMB.
- Carrier store: Walk into any official store and top up in person. Self-service machines are available too.
What happens to your number when you leave China?
If you leave China and stop paying your monthly plan, your number enters a grace period (typically 30 to 90 days depending on your carrier). After that, the number gets recycled and given to someone else.
If you plan to come back, visit your carrier store before you leave and ask for service suspension with number preservation (停机保号). It pauses your plan but holds your number for around 5 to 10 RMB per month, which you can prepay. Alternatively, just keep enough balance on the account to cover the minimum monthly fee.
What else should you know before you buy?
- Dual-SIM phones are your friend. Keep your home country SIM in one slot (for WhatsApp, receiving bank verification texts) and your Chinese SIM in the other.
- Your Chinese number is tied to your passport. If your passport expires and you get a new one, visit your carrier store to update the registration.
- Don't buy SIM cards from random people on the street or on Taobao. Those pre-registered-under-someone-else's-ID cards are technically illegal, and if the original registrant reports it, your number gets killed without warning.
- Weekday mornings are the sweet spot for visiting carrier stores. Weekend afternoons are packed.
- Screenshot your new number right away and save it somewhere you can access offline. You'll need to type it into app after app for the next hour.
Common questions
Do I need a Chinese phone number to use WeChat and Alipay?
You can register both with a foreign number and an international card, but many WeChat mini-programs, Didi callbacks and Meituan delivery work far better with a +86 number. If you are staying more than a week or two, get a local SIM.
Can I get a SIM card at Pudong airport?
Yes. China Telecom runs an official counter in Terminal 1 and a government service station in Terminal 2, with 7 to 30 day tourist packages from about 85 to 195 RMB. It costs more than a city store but you leave the airport connected.
How much does a SIM card plan cost in Shanghai?
Prepaid plans at carrier stores run roughly 29 to 39 RMB a month for a budget plan, 59 to 79 RMB for a mid-range plan with 10 to 20 GB, and 99 to 129 RMB for heavy data use. You pay the first month upfront.
Can expats use an eSIM in China?
China's domestic carrier eSIM needs a Chinese national ID, so foreign passport holders cannot use it. Third-party international eSIMs (Airalo, Holafly and similar) work for data only, with no +86 number and no local SMS.
What happens to my number if I leave China for a few months?
If you stop paying, the number enters a grace period (commonly around 90 days, sometimes longer) before it is recycled. Ask your carrier store for service suspension with number preservation (停机保号) for a few RMB a month to hold it.
