Using your eSIM in China
What you get with every China plan
Where it works
China
Networks
Differs by plan. Good to know lists them for each plan.
Hotspot
Allowed
When your plan starts
When you land
Install by
Within 180 days of buying
Questions about China eSIMs
Does WhatsApp work in China?
On a local Chinese network, no.
What a travel eSIM can reach depends on where its traffic is routed, which the network details on this page name for this plan.
Check that before you rely on it.
Does Google work in China?
Not on local networks.
Search, Gmail, Maps and Drive are blocked there, and so is Instagram.
Apple Maps, Amap and Bing are the usual stand-ins, and WeChat covers a surprising amount of the rest.
Do I need WeChat in China?
Close to it.
Restaurants show their menu through it, taxis are booked in it and small shops expect to be paid through it.
All of that runs on mobile data, so being online matters more here than it looks.
How do I get a taxi in China?
Didi is the ride app and it has an English setting.
You need data to book it and to pay, and the driver may ring you, so keep your own number reachable on your usual SIM.
What should I set up before I arrive in China?
Whatever you rely on day to day, while you are still at home.
Some of the services you would normally use to sort out a problem are hard to get to from inside the country, so test them before you fly.
Does a China plan cover Hong Kong or Macau?
Not as a given.
Both have their own networks and their own rules, so check the coverage list on this page, and look at the Hong Kong plan if you are spending real time there.
Questions about every Ryvo plan
Will it work on my phone?
Does it come with a phone number?
No.
Ryvo eSIMs are data only.
There's no phone number, and you can't make calls or send texts on the eSIM itself.
Can I keep my usual number?
Yes.
Keep your main SIM on for calls and texts, and set the eSIM as your mobile data line.
Your carrier's roaming rates still apply to calls and texts, so check them before you go.
Can I share my data as a hotspot?
It depends on the plan.
Each plan says whether hotspot is allowed before you pay.
What if I run out of data?
Add data from your order page if your plan can be topped up.
If it can't, buy another plan for the same destination.
What if my eSIM won't connect?
Email us and we'll work through it with you, starting with your phone's mobile data settings.
If we can't get it working, our refund policy explains what happens next.
Before you go
The three Chinese networks are the ones the list on this page names for your plan.
The thin spots are the far west and the mountains, and no plan promises otherwise.
WeChat handles messaging, payments, taxis and tickets in one app, and people here expect it.
Set it up before you fly, because verifying an overseas number is easier from home.
Apple Maps and Amap both work in China.
Google Maps on a local network does not, so put an alternative on your phone before you land.
Keep your usual SIM switched on for calls and texts, and choose the eSIM for mobile data.
Still need help?
Email us your order reference, and we'll help you get connected.