Mobile Data Sim Options in China

geek001 on 06/10/2017 - 18:38

Hi all,

Looking for some advice for those of you who had taken advantage of the cheap tickets to China recently. I need some info on internet access while in China. I know they just abolish roaming charges between provinces this month. I wish I was flying through Singapore, then I would have jumped on the Starhub Happy Roam sim, problem solved. I am surprised there weren't more threads like this in the forums, the only duplicate thread I found was this: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/301950

I will be there for about a week, probably need about 1GB of data. My brother told me to not worry and just get a prepaid sim when I get there, however I am not convinced as I heard conflicting information about difficulties in securing a prepaid sim as a foreigner.

Question off the top of my head:

  1. What did you do for internet access while in China and how much did you pay?
  2. Is it a lot cheaper in the shops compared to the airport? I guess the airport price would be RRP, is that right?

Thanks.

Travel

Comments

  • 87percent on 06/10/2017 - 18:58

    A friend of mine who lives in China (Guangzhou) said foreigners aren't allowed to buy prepaid SIM cards anymore… he's not sure if it's just in his area or China wide

    • datafellows on 06/10/2017 - 21:37

      Yeah, I had to call my friend to come to Telco to get a simp for me. And now each Chinese can have 1 plan only.

      When my wife fly back last time she got 3 sims under her plan so im going to use one of those next time I travel.

  • KaTst3R on 06/10/2017 - 19:44

    Last year I tried to buy a sim in Shanghai from China Mobile, I was rejected. They needed a Chinese passport.

  • quirki on 06/10/2017 - 21:12
    +1

    In China atm, best advice is go download an app called klook. You can buy simcards, airport transfers, tickets for attractions etc for most Asian countries. Collection for simcards can be done at most major airports and is fuss free, just show them the QR code!

  • datafellows on 06/10/2017 - 21:38

    I bought Optus travel pack (not sure what it was called) which i activated online. It was not too bad for occasional internet use in china.

  • clx on 07/10/2017 - 00:46

    I go on eBay and get a roaming one from another country like HK.

  • altomic on 07/10/2017 - 13:04

    PM'd you.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join