The easiest way for most visitors to get a mainland Chinese number is to buy a physical SIM from China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom at an official store using your passport. A travel eSIM bought online usually provides data only and does not include a mainland Chinese +86 phone number.

A mainland eSIM with a local number became possible for some supported smartphones in China in 2025. The main limitation is the phone itself. Overseas iPhones, Google Pixel phones and many international Android models generally cannot activate a mainland carrier eSIM.

China eSIM and Local Number Options at a Glance

Option Mainland +86 number Works on an overseas phone Best for
Travel eSIM No, usually data only Usually yes Short trips needing internet
Mainland physical SIM Yes Yes, if the phone has a physical SIM slot Tourists needing calls or SMS
Mainland carrier eSIM Yes Usually no People with a compatible mainland-issued phone
Hong Kong carrier eSIM with mainland service Potentially Depends on the plan and device Repeat visitors and business users

Option 1: Buy a Physical Chinese SIM

For most tourists, a physical SIM is the most dependable way to get a Chinese number.

China Mobile's foreign-customer registration process includes number selection, plan selection, identity verification, payment and an activation test. A passport can be used as the identification document, subject to the carrier and store's verification process.

How to Get One

  1. Take an unlocked phone with a physical SIM slot.
  2. Visit an official China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom store.
  3. Bring your passport.
  4. Ask for a prepaid or short-term plan with a mainland number.
  5. Complete real-name registration and identity verification.
  6. Choose your number and plan.
  7. Insert the SIM and test:
    • Mobile data
    • Incoming SMS
    • Outgoing SMS
    • Calls
    • WeChat, Alipay and other services that may require verification

Chinese mobile numbers require real-name registration. China Mobile's guide includes identity and facial verification, and says the number can be deactivated when the plan expires.

What to Say in a Store

Show the staff this phrase:

我想用护照办理一个中国大陆手机号码。 I would like to register a mainland China mobile number using my passport.

You can also say:

我需要实体SIM卡，不是eSIM。 I need a physical SIM card, not an eSIM.

Option 2: Get a Mainland eSIM From a Chinese Carrier

China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom support mainland eSIM activation for eligible phones. Activation takes place at a carrier store and includes identity verification.

Check the Phone Before You Go

An eSIM-capable phone is not automatically eligible. The handset must also be an approved mainland Chinese model.

Apple's China mainland support page lists these supported iPhone models:

  • iPhone 18 Pro
  • iPhone 18 Pro Max
  • iPhone Duo
  • iPhone 17e
  • iPhone Air

Apple says that other iPhone models, including iPhones bought outside mainland China, cannot install an eSIM profile from mainland Chinese carriers.

China Telecom says its mainland phone eSIM service supports China mainland-issued phones that have completed the required network adaptation process. Overseas versions cannot currently be registered for the service.

How to Activate a Mainland eSIM

If your phone is eligible:

  1. Confirm that it is a mainland China version.
  2. Visit a China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom store.
  3. Bring your passport or another accepted government ID.
  4. Complete real-name registration.
  5. Ask the staff to activate a mobile eSIM plan with a new +86 number.
  6. Let the store install and test the eSIM profile.

Do not expect a QR code from a travel eSIM provider to work for this. Mainland carrier eSIM activation uses the carrier's registration and store process.

Option 3: Use a Hong Kong Carrier eSIM With Mainland Service

Some Hong Kong telecom services can provide an eSIM with a mainland mobile number, depending on the plan. China Unicom Hong Kong's terms say that customers may receive a mainland number under certain services. Its store also advertises mainland-number plans and says registration is subject to China's real-name requirements.

This is different from a standard China travel eSIM:

  • A travel eSIM usually provides data only.
  • A Hong Kong eSIM may provide a Hong Kong number, a mainland number, or both.
  • A mainland-number service may require extra registration, a contract or help from a store.
  • Eligibility depends on the plan and the customer's location.

This option is more suitable for business travellers, Hong Kong or Macau residents and people who visit mainland China regularly. For an occasional tourist, a physical mainland SIM is usually simpler.

Do Travel eSIMs Include a Chinese Phone Number?

Usually, no. China travel eSIMs from international providers are normally data-only. They connect your phone to mobile internet but do not provide a mainland +86 number for ordinary calls and SMS. Vodafone's China travel eSIM information describes the product as a travel data plan rather than a local voice number.

A data-only eSIM may be enough for:

  • Maps and translation
  • WeChat and other messaging apps
  • Alipay and online payments
  • Ride-hailing apps
  • Email and work apps
  • Internet access during a short visit

A local number matters when you need Chinese SMS verification, calls from hotels or drivers, local business contacts, or services that require a mainland mobile number.

What If Your Phone Is eSIM-Only?

If your phone was bought outside mainland China and has no physical SIM slot, you have three main choices.

Use a Travel eSIM and Keep Your Foreign Number

This is the simplest setup for internet access. Travel eSIMs generally provide data only, so you can keep your existing number active for SMS verification if your carrier supports roaming.

Use a Second Phone With a Physical SIM Slot

Use your eSIM-only phone for your usual data connection and carry a low-cost unlocked phone for the mainland SIM. This is the most dependable setup when you need a real +86 number for calls or SMS.

Buy a Compatible Mainland Phone

If you need a mainland eSIM for long-term use, buy a supported China mainland handset and activate the number at a carrier store. Check compatibility before buying because an international version of the same model may not support mainland carrier eSIM profiles.

Best Choice by Situation

  • Short tourist trip: Buy a data travel eSIM and keep your home SIM active for SMS.
  • Need a genuine +86 number: Buy a physical SIM at an official carrier store with your passport.
  • Have a mainland-issued eSIM-compatible phone: Activate a mainland carrier eSIM in person.
  • Visit China regularly or work across Greater China: Check Hong Kong carrier plans that explicitly include a mainland number.
  • Own an overseas eSIM-only phone: Use a second phone with a physical SIM slot if the local number is essential.

Bottom Line

For most international visitors, a passport-registered physical SIM from an official carrier store is the simplest way to get a Chinese local number. Choose a travel eSIM when you only need internet access, and choose a mainland carrier eSIM only after confirming that your phone is an eligible mainland-market model.