Local Mobile Number for Travelers to China

Why you still need a Chinese 11-digit number in the eSIM era—and the fastest ways to get one on arrival.

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🚀 Quick Start Guide

1️⃣
Find a kiosk
Look for "5G Tourist SIM" machines at PEK T3, PVG T2, HK-High-Speed-Rail West Kowloon, and most Metro Line 2/10 hubs.
2️⃣
Insert passport + face scan
Machine reads MRZ & visa, snaps selfie for real-name. Takes 45 s.
3️⃣
Select plan
Default 20 GB/60 days ¥120; slider to 10 GB/30 days ¥80.
4️⃣
Pay
Scan the on-screen blue merchant QR with Alipay/WeChat Tourist Pay; Visa/Master abroad card clears at ~1 % FX; cash option ¥200 only.
5️⃣
Activate
SIM auto-activates in ≤2 min; SMS arrives with number + APN; eSIM QR shows on screen for dual-SIM phones.

📱 What is a Chinese mobile number? — 60-second primer

Number format & carriers
11-digits starting 1 [3–9] xxx xxxxxx. Major networks: China Mobile (CMCC), China Unicom, China Telecom.
Why visitors still want one
Receive ride-hailing / bank OTP SMS, unlock Meituan coupons, register on Dianping, link to "Tourist Pay" for higher FX caps, buy train-ticket insurance.
Ways to obtain (2025)
• A) Tourist eSIM (Trip.com, CMHK) → virtual CN number in 5 min
• B) "Tourist Prepaid" 60-day SIM at airport kiosks (¥120 incl. 20 GB)
• C) Self-service kiosk "手机卡自助机" with passport + face scan in tier-1 metro stations
Real-name rule
PRC law: every SIM/eSIM must be verified with passport photo & live face scan. Kiosk uploads to Ministry of Industry & IT within 60 s.
Cost & credit
Tourist eSIM ¥25–49 / 1 GB-3 GB; physical SIM ¥60–120 incl. ¥50 airtime; top-ups ¥30 increments; pay with blue merchant QR (≈1 % FX).
Language support
Airport desks bilingual; kiosks offer EN/JP/KR; carrier apps auto-flip to English when phone lang=EN.
Network quality
5G SA in 333 prefecture-cities; 4G fallback nationwide; typical 5G speed 130–350 Mbps down, 25 Mbps up at stations.
Good to know
Incoming SMS & calls are always free; outgoing local calls ¥0.15 /min; iMessage/WhatsApp verify fine.
TL;DR
Scan your passport at a station kiosk, pay ¥120 via blue QR, and walk away with an 11-digit Chinese number that delivers OTPs instantly—even if you keep your home eSIM for data.

🏆 Most-Cited Success Recipe

1

Link CN number to Alipay "Tourist Pay"

Raises daily FX cap to ¥20 000 & unlocks metro auto-deduct.

2

Port number into Trip.com eSIM

Keep same digits after data pack expires; saves new-OTP hassle.

3

Use carrier mini-program for top-ups

Alipay "Mobile Top-Up" gives 5 % bonus credit on Tuesday nights.

4

Switch to VoLTE Only

Forces HD-voice and better LTE data in basements.

Why it helps: Chinese number unlocks payment features, maintains connectivity, and reduces verification hassles.

🔄 2024–25 Updates

📱

May 2025: China Mobile Tourist eSIM Launch

China Mobile launches Tourist 30-day eSIM with real CN number in 56 countries' App Stores.

Sources: China Mobile, App Store, Google Play, Trip.com, CMHK
🚇

Feb 2025: Beijing Rail SIM Kiosk Expansion

Beijing Rail adds 60 self-service SIM kiosks at Line 14/17 stations.

Sources: Beijing Rail, China Mobile, China Unicom, Beijing Metro, Trip.com
💳

Oct 2024: Blue QR Mandatory Rule

"Blue QR mandatory" rule—airport SIM desks must use merchant codes that accept foreign cards.

Sources: PBOC, Alipay, WeChat Pay, Airport Authority, China Mobile

⚠️ Common Issues & Fixes

❌

Only green personal QR on kiosk

Solution: Ask staff to switch screen to merchant QR, or pay cash.
⏰

SMS codes delayed from overseas apps

Solution: Toggle phone to 4G only (some overseas A2P routes blocked on 5G SA).
📄

Passport photo "glare" error

Solution: Angle document 30°; kiosk has anti-glare LED but struggles with glossy covers.
⏳

SIM stops at 60 days

Solution: Top-up ¥50 credit before Day 59 to auto-extend validity another 60 days.

🔄 Backup / Alternatives

🌐

Trip.com "China + HK" eSIM

No CN number but Google/WhatsApp OTP via HK route.

  • • No Chinese number included
  • • Works with international apps
  • • Hong Kong routing for OTP
🌏

Global SIM booths (PEK T3 Intl)

¥199 for 30 days 10 GB across 11 Asian countries.

  • • Multi-country coverage
  • • Available at international terminal
  • • Higher cost but regional flexibility
📞

Public phone in hotel lobby

¥2/min to foreign mobiles; useful if SIM fails.

  • • Emergency backup option
  • • Available in most hotels
  • • Pay-per-minute billing

🛠 Technical Notes

  • • Number ranges: China Mobile 134/135/136/…/198; Unicom 130/131/132/…; Telecom 133/153/173/…
  • • VoLTE & 5G: iPhone 12+ and most global Androids auto-register; APN cmnet / uninet / ctnet if manual.
  • • Data share: Hotspot allowed; no extra tethering fee.
  • • Roam-out SMS: Works in HK/Macau; deactivates after 90 days continuous roam.

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