Which is better, eSIM or a local SIM card?
Depends on your needs. eSIM: Ready to use upon arrival, no need to change SIM cards, can keep your original number to receive verification codes, suitable for short trips and people who don’t want to get a SIM card; the downside is higher price (10–30 CNY per day), and does not provide a Chinese number — inconvenient for ride-hailing, food delivery, or receiving SMS verification codes. Local SIM: Cheapest option (monthly 30–59 CNY with 20–60GB), provides a Chinese number, allows receiving verification codes and registering for various services without issues; downside is must register in person at an official store (20–30 minutes).
It depends on your needs. eSIM: ready to use upon arrival, no need to change SIM cards, can keep your original number for receiving verification codes, suitable for short trips and for those who don’t want to get a new SIM; the downside is that it is more expensive (10–30 CNY per day), and does not provide a China number—which is inconvenient for ride-hailing, ordering food, and receiving SMS verification codes. Local SIM: the cheapest option (monthly fee 30–59 CNY including 20–60GB), provides a China number, smooth for receiving verification codes and registering for various services; the downside is that you must register in person with real-name verification (20–30 minutes). The optimal solution is dual SIM: use your original number in the secondary slot to receive verification codes, and use a China card or eSIM for data. If your phone doesn’t support dual SIM, choose eSIM for data while keeping your original number for security. Whichever option you choose, download offline maps before departure, because many routes in the plateau and mountainous areas have no signal.