Activating Travel eSIMs in China: Why You Must Install Before Arrival

Critical Information for China Travelers

Traveling TO China: You must activate your travel eSIM BEFORE entering mainland China. You cannot install or activate international travel eSIMs while physically located in mainland China.

Traveling FROM China: If you're departing China for another destination, you cannot activate your destination eSIM while in China. You must wait until you land and connect to WiFi at your destination airport before activating.

Why You Can't Activate Travel eSIMs in China

According to Apple's official support documentation, there are technical and regulatory restrictions that prevent the installation of international carrier eSIM profiles while you're physically located in mainland China. This applies whether you're traveling TO China or departing FROM China to another country.

The Technical Reason

Apple's eSIM activation system uses geolocation services to determine where you're activating your eSIM from. When your device detects that you're in mainland China, it blocks the installation of eSIM profiles from international carriers and travel eSIM providers like Lotsotravel, Airalo, and others—regardless of which country the eSIM is for.

This is a hardware and software-level restriction built into iOS to comply with Chinese telecommunications regulations. This means you cannot activate an eSIM for China while in another country and then travel there, nor can you activate an eSIM for another country while physically in China.

The Solution: Activate Before You Travel

Best Practice Timeline

3-7 days before departure: Purchase your China travel eSIM from Lotsotravel
Before your flight: Install and activate the eSIM while still in your home country
Test before departure: Verify that your eSIM is properly installed (you don't need to have data yet)
Upon landing in China: Turn on your eSIM line and enable data roaming to connect instantly

Step-by-Step: Installing Your eSIM Before China

Purchase Your China eSIM

Visit Lotsotravel.com and select a China data plan. Plans start from just $7 USD for 3GB valid for 5 days, with options up to 20GB for longer stays.

Receive Your QR Code

After purchase, you'll receive an email with your eSIM QR code and installation instructions. This usually arrives within 1-2 minutes.

Install the eSIM (While Outside China)

For iPhone:

Go to Settings → Cellular/Mobile Data → Add eSIM
Scan the QR code you received
Label it as "China" or "Travel Data"
Keep it turned OFF until you land in China

For Android:

Go to Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs → Add SIM
Select "Download a SIM instead?"
Scan your QR code
Name it "China Data" and disable it until arrival

Test Installation

Verify that your eSIM appears in your phone's cellular settings. You should see it listed as a secondary line. It's normal that it shows "No Service" before you arrive in China.

Activate Upon Landing

Once you land in China:

Turn ON your China eSIM line
Enable Data Roaming for that line
Wait 2-3 minutes for the network to connect
You should see "China Mobile" or "China Unicom" as your carrier

What If I Forgot to Activate Before My Flight?

Scenario 1: Traveling TO China

Unfortunately, You're Stuck

If you arrive in China without having pre-installed your travel eSIM, you have very limited options:

Cannot install travel eSIMs: Apple's geolocation will block all international eSIM installations
VPN won't help: The restriction is based on your device's GPS location, not your IP address
Airport SIM cards: Your only option is to buy a physical SIM card at the airport (more expensive and less convenient)
Hotel/Public WiFi: Rely on WiFi until you can purchase a physical SIM

Workaround: Transit Country Activation

If you have a layover in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or another country, you can install your eSIM during your connection before entering mainland China. These regions are not subject to the same restrictions.

Pro tip: If your flight has a stopover, use the transit airport's WiFi to install your eSIM while you're still outside mainland China's borders.

Scenario 2: Traveling FROM China to Another Destination

Solution: Activate Upon Landing

If you're departing from China and need connectivity at your destination, follow these steps:

Before departure: Purchase your destination eSIM from Lotsotravel while still in China
Install but don't activate: You can download the eSIM profile to your device, but don't try to activate it yet
Upon landing: As soon as you land at your destination airport, connect to the airport's free WiFi
Activate your eSIM: Once connected to WiFi, complete the eSIM activation process
Test connectivity: Wait 2-3 minutes for the network to connect before leaving the airport

Why Airport WiFi Matters

Most international airports offer free, open WiFi networks. This is crucial because:

You need internet connectivity to complete the eSIM activation process
The activation communicates with your eSIM provider's servers
Once activated via WiFi, your eSIM will work on cellular networks throughout your destination
Airport WiFi is typically fast enough to complete activation within 1-2 minutes

Pro tip: Before leaving China, note down your destination airport's WiFi network name so you can connect quickly upon arrival.

Understanding China's eSIM Regulations

China has some of the strictest telecommunications regulations in the world. The government requires all mobile services to be registered and controlled through licensed domestic carriers: China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom. These regulations create a "telecommunications firewall" that prevents any eSIM activation while within China's borders—regardless of whether the eSIM is for use in China or abroad.

For Chinese Domestic eSIMs

Only specific iPhone models support eSIM (currently only iPhone Air model A3518)
Must be activated in-person at carrier stores
Requires Chinese ID or passport registration
Cannot be activated remotely

For International Travel eSIMs

Cannot be installed while physically in mainland China
Must be installed before entering the country
Work through roaming agreements with Chinese carriers
Provide data-only services (no Chinese phone number)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a VPN to bypass the restriction?

No. The restriction is based on your device's GPS location services, not your IP address. Even with a VPN showing a different country, your device's geolocation will still detect that you're in China and block eSIM installations.

What about Hong Kong or Macau?

Hong Kong and Macau are not subject to these restrictions. You can freely install and activate travel eSIMs in these regions. If you're transiting through Hong Kong, you can install your China eSIM during your stopover.

Does this apply to all phone brands?

The most strict restrictions apply to iPhones due to Apple's compliance with Chinese regulations. Android devices may have varying levels of restrictions depending on the manufacturer and model, but it's safest to assume you should install your eSIM before entering China regardless of your device.

Will my eSIM work well in China?

Yes! Once properly installed before arrival, Lotsotravel's China eSIMs provide excellent 4G/LTE coverage through partnerships with major Chinese carriers. You'll have reliable data access throughout major cities and tourist areas.

Can I access blocked websites with my travel eSIM?

Travel eSIMs provide data through Chinese carrier networks, so they're subject to China's internet restrictions (the "Great Firewall"). Services like Google, Facebook, Instagram, and many Western websites will be blocked. You'll need to install a reliable VPN before entering China to access these services.

How far in advance should I buy my eSIM?

We recommend purchasing 3-7 days before your trip. This gives you plenty of time to install the eSIM, test it, and contact support if you have any issues. eSIMs typically have a validity period that starts when you first connect to the network in China, not when you install them.

Best China eSIM Plans from Lotsotravel

Lotsotravel offers some of the most affordable and reliable China eSIM plans specifically designed for international travelers:

SHORT TRIP

3GB / 5 Days

Perfect for short trips
4G/LTE speeds
Instant activation

5GB / 10 Days

$10

Ideal for 1-2 week trips
Best value for money
Priority support

EXTENDED STAY

20GB / 30 Days

$31

Long-term business trips
Heavy data usage
24/7 support included

Browse All China eSIM Plans →

Don't Get Caught Without Data

Whether you're traveling to China or departing from it, remember: You cannot activate eSIMs while within China's borders. For trips to China, install your eSIM before departure. For trips from China, activate your destination eSIM using airport WiFi after landing. Lotsotravel makes it easy with instant delivery and 24/7 support.

Browse All eSIM Plans Contact Support