SIM Cards in China Expire with No Useĭuring my second trip to China, I was surprised to find out after landing that my previous phone plan no longer worked, despite having plenty of credit leftover from the previous trip.

As long as you don’t have any outstanding balances on your account, your wireless carrier generally will have zero objections to unlocking your phone.Įxpect this process to take a few days, so plan ahead should your trip to China be coming up. If it is, you can contact your phone carrier and explain you need the unlock code for your trip to China. There are drawbacks to this method, but in some ways it is easier than trying to get a China SIM card.Ĭheck Your Phone’s Unlock Status ()Ĭheck Your Phone’s Compatibility with China Carriers

Rent a Phone / International Roaming: If your phone isn’t unlocked but you still need to use a phone in China, you can either rent a phone or use international roaming with your home carrier.īefore I go on about SIM cards, it’s worth noting that if all you need is internet access, you can always look into your options for getting reliable WiFi in China.

This option takes time, however, so I wouldn’t make this your primary option.

Purchase a SIM Card in China: If you’re already in China or if it’s too late to purchase a prepaid China SIM card, you can always visit the office of a local service provider in China to get a SIM card.

Purchase a PrePaid SIM Card: If you know for sure that your phone is unlocked, you can purchase a Chinese SIM card prior to your arrival in China.

Overall I recommend three ways to connect to China’s mobile network using your phone:

In short, your smart phone can take all the most common pains out of traveling so you can focus more on having a good time.īut to do all these things, you need network access for your phone, which often requires buying a local China SIM card.įor those who may not know, a SIM card (short for “subscriber identity module”) is that little card that goes inside your phone that connects you to local service (phone, text, internet). You can get map directions, use Chinese voice translators, use the popular WeChat app, book Chinese trains, and so much more. Having traveled around Asia for over 15 years, I highly recommend traveling through China with a smartphone.

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