Beijing SIM Card & eSIM Guide: Coverage, Plans & Service Halls

Updated · Written by Harry Cheng, founder of china-mobile-phones.com (est. 2003)

Yellow-tiled roofs, red walls and white marble balustrades of a hall in the Forbidden City, Beijing
The Forbidden City in central Beijing. Having data on arrival makes the first day of sightseeing far easier.
Quick answer: Landing in Beijing for a few days with an unlocked phone? Set up an eSIM at home and you will have data at Capital or Daxing. Planning to stay longer, or need a local number for apps and deliveries? Then sign up for a China Mobile SIM at a hall, passport in hand. Beijing's halls are listed in a directory here.
At a glance
  • Dialling code 010; airports PEK (Capital) and PKX (Daxing)
  • Help line 10086 (010-10086 from other phones); online portal 10086.cn, choose Beijing
  • A local SIM means a passport check and real-name registration in person
  • Hall listings on this site: Beijing
Harry Cheng runs this independent guide, which has followed China's mobile market since 2003 and has no tie to any carrier.

Which should you pick?

Match the option to the trip. A few days on an eSIM-ready, unlocked phone? Go eSIM. Want a Chinese number but no counter queue? A tourist SIM can be ordered ahead. Planning weeks in the city, or full local plans? Register at a China Mobile hall with your passport. Roaming is worth considering only when your home carrier prices China sensibly.

Five ways to get connected in Beijing

eSIM (install before you fly)

Download an eSIM profile before departure and your phone has data the moment it connects in Beijing. No counter, no passport check. You need an eSIM-capable phone that is not locked to a carrier. Not sure yours qualifies? Run it through my China phone compatibility checker first. I recommend Holafly; my China eSIM guide walks through setup.

Get a Holafly eSIM

Tourist SIM with a Chinese number

Buy a physical SIM before you leave. It uses the China Unicom network and includes a real Chinese number, which spares you the hall queue. The product I link to is Talktiko.

See Talktiko on Amazon

China Mobile SIM from a service hall

The traditional local route: visit a hall with your passport, register, and walk out with an active SIM. It works best for longer stays. See the Beijing hall directory.

Roaming on your home SIM

Your home plan may already include China. Traffic normally routes via your home network, which tends to keep foreign apps usable. Look up the per-day fee before relying on it, as costs can mount.

Virtual number for SMS codes

Only need to receive codes by SMS? A virtual number saves buying a SIM. Options are covered in my China SMS receiving guide.

Compare the options

Comparison of connection options in Beijing
OptionSetupChinese numberBest for
eSIMInstalled before you flyTypically noShort stays, unlocked phones
Tourist SIM (Talktiko)Ordered ahead, inserted on arrivalYesA Chinese number with no hall visit
China Mobile hall SIMIn person, passport requiredYesLong stays, local plans
RoamingNothing, if China is coveredYour home numberShort visits, convenience

Coverage in Beijing

All three mainland carriers (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom) operate 4G and 5G in Beijing, with strong service across the built-up city. Outlying attractions such as Great Wall sections are less predictable, so save maps and tickets offline before heading out.

Plans and top-up

Tariffs and promotions shift frequently, so confirm the current deal at a hall or on 10086.cn instead of trusting a number here. Once you hold a Chinese number, recharging works through the China Mobile app, Alipay, WeChat Pay or any hall counter. My China prepaid SIM guide compares the wider field.

Places in and around Beijing

Central Beijing. The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the old hutong lanes sit in the central districts, where halls are most plentiful. Directory: Beijing service halls.

Airports. Beijing Capital (PEK) is the longer-established gateway; Daxing (PKX) is the newer airport to the south. Sort out data before you fly rather than relying on a counter.

The Great Wall. Popular sections such as Badaling and Mutianyu lie outside the city centre. Download offline maps and your tickets before you go.

Summer Palace and the north-west. The Summer Palace and the university area are in Haidian District, covered by the same city directory.

Another municipality hub: Shanghai SIM card guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors from abroad get a China Mobile SIM in Beijing?

Yes. Go to a China Mobile hall with your passport; every SIM must be registered under a real name, and the staff activate it while you wait. You can find halls in the Beijing directory on this site.

eSIM or local SIM for a short Beijing visit?

Over a week or two, an eSIM is usually less hassle: set it up at home and data works when you arrive. It needs an unlocked phone with eSIM support. Choose a local SIM instead if you are staying longer or want a Chinese number.

Where are China Mobile halls in Beijing?

Check the Beijing hall directory on this site, where halls are grouped by district and listed with addresses and contact information.

Should I sort out a SIM before landing in Beijing?

If possible, yes. Beijing's two international airports are Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX); an eSIM set up before departure lets you navigate and book transport on arrival without finding a counter first.

How do I contact China Mobile in Beijing?

Call 10086 from a China Mobile number, or 010-10086 from another phone. The online portal is 10086.cn; choose Beijing.

Will Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work on a local SIM?

Generally not. A local China SIM uses China's internet, where many overseas services are blocked. Roaming plans and certain eSIMs send traffic via a foreign network, so ask your provider how it works before depending on it.

Can I get a Chinese number for verification codes and delivery apps?

Yes. A SIM registered at a hall gives you a Chinese number, and so does a tourist SIM like Talktiko's. For SMS codes alone, a virtual number may be enough and saves the hall visit.

What is Beijing's area code?

Beijing's area code is 010, and the city is served by two international airports, Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX).

北京中国移动办卡须知

外籍游客可携带护照到中国移动营业厅办理实名登记并开通手机卡；若停留较短，可在出发前安装eSIM。客服热线10086（北京：010-10086），官网10086.cn（选择北京）。北京营业厅信息请见本站北京营业厅目录。

How this page was put together: this guide rests on general knowledge of China's mobile market plus my Beijing hall directory. I have omitted anything I could not confirm, such as prices, airport counters and portal addresses, so ring 10086 to check specifics before you travel.
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Disclosure: I earn a commission if you buy through some links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.



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