Mobile Operators & SIM Cards in China

Mobile networks in China

Mobile lines by operator, as of the end of June 2026 (total from MIIT; operator figures from each company's own quarterly data). Sources are listed at the end of the page.

China Unicom publishes a combined "connectivity" figure that adds its mobile billing subscribers to fixed broadband, fixed-line, Internet-of-things and leased-line subscribers, so it can't be compared with the mobile figures above.

Buying a SIM card in China as a visitor

• When you sign up for a phone line in China, the operator must ask you to show a valid ID document and give your real identity details, and you must cooperate.
• A foreign citizen's passport is one of the ID documents an individual can present for registration.
• The operator must check the document and record its type and the name, number and address shown on it.
• If you refuse to show a valid ID, or use someone else's or a forged document, the operator must not open the line.
• China's Anti-Telecom and Online Fraud Law requires operators to fully enforce real-name registration of phone users.
• The same law caps how many phone cards one person can get, and lets operators run extra checks or refuse a card when a purchase looks abnormal.
• Operators must re-verify the identity behind phone cards flagged as abnormal, and can restrict or suspend a card whose check is not done or fails.

Bring your passport: a foreign passport is an accepted ID for China's real-name registration, and the operator must check it and record your details before it opens your line.

Using your US phone in China

Whether your US plan covers China, and at what cost, depends on the plan, so check your carrier's international page before you go. Our guide to using your US phone abroad covers roaming, Wi-Fi calling and bill surprises.

To call China from the US, dial 011 + 86 + the number: see how to call China and the China phone number format.

FAQ

Do I need a passport to buy a SIM card in China?

When you sign up for a phone line in China, the operator must ask you to show a valid ID document and give your real identity details, and you must cooperate. A foreign citizen's passport is one of the ID documents an individual can present for registration.

Which is the biggest mobile operator in China?

China Mobile reported 1,011 million mobile customers for the second quarter of 2026 (1,009 million in the first quarter). At the end of June 2026, China's three basic telecom operators and China Broadnet had 1.844 billion mobile phone users in total, according to MIIT.

How many mobile phone users does China have?

At the end of June 2026, China's three basic telecom operators and China Broadnet had 1.844 billion mobile phone users in total, according to MIIT. By the end of July 2026, the total had reached 1.847 billion mobile phone users. 5G users made up 69.9% of China's mobile phone users at the end of June 2026 (1.288 billion).

Can a Chinese SIM card be suspended after I buy it?

Operators must re-verify the identity behind phone cards flagged as abnormal, and can restrict or suspend a card whose check is not done or fails.