Canadians travelling to China are often shocked by the exceptionally low price of cellular data there. Coming from a country where cellular data still costs much more than in most other OECD economies, Canadians wonder how cellular data in China can be so cheap.
Cellular data is exceptionally cheap in China due to state-owned, state-guided infrastructure development, immense economies of scale, and government mandates forcing operators to reduce prices while increasing speeds. Massive user bases make infrastructure cost per person low, supported by intense competition between operators.
Why should Western tourists buy & install eSIM on their phone before entering China?
Installing an eSIM when visiting China helps avoid expensive roaming charges, provides seamless connectivity with local networks, and eliminates the hassle of swapping physical SIM cards. It offers affordable data plans, better security, and easy access to local Chinese apps like WeChat and Alipay. You can also have multiple profiles for flexibility, keeping your home number active while using a local plan, ensuring fast, reliable data on multiple devices.
Plus, eSIMs issued in the West allow access to services like Google, Gmail, YouTube, and Facebook, which are often blocked in China. To Westerners who can’t live without Google and Gmail, this is an important feature that cannot be ignored.
Need help with your eSIM purchase and installation?
Laurus Travel staff would be happy to assist you with both. Our office staff and tour guides have been thoroughly trained on this subject. In the final update sent you about two weeks prior to departure, this information will be included.
