China eSIM for 30 days: how to set up data for a month's stay

How much data 30 days in China takes

Thirty days is living somewhere, not touring non-stop

Most people spending thirty days in China are not changing city every two days. They may base in Shanghai or Chengdu to work remotely, study the language in Beijing, or stay with relatives and go out on weekends. Data use therefore differs from a short trip: steady, lighter weekdays and weekend spikes, not a daily rollercoaster.

We sell China-only packs valid for 30 days in 3, 5, 10, 20 and 50 GB. Our estimates are 14 GB light, 31 GB normal and 65 GB heavy. Someone with good Wi-Fi at their lodging who uses data only when out will often fit 20 GB, while someone running video calls, syncing files or relying on mobile data should look at 50 GB. The 65 GB heavy figure exceeds the largest 30-day pack we sell, 50 GB. If you are in that group, plan to add a daily plan or a second 20 GB pack rather than waiting for it to run out mid-month.

Working remotely from China: what to check first

Wi-Fi in Chinese hotels and apartments usually works, but many foreign sites and services are restricted, and some work tools may be unstable. Mobile data that exits abroad is useful as a backup or as the main route for work that needs those services, though it does not fully replace Wi-Fi. Check the hotspot policy of the pack you choose before tethering a laptop every day.

• Video-call work: use Wi-Fi first and keep mobile data for when it fails.
• Large file sync: set it to Wi-Fi only, or 50 GB goes quickly.
• Work that depends on Google or foreign services: test on day one, as no app is guaranteed.

Study or family visits: the home Wi-Fi and your own data

If you stay with relatives or in a dorm, home Wi-Fi usually works daily and handles Chinese services such as WeChat well. Your own data is then for outside the home and for moments you need foreign apps, so 20 GB may be more than enough. For study, many courses use a Chinese number or apps that need an in-country sign-up, so ask the school what it needs before you go.

Planning validity and the longer options

Our 30-day packs count validity as stated on the plan page. If you stay the full thirty days, allow for the install day and the first-use day. If you go beyond thirty days, say six weeks, buy the second pack before the first runs out. These packs do not renew themselves. For people who return to China repeatedly, there is a 50 GB pack valid for 180 days that suits several trips, though it is one total and does not reset monthly.

Apps you will use daily on a long stay

Over a month, one good setup beats repeated fixes. Install Alipay in Tour Pass mode or a card-linked WeChat Pay, Didi for rides, Amap or Baidu Maps for navigation, and a food-delivery app, several of which support visitors. Ordering food to your door often uses little data, but check English support and how deliveries are handed over first. Our China plans exit abroad, as the China eSIM guide explains, so Google, LINE and Instagram usually open without a VPN of your own. But nobody can guarantee every app on every network over a whole month, so keep a fallback for important contacts, such as WeChat or email.