Product info
Shenzhen eSIM plans
| Unlimited data · 5 days | $17.99 | Buy eSIM |
| Ohayu recommendsUnlimited data · 10 days | $33.99 | Buy eSIM |
| Unlimited data · 15 days | $41.99 | Buy eSIM |
| 3GB prepaid eSIM · 15 days | $10.49$3.50 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 5GB prepaid eSIM · 30 days | $14.79$2.96 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 10GB prepaid eSIM · 30 days | $24.99$2.50 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 20GB prepaid eSIM · 30 days | $38.99$1.95 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 50GB prepaid eSIM · 30 days | $83.99$1.68 / GB | Buy eSIM |
You can install your eSIM before the trip and activate it when you arrive in China. Validity starts after eSIM activation.
Plan details
How much mobile data you need
What's the best eSIM for Shenzhen?
Short trip – 3 GB
Maps, translation, ride-hailing.
A week – 5 GB
Navigation and translation daily.
Shenzhen and Guangzhou – 20 GB
Both Delta cities on one plan.
Business week – Unlimited
Tethering, usually over a VPN.
Coverage and network
Coverage up to the border
China mobile networks
Shenzhen went from fishing villages to a city of 17 million in forty years, and its network is as new as everything else here. Coverage is excellent. The thing that catches visitors is that the city ends at a border, and your plan ends with it. (Speedtest by Ookla, June 2026)
Speedtest Global Index · Mobile · China · June 2026
Download
179.33 Mbps
Upload
27.28 Mbps
Latency
32 ms
Global rank
#12 of 98
Shenzhen, specifically
- Futian, Nanshan, the metro: Among the best-covered urban areas in China. The metro is comprehensive and fully served.
- Crossing to Hong Kong: This is the important one. Hong Kong is a separate telecoms market, so a mainland China plan stops working when you cross at Luohu, Futian or Shenzhen Bay. It is a short trip that thousands make daily, and people regularly arrive in Hong Kong with a dead data connection. You need a Hong Kong plan for that side.
- Huaqiangbei electronics markets: Full coverage through the market halls, which are dense multi-storey buildings where you might expect otherwise.
- Dapeng and the eastern coast: Good along the main roads and beach towns, thinner on the coastal hiking trails.
Mainland only
The plan covers mainland China. Hong Kong and Macau are separate destinations - worth knowing in a city that borders both.
How to install eSIM
Connected in 3 steps
- 01
Buy before you fly
Choose your data plan before your trip.
- 02
Download & install
Log in to your account, tap your eSIM, and follow the on-screen instructions.
- 03
Land & activate
Activate when you arrive in China. Turn on roaming for the eSIM and it connects to a local network.
Before you buy, make sure your phone supports eSIM — see Ohayu compatible devices list or dial *#06#. It's a free request to your phone's settings. If you see the EID number — your phone is eSIM-compatible.
Arriving in Shenzhen
Airport Wi-Fi at SZX
Bao'an offers four ways in, including a code machine that accepts a passport. Once you have authenticated it reconnects you automatically for about six months.
Side by side
Shenzhen eSIM Comparison
Indicative comparison based on publicly listed China plans as of August 2026. Competitor pricing and policies change - check their sites for current terms.
Frequently asked questions
Where to buy a SIM card in Shenzhen?
Carrier shops at Bao'an and throughout Futian and Nanshan, with passport registration required. An eSIM installed beforehand skips the counter.
Is passport registration required for a local SIM?
Yes, every Chinese line is registered to a named person and your passport gets scanned at purchase. Ohayu plans carry no Chinese number, so that step does not exist.
Does my China plan work in Hong Kong?
No. Hong Kong runs its own telecoms market separately from the mainland, so a China plan stops at the border crossing - Luohu, Futian and Shenzhen Bay included. This matters in Shenzhen more than anywhere else in China, because crossing over for a day is routine and the checkpoints are on the metro. If you are doing both sides, you need a Hong Kong plan too.
Will Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work in Shenzhen?
No, and no eSIM changes that. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube are filtered nationally, so they will not load on any mainland connection. Bring a VPN configured in advance and offline maps. Cross to Hong Kong and everything works again, which is one more reason Shenzhen visitors keep a second plan.
eSIM not working in Shenzhen?
First check you have not crossed into Hong Kong - that is the most common cause here. If you are still on the mainland and apps will not load, test baidu.com to separate the firewall from a connection fault, then confirm the Ohayu eSIM is your data line and roaming is on. Chat and support@ohayu.com are open 24/7.
