The short answer: 90% of tourists don’t need a Chinese phone number. But here’s how to know if you’re in the 10%.

What Works WITHOUT a Chinese Number

Task How Status
Pay everywhere Alipay + foreign card ✅ Works
Ride-hail (DiDi) Alipay mini-program ✅ Works
Metro/Subway Alipay QR in 40+ cities ✅ Works
Food delivery Ele.me in Alipay ✅ Works
Google/WhatsApp Via international eSIM (firewall bypass) ✅ Works
Hotel booking Trip.com in English ✅ Works
Train tickets Trip.com in English ✅ Works

What NEEDS a Chinese Number

Task Why
Didi standalone app Requires +86 SMS verification
Meituan standalone app China’s biggest food delivery app
12306 train tickets China Railway official app
Some restaurant QR ordering ~30% of restaurants use WeChat mini-programs that require a +86 login
Ride-hail in smaller cities Outside tier-1 cities, Didi mini-program may be less reliable

The ¥8 Solution

If you decide you need one, get the ¥8/month number retention plan (8元保号套餐).

How to get it:

  1. Go to any China Unicom or China Mobile store (airport stores work)
  2. Bring your passport
  3. Ask for “八元保号套餐” (bā yuán bǎo hào tào cān)
  4. They’ll try to sell you more expensive plans. Insist on this one.
  5. Pay ¥100 top-up, get your SIM, done in 10 minutes

Why this plan:

  • ¥8/month ($1.10) to keep the number alive
  • 30 minutes of calls included
  • Comes with a real +86 number
  • Keep it even after you leave China
  • Top up ¥100 every 6 months while abroad
  • Enable free international roaming (SMS only) so you can receive verification codes anywhere

The Hybrid Setup (Best of Both Worlds)

International eSIM (data + firewall bypass)
   + 
¥8 China Unicom SIM (+86 number for apps)
   =
Full China connectivity, ~$10/month total

Use the eSIM for data on your primary phone. Keep the ¥8 SIM in a dual-SIM slot or cheap backup phone just for receiving SMS codes.

The Verdict

Trip Type Recommendation
Short tourism (1-7 days) Skip the SIM. eSIM + Alipay is enough.
Medium trip (1-4 weeks) Get the ¥8 SIM if you want food delivery and local apps.
Long stay (1+ months) Definitely get a local SIM.
Business traveler Get the SIM for reliability.
Repeat visitor Get the ¥8 SIM on your first trip and keep it alive.

Read our eSIM comparison guide and Alipay setup guide.