A photo shows an ID card and sim card. [Photo/Chinanews.com]
No matter if you're coming to China for a short or long term, getting a local SIM card will save you a lot of time, money, and energy. Not only it will provide you with more affordable mobile data packages — but it will also be much easier to register on local apps!
Before You Come to China
1. Make sure your phone is unlocked (or no Chinese SIM card will work in it).
2. Check with your mobile service provider that your phone will work with the 3G and 4G networks in China.
After You Come to China
Step 01. Search
Search for the nearest 营业厅 (yíng yè tīng) in your area.
营业厅yíng yè tīngstore/business hall
China's 3 most popular providers are:
中国移动Zhōng guó yí dòngChina Mobile
中国联通Zhōng guó lián tōngChina Unicom
中国电信Zhōng guó diàn xìnChina Telecom
NOTE
China Unicom is probably the most suitable for foreign tourists (its network is compatible with more foreign phones).
It might be better to choose a store downtown, as they will most likely support registration with foreign passports.
Step 02. Prepare the Documents
The Chinese government requires real-name registration for anyone activating a SIM card, so make sure to bring your passport (or photocopy) with you.
护照hù zhàopassport
6个月以上有效期liù gè yuè yǐ shàng yǒu xiào qīvalidity for 6+ months
Step 03. Visit the Store
Come to the store, explain what you want (possibly with the help of a translator tool), and get in line.
取号排队qǔ hào pái duìto get a number and wait in line
Step 04. Get the SIM
Once it's your turn, come to the counter and say:
我要办SIM卡。Wǒ yào bàn SIM kǎ.I'd like to sign up for a sim card.(lit. "I-to want-to manage-SIM-card").
You might be asked to choose a package – 套餐 (tào cān):
你需要什么样的套餐？Nǐ xū yào shén me yàng de tào cān？What kind of plan are you looking for?(lit. "you-to require-what kind of-package").
NOTE
套餐 (tào cān) includes a combination of services such as data, talk time, text messages, and other features. Here's some useful vocabulary to choose a package:
套餐 (tào cān) ∙ package / plan语音 (yǔ yīn) ∙ calls流量 (liú liàng) ∙ data / traffic超出套餐 (chāo chū tào cān) ∙ to exceed the plan费用 (fèi yong) ∙ price
Step 05. Get the SIM
Once you've chosen a plan, the staff will help you activate the SIM card and complete the registration process.
GOOD TO KNOW
It's quite common for providers to offer the customers a chance to choose their mobile phone number.
In Chinese culture, some numbers are considered lucky while others are believed to bring bad luck based on their pronunciation. So, if you already have a number that brings you luck, you can also choose the one that suits you best.
来源：That's Mandarin编辑：万月英