Getting Well-Connected in China

Having just returned from China, there’s a couple of things that I’m very thankful I did in preparation for the trip and one of it includes activating a China-number SIM Card. Fret not, this can be done from Singapore!

Getting a local China number helps a ton – especially for using applications like:

• Meituan (美团) – perfect for food delivery, buying essentials, and purchase of tickets. Securing museum tickets, especially for most popular and free ones, must be done through Meituan.  
• Ele.me (饿了么) – an alternative to Meituan
• Da Zhong Dian Ping (大众点评) – allows you to buy vouchers that can be easily used in many restaurants across the country. I even managed to secure a great karaoke deal through the app.
• Small Programs within WeChat and AliPay – many businesses (including coffee chains) have small membership programs within these two major applications, and you can score great deals through these programs. The catch is, you’ll need a local number.

Since I would be arriving in Xi’an early in the morning, I realized that my chances of obtaining a local SIM card there were not very high. Also, getting a local sim card within China would mean that I would not be able to access WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Google while on their local network.

Obtaining the SIM card from CMLink was therefore an enticing option. I opted for a CMLink SIM card from Singapore, a no-contract, monthly chargeable option starting at $10.90.

** As of Oct 2024, CMLink has imposed a minimum one month of usage of SIM card upon activation before being able to activate the China number. **

Here are the steps:

1. Obtain the SIM card (available in many retailers across Singapore),
2. Activate the SIM card via the portal
3. Turn on the data roaming option on the portal
4. Apply for the CMLink 1-Card-Multi Number (China Mobile Mainland Number) and select your China mobile number. The cost is $5.10 a month.
5. Fill in your particulars and upload a photo of your passport (Needed for real-name verification)
6. Wait for your China number to be approved
7. Upon approval, you can begin receiving SMSes and calls to that China number.

DO NOTE: All calls received via the China number will be directed to your Singapore number as you essentially bought a SINGAPORE SIM card. Roaming charges are therefore applied here. I believe that this applies to SMS received too.

I chose the $21/month plan with 50GB of data, of which half of is usable in China, sufficient for my 12-day trip.

Additional tips:

1. Buy your SIM card a few days before your trip as it can take up to five days for your Chinese number to be activated (mine took about three hours). Your plan will renew at the beginning of every month, so if you purchase it mid-month, your bill will be prorated so do take note.
2. Remember that all calls received via your Chinese line are chargeable as roaming calls – it slipped my mine and I ended up with roaming charges ($2/minute).
3. Track your data usage via the portal – unlike eSIMs that generally have a daily cap and is renewed daily, there is no cap to this plan so you may unknowingly consume more data than you realise.
4. When using the local applications, do put a note to the delivery driver to not call you when your items have arrived, but rather message you within the application (so as to not incur additional call fees).
5. Remember to cancel your number upon returning to Singapore (via the online chat or over the phone! You’ll need to pay for additional costs that’s incurred on your trip before the line is successfully cancelled.

A local number via CMLink lets you stay connected via your usual platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and more while in China. The cost is comparable to, or even less than, an eSIM, especially for high data users like myself.

I’ve to say that utilising a local SIM Card from Singapore for travel in China is a game-changer. Not only does it provide access to many local applications for cost-savings, it also significantly enhances the overall travel experience.

To all heading to China, I hope this post helped!