Phones, SIM cards and offline travel in Xinjiang

For a local SIM, the government guide directs foreign visitors to an operator’s service office with their passport. Check the plan’s duration, data, calls and cancellation before buying. If you use roaming or a travel eSIM, confirm mainland-China coverage, phone compatibility and access to the apps you rely on with the provider.

Editorial review: 2026-11-05

What to check before booking

Keep access to your usual number for bank verification. Before leaving a city, save the hotel address in Chinese, driver’s contact, booking details and the next meeting point offline. Test how you will contact the operator without relying on one messaging app.