Unlimited Data in China: What It Really Means
eSIM from 1,00 USD · 100 MB. Networks: China Mobile (5G), China Telecom (4G), China Unicom (5G).
"Unlimited" data plans: what it actually means
"Unlimited" on a travel eSIM does not mean the same as your home contract. Almost all plans have a Fair Use Policy (FUP).
How fair use (FUP) works
- You get a daily or total allowance at full speed (typically 1–2 GB/day or 10–30 GB total).
- Once you exceed it, speed drops to 128–512 Kbps — enough for WhatsApp and maps, but not video or video calls.
- "Unlimited" means data isn't cut off, just throttled.
Is it worth it?
If you consistently use more than 1.5 GB/day (social media, streaming, hotspot), an "unlimited" plan gives peace of mind. For moderate use (maps + messaging), a fixed 5–10 GB plan is usually cheaper and sufficient.