What each allowance is designed to cover

3 GB

Short and light

Maps, messaging, email, payments, and occasional photos for roughly 3–5 days.

5 GB

Light week or regular short trip

More navigation, social updates, translation, and a small video buffer.

10 GB

Regular one- to two-week use

Daily maps and social use, practical travel apps, and occasional video.

20 GB+

Heavy or hotspot use

Frequent video calls, streaming, uploads, laptop work, or unreliable Wi-Fi.

Unlimited

Heavy use without a data meter

Useful when heavy on-phone use is certain. Check hotspot and fair-use terms separately.

The activities that change the answer

Maps and messagingUsually modest, but all-day navigation and media-heavy chats add up.
Social mediaAutoplay video and frequent uploads consume more than text browsing.
Streaming and callsVideo quality and call duration can move a trip into the heavy range.
Hotspot sharingLaptops can trigger updates, backups, and higher-quality media without warning.

Use a range instead of a universal answer

ChinaSIMGuide’s calculator combines trip days with five activity levels and adds a 10% buffer to the high estimate. It is a planning model, not a measurement of your phone.

Calculate my data range

See the coefficients and limitations →

Reference point

Airalo’s current China plan guide says 1–10 GB can cover many trips of up to two weeks, but that provider-level range still depends on your actual usage. Use it as context, not as a substitute for your own estimate.

Airalo: current China eSIM plan guideProvider editorial · reviewed 9 Aug 2026 ↗
FAQ

Questions to settle before you buy

Is 3 GB enough for China?

It can cover a short, light-use trip with maps, messaging and disciplined Wi-Fi use. Regular video or hotspot use can exhaust it quickly.

Is 10 GB enough for two weeks?

It can suit standard use, but streaming, cloud backup, video calls and tethering can push a two-week trip above 10 GB.

Does unlimited include unlimited hotspot?

Not automatically. Phone data and hotspot sharing can have separate policies, so check the current package terms.

Should I buy more data than the calculator estimate?

Use the high end of the range plus a modest buffer when running out would be disruptive. Avoid buying for an unrealistic worst case.