How to top up and check a China SIM card
Official ways to check balance and data, recharge safely, diagnose a stopped connection, and keep the operator account recoverable.
Use the mobile operator's official hotline, directly operated service hall, official app, supported WeChat or Alipay mobile top-up route, or documented SMS command to check balance and recharge. Confirm the phone number and operator before paying, keep the receipt, and separate a zero balance from expired data, plan validity, phone settings, or account-registration problems.
Use it during the trip
Practical China trip kit
Common apps and official downloads
Choose apps for your actual itinerary, finish account setup, and test the features you need before departure. Install only from the official store listing.
Works without signal
Save before you go
Run a short no-signal rehearsal instead of assuming every app is ready.
- Open downloaded maps or language tools in airplane mode.
- Save the exact Chinese hotel and station names.
- Keep account recovery and itinerary access independent of one phone.
Printing this page also keeps the guide answer and visible source links with this checklist.
Emergency numbers in China
Call only for a real emergency. Say the exact location first; ask nearby staff to help communicate when safe.
Identify the operator and exact number first
A top-up sent to the wrong number may be difficult to reverse. Use the SIM holder, activation record, phone settings, operator message, or staffed service counter to confirm the full number and whether the line belongs to China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom.
- Do not copy a number from an unfamiliar message without matching it to the activation record.
- Keep passport scans, PINs, one-time codes, and payment passwords out of shared itinerary notes.
- Save the operator name, number, plan validity, and official support route offline.
Check balance and data through an official route
Beijing's official SIM guide lists operator hotlines, directly operated service halls, official operator apps, and documented SMS inquiries as balance and data-check routes. The commands and app screens can change, so verify the current instruction from the operator instead of relying on an old travel forum screenshot.
- China Mobile customer service is 10086, China Unicom is 10010, and China Telecom is 10000.
- Ask a directly operated service hall to check the balance, data allowance, plan status, and registered identity when the account is unclear.
- Use only the operator's current official app or message instructions for self-service checks.
Recharge with a verifiable destination
Official guidance lists operator service halls, official apps, and mobile top-up in WeChat or Alipay as recharge routes. Before confirming payment, read the displayed operator, number, amount, and any plan or validity note; then keep the transaction record until service is restored.
- At a staffed hall, show the number and ask staff to confirm the account before taking payment.
- In a wallet or operator app, check every digit and avoid links sent by strangers or unofficial support accounts.
- Do not share a one-time code or allow remote control of the phone for a recharge.
- After payment, turn off Wi-Fi and test mobile data, then place a call or send an ordinary SMS if the plan includes them.
If the top-up does not restore service, diagnose the layer
A positive balance does not prove that the data package, plan validity, account registration, device settings, or local coverage is working. Preserve the payment record and read the operator's exact message before buying another recharge.
- Check that the correct SIM is enabled for mobile data and that airplane mode is off.
- Confirm whether the data allowance is exhausted even when the cash balance is positive.
- Ask whether the temporary or monthly plan expired, renewed, or requires a separate package purchase.
- Use the official hotline or service hall when passport registration, suspension, or device compatibility is involved.
Before you rely on this answer
China travel rules and app behavior can change by city, route, account, passport, airline, and local inspection practice. Treat this page as a traveler-friendly starting point, then verify official or provider details before booking or packing anything important.
Sources checked
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Frequently asked questions
How can I check a China SIM card balance?
Use the operator's official hotline, directly operated service hall, official app, or current documented SMS inquiry. China Mobile customer service is 10086, China Unicom is 10010, and China Telecom is 10000.
Can a tourist top up a China SIM with Alipay or WeChat?
Beijing's official guidance lists Mobile Top-up in WeChat or Alipay as one route, subject to a linked payment method and the current product flow. Confirm the operator and every digit of the number before paying.
Why does mobile data still fail after a top-up?
The cash balance and data package are not the same thing. Check the active data line, remaining allowance, plan validity, account status, phone compatibility, and operator messages before paying again.
Where can I get help with a China SIM?
Use the operator's official hotline or a directly operated China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom service hall. Bring the passport used to register the number when identity or account status may be involved.