| SIM Card Purchase for China |
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Cellular Abroad SIM Card for China
A China Prepaid SIM Card, together with a tri-band unlocked GSM cell phone, will allow you not only to have a local cell phone number for China but also to pay local rates - and without a contract. For your next trip to China, make sure to purchase a prepaid SIM card.
If you are going to need a phone in Hong Kong as well, this SIM card will roam automatically,
Information and Talk Rates Chart
| Key Features |
- Local Chinese and Hong Kong cell phone numbers
- IDD dialing - cheap international calls from China
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| Initial Credit |
- US$15
- 250 mins from China to U.S.
- 10 mins Hong Kong to U.S.
- 250 mins incoming while in China
- Free incoming in Hong Kong
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| Mainland China Talk Rates |
US$0.06 Incoming
$0.06 Outgoing within China
US$0.06 Outgoing to U.S. |
| Hong Kong Talk Rates |
Free Incoming
US$0.06 Outgoing within HK US$1.44 Outgoing to U.S. |
| SMS Rates |
Free incoming
US$0.02 within China US$0.88 International |
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*With IDD dialing - instructions included *You can find more detailed information on rates including roaming charges here.
Detailed Features
- A China pre-paid SIM card and Chinese cell phone number-you'll have the number before you depart!
- Complete with initial airtime worth RMB 100 yuan ($15)-that's about 250 minutes of outgoing calls back to the US (w/IP dialing) or 250 minutes of received calls, or local calls within China.
- Easily add talk time by calling Cellular Abroad or purchasing a recharge voucher in China
- Domestic rates as low as $0.06 per minute
- Incoming international calls only $0.06 per minute
- Calls back to the US and Canada as little as $0.06 per minute
- No yearly contract, monthly charges, minimum minutes per day or per call, and no credit checks
- English-speaking customer representatives in China
- This SIM also works in Hong Kong!
- From a landline, (NOT from payphones, mobile phones, and majority of hotels) Cellular Abroad can be reached 8am to 8pm EST, 7 days a week with English customer support by dialing this number: 00-800-3623-3333. From a cell: (310) 862-7100 or email us at support@cellularabroad.com
Your China SIM Card Cell Phone Number:
Your Shanghai-based cell phone number is in the accompanying China SIM Card package. You will find it on the back of your credit card sized information card. It is an 11 digit number, generally starting with 158. The first three digits are the cell phone's area code.
Additional Dialing Info :
The country code for China is 86 and the outgoing international code is 00. To call the United States from your cell phone while in China you must dial 00, the country code, city code and phone number (ex.00-1-212-555-1212).
Recharging Your SIM Card:
In Shanghai you can add call credit via recharge cards which are available in denominations of RMB 50, 100, 300 and 500 yuan at convenience stores, news stands and post offices.
You can also purchase additional recharge vouchers with your SIM Card:
China Mobile 2-in-1 Prepaid Recharge Card
only $24.00 for 100 CNY (China Yuan Renminbi of talk time credit

Have extra talk time credit to add to your prepaid account as soon as you arrive in China. Each of these recharges gives about 250 minutes of calls to the US or about 250 minutes of incoming or outgoing local calls in China. If you are in Hong Kong, this 100 CNY voucher will give you 10 minutes of calls to the U.S., or 250 minutes of local calls. Incoming calls in Hong Kong are free to receive.
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Detailed Rates:
Currently, one yuan is worth about 15 US cents. For up-to-date currency exchange rates, use the Currency Converter. Rates are based on per-minute charges.
Call made from |
Calling to |
Charges (all charges included) |
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Mainland China |
Mainland China |
RMB0.39/min |
Mainland China |
HongKong, Singapore, South Korea, USA, Canada |
RMB0.39/min |
Taiwan, Macau, Malaysia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Thailand |
RMB0.99/min |
Japan, India, Indonesia, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Brunei, Algeria, Ghana |
RMB1.99/min |
Vietnam, UAE, Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia |
RMB1.99/min |
Other countries |
RMB7.99/min |
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Not only are the rates the best possible rates to make and receive phone calls in China but, since this is a Chinese carrier and no roaming is involved, the service quality is also the most reliable. This is one case where what you get for far exceeds what you pay for!
Sebastian Harrison, President, Cellular Abroad |
Service Life
Your initial service life of this SIM card from activation is 180 days. The Hong Kong number must be used at least once every 60 days in order to retain the Hong Kong service. Cellular Abroad recommends recharging your credit once every 60 days to keep both numbers active.
To inquire about the possibility of extending your SIM card’s service life while outside the SIM card’s country of origin, contact the telecom provider's customer service, Cellular Abroad does not provide support for this feature.
Multi-Country Travel
You can also purchase other SIM cards as well for other countries to where you may be traveling. (This option is good for those planning on doing a lot of local calling.) We also offer an international roaming National Geographic Talk Abroad™ SIM Card that is convenient for travel to multiple countries. (This option is useful for those wanting a single number for use in multiple countries and who will be making more calls back home than locally.) |