One eSIM can cover mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. The cheapest in our catalogue is Greater China and Taiwan Premium: 10 GB for 30 days at $9.50, against $15.00 for separate 10 GB China and Hong Kong plans. For long or repeat trips, China HK Macau 15 GB lasts 180 days for $14.60. All of these exit in Hong Kong or Macau, so if you need ChatGPT or Claude, pick a UK-exit Global Special plan instead, from $6.50.
The classic route is Hong Kong, a day trip to Macau on the bridge or ferry, then the train to Shenzhen, Guangzhou or further into the mainland. Three places, three telecom markets, and you do not want three eSIMs. Here is what covers all three, using our catalogue on 5 October 2026.
- 39 plans in our catalogue cover the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau together.
- Cheapest per trip: Greater China and Taiwan Premium, from $4.20 for 3 GB over 7 days, covering Taiwan too.
- Longest: China HK Macau plans last 180 or 365 days, from $14.60, but start counting when installed.
- Exit location: 11 exit in Macau, 9 in Hong Kong, 6 in the UK and 13 do not publish it.
One plan or three: the prices
| Option | Data | Price | Validity | Data exits in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greater China and Taiwan 3 GB | 3 GB | $4.20 | 7 days | Macau |
| Greater China and Taiwan 10 GB | 10 GB | $9.50 | 30 days | Macau |
| Greater China and Taiwan 20 GB | 20 GB | $15.00 | 30 days | Macau |
| China HK Macau 15 GB | 15 GB | $14.60 | 180 days | Hong Kong |
| China 10 GB + Hong Kong 10 GB | 10 GB each | $15.00 | 30 days each | Hong Kong (China plan); not published (Hong Kong plan) |
| Global Special 3 GB | 3 GB | $14.10 | 30 days | UK |
For most trips, Greater China and Taiwan Premium is the simplest buy: one installation, shared data across all four places, starting on first data use. Two separate plans give you 20 GB in total for $15.00, the same as the 20 GB regional plan, but you install two eSIMs and switch between them at the border.
Compare every plan: the China, Hong Kong and Macau eSIM pages list all plans, with the exit location on each plan card where it is recorded.
Where the data exits, and why it matters on the mainland
A travel eSIM’s data leaves the network at its provider’s exit point, not where you are standing. Every plan above exits outside mainland China, so on the mainland your data does not pass through mainland filtering. But ChatGPT and Claude do not serve Hong Kong or Macau: OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s supported-region lists include the UK but not mainland China, Hong Kong or Macau. On a Hong Kong- or Macau-exit plan, they will refuse you even while you are in Hong Kong.
If AI tools matter, the Global Special plans exit in the UK and cover all three places, from $6.50 for 1 GB over 7 days. A common setup is a cheap Greater China plan for everyday data plus a small Global Special plan to switch to when you need AI tools. Our China eSIM without a VPN page lists the exit of every plan we sell for China.
The catch with the long-validity plans
The China HK Macau plans (15 GB for 180 days at $14.60, 30 GB for 365 days at $28.67 and 45 GB for 365 days at $39.76) start counting when the eSIM is installed. That suits frequent cross-border travellers who install once and dip in and out. For a single trip, a plan that starts on first data use, such as Greater China and Taiwan Premium, lets you install early without losing days. See when an eSIM starts counting.
Networks in Hong Kong and Macau
Across all plans covering Hong Kong in our catalogue, the networks listed most often are 3 Hong Kong, SmarTone and csl. In Macau, CTM is listed on most plans. On the mainland, plans use China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom; our China eSIM travel guide covers the differences. Hotspot is listed as supported on the Greater China, China HK Macau and Global Special plans.
Pick by trip
| Your trip | Good fit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| A week across Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen | Greater China and Taiwan 3 GB or 5 GB | $4.20 or $5.80 |
| Two to four weeks, including the mainland | Greater China and Taiwan 10 GB | $9.50 |
| Frequent cross-border trips this year | China HK Macau 30 GB, 365 days | $28.67 |
| You need ChatGPT or Claude | Global Special 3 GB (UK exit) | $14.10 |
| Hong Kong only | Hong Kong 10 GB | $7.00 |
| Also Japan and Korea | China Korea Japan plans | From $5.00 |
Hong Kong eSIM prices compared
If Hong Kong is the whole trip, a Hong Kong-only plan costs less than the multi-region plans above. Code eSIM prices were checked on 26 October 2026; Airalo, Ubigi and Holafly prices come from each provider’s own page on 9 October 2026, in US dollars.
| Plan | Code eSIM | Airalo | Ubigi | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 GB, 30 days | $5.50 | $12.00 | Not checked | Unlimited only |
| 10 GB, 30 days | $7.00 | $18.00 | $14.00 | Unlimited only |
| 20 GB, 30 days | $11.80 | $29.00 | Not checked | Unlimited only |
| Unlimited, 7 days | Not sold | $26.50 | Not checked | $27.90 |
Code eSIM and Airalo both use 3HK; Ubigi uses SmarTone. Code eSIM’s Hong Kong plans support hotspot and top-ups, and route data through Indonesia, so websites see an Indonesian IP address. For a stopover, the 1 GB day pass is $1.99. For daily video, Airalo’s unlimited week slows to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day, and Holafly limits hotspot sharing to 1 GB a day.
Comparing brands, not just plans? Our guide to the best eSIM for China puts our prices next to Airalo, Ubigi and Holafly for mainland trips; Hong Kong is compared above.
Frequently asked questions
Is there one eSIM for China, Hong Kong and Macau?
Yes. On 5 October 2026, 39 plans in our catalogue covered all three. The cheapest per trip is Greater China and Taiwan Premium, from $4.20 for 3 GB over 7 days and $9.50 for 10 GB over 30 days, which also covers Taiwan and exits in Macau.
Does a China eSIM work in Hong Kong?
Only if Hong Kong is on its country list. China-only plans cover the mainland, and Hong Kong and Macau are separate destinations on eSIM plans. If your trip includes both, buy a plan that lists all of them, such as Greater China and Taiwan Premium or China HK Macau.
Is it cheaper to buy one plan or separate eSIMs?
One plan is usually cheaper for moderate use: 10 GB covering all three places costs $9.50, against $15.00 for separate 10 GB China and Hong Kong plans. At 20 GB, the regional plan and two separate plans both cost $15.00, but one plan saves a second installation.
Can I use ChatGPT with a China and Hong Kong eSIM?
Not on plans that exit in Hong Kong or Macau, because OpenAI and Anthropic do not list those regions as supported. Choose a UK-exit plan such as Global Special, which covers the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, from $6.50 for 1 GB over 7 days.
Which eSIM is best for frequent trips between Hong Kong and the mainland?
The China HK Macau plans, which last 180 or 365 days: 15 GB for 180 days at $14.60 or 30 GB for 365 days at $28.67. They start counting when installed, so they suit people who keep one eSIM on the phone for repeated crossings.
Can I use hotspot on a China, Hong Kong and Macau eSIM?
Yes on the Greater China and Taiwan Premium, China HK Macau and Global Special plans, which list hotspot as supported. Some single-country Hong Kong and China plans do not state it, so check the plan page if you need to tether a laptop.
Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland are three markets but can be one eSIM. Pick the plan for your trip length, and pick the exit for whether you need AI tools.
Last reviewed 5 October 2026. Coverage, exit locations, activation rules, hotspot terms and prices come from our own catalogue and product pages on that date and change often; product pages are authoritative. Supported-region facts are from OpenAI’s and Anthropic’s own pages on 1 October 2026. We do not test or guarantee access to any third-party app. ChatGPT, OpenAI, Claude and Anthropic are trademarks of their owners; this article is independent of them. The price of our Greater China and Taiwan 10 GB plan was updated to $9.50 on 26 October 2026.