Travel sim for Xinjiang

Question

Hi! Can someone recommend a travel sim for Xinjiang. I contacted Airalo and was told that their China sim had no coverage In Xijiang.

Answer

Xinjiang is a region in China with more limited mobile coverage compared to eastern provinces, so not all travel SIMs or eSIMs will work there. Many international providers such as Airalo may not have full coverage, as you found out.

Here are some options to consider for Xinjiang:

China Mobile: China Mobile has the best coverage in Xinjiang, especially in major cities like Urumqi, Kashgar, and Turpan. You can buy a physical SIM at airports or local stores in Xinjiang. They offer prepaid data plans suitable for short-term travel.
China Unicom: China Unicom also works in Xinjiang but coverage may be slightly less extensive than China Mobile in remote areas. Their prepaid SIMs are widely available.
Local SIM vendors: In Xinjiang, many smaller local shops sell SIM cards that are compatible with major Chinese networks. They may have packages specifically for tourists, but usually require your passport for registration.

Additional tips:

Make sure to register your SIM card with your passport; this is required by Chinese law.
Some international roaming SIMs and eSIMs might work in Urumqi but are less reliable outside major cities, so physical local SIMs are recommended.
Check if your phone is unlocked and supports China Mobile’s 4G/LTE bands.
Be aware that internet access in Xinjiang may have restrictions; some VPNs may be needed for accessing certain websites or apps.

In summary, for reliable connectivity across Xinjiang, buying a local China Mobile or China Unicom SIM upon arrival is the most dependable option.