Planning a trip to China requires understanding your connectivity options, with Three Roaming in China providing a familiar solution for UK travelers. While Three Roaming in China offers convenience through partner networks, you’ll need to navigate fair usage policies, daily allowances, and China’s internet restrictions. This guide helps you maximize your roaming experience while avoiding unexpected charges during your Chinese adventure.
I. Does Three Work in China?
Yes. Three offers roaming in China through local partner networks, so you can call, text, and use data. This service is available for Pay Monthly customers, with some Pay As You Go plans also eligible. China is part of the “Go Roam Around the World Extra” destinations, which come with specific charges and limits.
II. Roaming Charges with Three in China
Understanding the costs upfront is key to managing your budget. Here’s how Three’s roaming charges work in China:
Included Go Roam Passes
If you’re on a Value or Complete plan (after October 2021), you may get up to 56 Go Roam passes per year. Each day in China, you use one pass to unlock your UK allowances for 24 hours. Once passes are used up, or if your plan doesn’t include them, it costs £7 per day to access your allowances.
Fair Usage Limits
When using a pass, you can use:
- Data: Up to 12GB per day from your UK allowance.
- Calls to the UK: Up to 3000 minutes to UK standard landlines or mobiles.
- Texts to UK: Up to 5000 texts to UK numbers.
- Receiving calls/texts: Free.
Out-of-allowance Charges
Without a pass or if you exceed your allowances, charges are high:
- Data: £6 per MB (very expensive, so always use a pass).
- Calls to the UK or voicemail: £1.40 per minute.
- Receiving calls: £0.99 per minute.
- Texts (to UK or China): £0.35 per text.
- Receiving texts: Free.
III. How to Activate Three Roaming
Setting up roaming is straightforward:
- Turn on Data Roaming in your phone’s settings to connect to a Chinese network.
- Track usage via the My3 App or Three’s website, which are free to use.
- Set a Spend Cap in your account to avoid unexpected bills.
IV. Add-ons & Options to Save Money
Three offers ways to keep costs down, especially for longer trips or heavy data users.
Buy extra Go Roam Passes
You can purchase multi-day passes for China, though you should confirm availability via the My3 App or by calling Three (+44 7782 333 333). Typical options include:
- 3-day pass: £17.50
- 5-day pass: £29.75
- 7-day pass: £42
- 14-day pass: £84
These passes give access to your UK allowances within fair usage limits.
Data passport
For unlimited data, get a Data Passport for £5 per day. This is great for streaming, tethering, or using a VPN, but it only covers data, not calls or texts.
V. Limitations & Considerations in China
China’s internet has restrictions that affect your experience. The Great Firewall blocks apps like Google, Facebook, and WhatsApp. Three’s roaming provides data, but you’ll need a VPN to access blocked apps. Install one before arriving, as China’s app stores may restrict VPN downloads.
VI. China eSIM – Alternative to Three Roaming
An eSIM from China eSIM gives you unlimited data and lets you use apps like Google and WhatsApp without restrictions. It’s cheaper than Three’s £7/day roaming or £6/MB extra charges. Here’s why it’s awesome:
- Lots of Data: Get unlimited data daily or monthly for browsing, videos, or work.
- No VPN Needed: Use blocked apps easily without extra setup.
- Quick Start: Activate the eSIM on your phone (like newer iPhones or Samsungs) in minutes.
- Saves Money: Skip Three’s high fees with affordable plans.
Check out China eSIM’s unlimited data plans for a stress-free way to stay online in China!
VII. Smart Roaming Tips for China
Save money and stay connected in China with these simple tips. With Three’s roaming costs like £7/day or £6/MB without a pass, these tricks help you use less data and avoid extra charges.
- Use Wi-Fi: Connect to free Wi-Fi at hotels, cafes, or airports to browse or stream without using your 12GB daily data limit. Use a VPN for safety on public networks.
- Download Offline Content: Before your trip, get offline maps (like Maps.me) or translation apps (like Pleco) to navigate and communicate without data or a VPN.
- Turn Off Background Data: Stop apps from using data in the background by disabling background refresh and auto-updates in your phone settings to save your allowance.
- Use WeChat: Download WeChat before you go for messaging and calls. It’s widely used in China, works without a VPN, and saves your 5000-text limit for UK messages.
These tips keep your Three plan’s costs low and help you stay online easily in China!