When traveling to China with Orange Roaming, managing your data usage efficiently becomes essential. While Orange Roaming offers convenience for travelers in China, many popular applications remain inaccessible due to firewall restrictions. Understanding these limitations is crucial when planning your connectivity strategy, as alternative solutions like specialized eSIMs may provide more comprehensive access to global services during your stay.
I. Does Orange Offer Roaming in China?
Yes, Orange provides roaming services in China through partnerships with major Chinese mobile networks, including China Mobile and China Unicom.
These roaming services allow you to stay connected during your Chinese travels, but remember that while Orange provides the connection, China’s internet restrictions still apply to the content you can access. Checking the specific rates and data allowances for your plan before departure will help you avoid unexpected charges.
II. Orange Roaming Charges in China
Orange provides two main options for travelers to China: standard pay-as-you-go rates and subscription packages.
Standard Roaming Rates
Without a special package, these rates apply automatically:
- 2GB internet: €4 (24-hour validity)
- 10 minutes/SMS: €2 (24-hour validity)
These activate instantly when you first use data or make calls in China, and can be reactivated by texting NET24 to 321 for data.
China Subscription Package
For better value, Orange offers “Go Explore 1”:
- €20 for 15 days
- 10GB data
- 20 minutes/SMS to Romania or local numbers
- Activated via MyOrange app or by texting ROAMING15 to 321
This package is ideal for stays longer than a few days, providing substantially more data and communication at a lower per-unit cost.
III. When Do Roaming Charges Apply?
Roaming charges begin the moment your phone connects to a Chinese network upon arrival, requiring no action on your part. Your device automatically joins available networks, immediately activating international roaming rates.
Be aware that:
- Charges apply even when your phone is idle in your pocket or bag
- Background apps continuously use data for updates and notifications
- Email, social media, and map applications silently consume data
To prevent unexpected charges, consider using airplane mode with WiFi only, disabling background data, or activating a roaming package before traveling to China.
IV. How to Activate and Check Your Orange Roaming Status
Before traveling to China, quickly verify your Orange roaming status to ensure connectivity upon arrival. The process is simple:
- Open My Orange app/website and login
- Navigate to roaming settings
- Confirm China is included in your roaming coverage
Also, ensure your phone is network-unlocked and compatible with Chinese networks (which use 4G LTE bands 1, 3, 38, 39, 40, and 41). Most modern smartphones support these frequencies, but it’s worth confirming before your trip to avoid connectivity problems when you land.
V. China eSIM – Alternative to Roaming
When using mobile data in China, you’ll encounter the country’s internet restrictions regardless of whether you’re using roaming or a local SIM card. Popular services like Google, Gmail, YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram are blocked by China’s firewall, requiring a VPN solution if you need access to these platforms during your visit.
For travelers to China, a specialized eSIM from chinaesim.com offers the simplest way to bypass China’s internet restrictions. Starting at $13.90 for plans between 3-30 days, these data-only packages allow direct access to normally blocked sites including Google, Facebook, and WhatsApp without requiring a VPN.
The service provides 1GB of high-speed data daily followed by unlimited usage at 5Mbps, with hotspot capabilities to share your connection with other devices. Setup is straightforward – just scan a QR code before departure, and you’ll have immediate connectivity upon arrival in China with no language barriers or physical SIM cards needed.
VII. Smart Tips to Save Data and Stay Connected
Manage your data usage effectively while traveling with these simple strategies:
- Use free Wi-Fi in hotels, cafes and airports for data-intensive activities
- Download offline maps before exploring to navigate without using mobile data
- Disable background data and auto-updates to prevent apps from consuming data silently
- Use WeChat in China for messaging and payments instead of multiple apps
These practical approaches help you stay connected while avoiding unexpected charges during your travels.