I think there are options for a short term sim card, as long as you provide a passport, although maybe not as easy to get as other countries. China unicom advertises prepaid plans for tourists.

I couldn't even get a regular SIM card recently with my passport and address registration. Not good enough anymore. I was told at xiao xi men China Mobile store that i needed a Chinese friend to 'help me by using their ID card.'

I got China Mobile SIM card with no questions or papers asked when I moved here in 2013 and I'm still using it.

Of course now they periodically send SMS and suggest registering my identity.

So has anyone been able to do that with foreign passport? Not that I plan to unless absolutely required.

Looks like it depends on which store you go to. He got a data only plan yesterday by simply walking into the first China Unicom he found.

Hi I will be visiting kunming from 12th -16th June - looking for a interpreter to visit EXPO ....can someone help me ?

Also I want he or she to take us to some travel agents who sells Maldives.

Charges negotiable

Just an update for the main topic here: SIM card for Tourist.

I arrived here couple days ago and tried to buy a SIM card here in Kunming. Went to China mobile shop and showed them my foreign passport. They refused. They said that I need to come with a Chinese friend.

Finally I came back to the shop with my Chinese friend and settled it swiftly.

Jjodiyl,

Just a quick question. What "function" did the Chinese friend serve? Is the SIM card registered to that person?

phome registered to the local person. some shops more diligent than others is all. i think all phone is china should be registered to a real name chin national, regulation. though sometimes ignored by shops

The main China Mobile at Xiao Xi Men refused my foreign passport too. Told me to come back with a Chinese friend. Nobody was available and i needed the SIM asap. I bought one on the street outside. Only problem is if I lose my phone I can't get my number back. I heard there was a limit to how many phone numbers a Chinese person can have registered to them. Is this true?

i have gone to three china mobile shops including the main one on xiaoximen, all of them told me it cant be done with a passport even though ive done it three times in the past with my boyfriend and my passports. I thinks its just straight incompetence....