📱 SIM / Broadband

Mainland SIM card & broadband application guide

Practical Guides

Shenzhen SIM Cards 2026: How to Choose Among the 3 Major Carriers' Border Checkpoint Shops — Real-Name Registration + Number Maintenance Guide

To open a mainland bank account, link WeChat Pay or Alipay, or buy high-speed rail tickets, you need a real-name registered mainland phone number. Based on official information from China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom, this article covers the three ways to get a SIM card, the documents required for real-name registration, the locations of shops at the three major border checkpoints, and money-saving tips for maintaining your number.

Practical Guides

Shenzhen SIM Cards & Home Broadband Guide 2026: Monthly Fees, Data, and Where to Sign Up Near the Border

If you're living in Shenzhen long-term, you need a mainland number and home broadband. Here's a clear breakdown of the three major carriers' monthly fee structures, what to bring for real-name registration, where to sign up near the border, and how broadband installation actually works.