CMLink

Mainland China is a notoriously difficult market for independent travel eSIMs: China Unicom, one of the country's big three carriers, doesn't sell tourist eSIMs directly to visitors, requiring a Chinese ID and bank account to register, which pushes most travelers toward third-party resellers of uncertain quality. CMLink sidesteps that problem by being operated directly by China Mobile International, the Hong Kong-based international arm of China Mobile itself, and selling its own-branded eSIMs rather than reselling wholesale capacity.

That direct relationship with one of China's actual network operators is the main reason to pick CMLink over a generic Asia-wide eSIM for a China-focused trip. New dual-region plans introduced in 2026 cover both the UK and China on one profile, useful for a trip that includes a stopover or connecting leg through London. Plans are data-only, sized and priced per destination rather than sold as a single flat global rate. It suits travelers whose itinerary is centered on mainland China, Hong Kong, or a China-UK route more than a general multi-country Asia trip.