{
  "title": "Nomad China: do eSIM provider stores load from China (OONI)",
  "verifiedAt": "2026-10-06",
  "period": {
    "since": "2026-09-01",
    "until": "2026-10-05"
  },
  "method": "Remote measurements only. OONI Probe web_connectivity tests run by volunteers inside mainland China (probe_cc=CN), summarised with the public OONI aggregation API. 'store_loads_from_china' is 'no' when every test of at least 5 was an anomaly; 'unknown' when OONI has no tests. An anomaly signals possible blocking, not proof. This says nothing about whether an installed eSIM connects or where its data exits. Evidence for routing comes from the vendors' own statements.",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "cite_as": "Nomad China (2026). Do eSIM stores load from China: OONI measurements, 1 Sep - 5 Oct 2026. https://nomadchina.net/data/china-esim.json",
  "data_source": "OONI Measurement Aggregation API, https://api.ooni.io/api/v1/aggregation (OONI data is CC BY 4.0)",
  "contact": "hello@nomadchina.net",
  "providers": [
    {
      "provider": "Airalo",
      "store_domain": "airalo.com",
      "ooni": {
        "since": "2026-09-01",
        "until": "2026-10-05",
        "measurement_count": 6,
        "ok_count": 0,
        "anomaly_count": 6,
        "confirmed_count": 0,
        "failure_count": 0,
        "query": "https://api.ooni.io/api/v1/aggregation?probe_cc=CN&domain=airalo.com&since=2026-09-01&until=2026-10-05&test_name=web_connectivity"
      },
      "store_loads_from_china": "no",
      "plan_notes": "China plan page (opened 6 Oct 2026) lists unlimited-data plans of 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 30 days. The page gives no statement on where data exits.",
      "plan_page": "https://www.airalo.com/china-esim",
      "ooni_since_2026_01_01": {
        "measurement_count": 20,
        "anomaly_count": 20,
        "ok_count": 0
      },
      "page": "https://nomadchina.net/kb/does-airalo-work-in-china/"
    },
    {
      "provider": "Holafly",
      "store_domain": "holafly.com",
      "ooni": {
        "since": "2026-09-01",
        "until": "2026-10-05",
        "measurement_count": 0,
        "ok_count": 0,
        "anomaly_count": 0,
        "confirmed_count": 0,
        "failure_count": 0,
        "query": "https://api.ooni.io/api/v1/aggregation?probe_cc=CN&domain=holafly.com&since=2026-09-01&until=2026-10-05&test_name=web_connectivity"
      },
      "store_loads_from_china": "unknown (no tests)",
      "plan_notes": "China plan page (opened 6 Oct 2026) says you can use WhatsApp, Google and Instagram without a separate VPN and that a VPN is included. This is the vendor's own claim. Unlimited data; separate eSIM needed for Hong Kong or Taiwan per the page.",
      "plan_page": "https://esim.holafly.com/esim-china/",
      "ooni_since_2026_01_01": {
        "measurement_count": 0,
        "anomaly_count": 0,
        "ok_count": 0
      },
      "page": "https://nomadchina.net/kb/does-holafly-work-in-china/"
    },
    {
      "provider": "Simbye",
      "store_domain": "simbye.com",
      "ooni": {
        "since": "2026-09-01",
        "until": "2026-10-05",
        "measurement_count": 0,
        "ok_count": 0,
        "anomaly_count": 0,
        "confirmed_count": 0,
        "failure_count": 0,
        "query": "https://api.ooni.io/api/v1/aggregation?probe_cc=CN&domain=simbye.com&since=2026-09-01&until=2026-10-05&test_name=web_connectivity"
      },
      "store_loads_from_china": "unknown (no tests)",
      "plan_notes": "5 plans from 1 GB / 7 days at 2.95 euros to 50 GB / 180 days at 47.95 euros (seen 6 Oct 2026 from Germany). Covers mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao; China Unicom and China Telecom in mainland, csl and SmarTone in Hong Kong, CTM in Macao. Data is routed through Singapore, not a local mainland connection, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN. The same plan covers Hong Kong and Macao.",
      "plan_page": "https://simbye.com/products/esim-china",
      "ooni_since_2026_01_01": {
        "measurement_count": 0,
        "anomaly_count": 0,
        "ok_count": 0
      },
      "page": "https://nomadchina.net/kb/does-simbye-work-in-china/",
      "affiliate": true
    },
    {
      "provider": "Airhub",
      "store_domain": "airhubapp.com",
      "ooni": {
        "since": "2026-09-01",
        "until": "2026-10-05",
        "measurement_count": 7,
        "ok_count": 0,
        "anomaly_count": 7,
        "confirmed_count": 0,
        "failure_count": 0,
        "query": "https://api.ooni.io/api/v1/aggregation?probe_cc=CN&domain=airhubapp.com&since=2026-09-01&until=2026-10-05&test_name=web_connectivity"
      },
      "store_loads_from_china": "no",
      "ooni_since_2026_01_01": {
        "measurement_count": 37,
        "anomaly_count": 37,
        "ok_count": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "provider": "Nomad eSIM",
      "store_domain": "nomadesim.com",
      "ooni": {
        "since": "2026-09-01",
        "until": "2026-10-05",
        "measurement_count": 5,
        "ok_count": 0,
        "anomaly_count": 5,
        "confirmed_count": 0,
        "failure_count": 0,
        "query": "https://api.ooni.io/api/v1/aggregation?probe_cc=CN&domain=nomadesim.com&since=2026-09-01&until=2026-10-05&test_name=web_connectivity"
      },
      "store_loads_from_china": "no",
      "ooni_since_2026_01_01": {
        "measurement_count": 36,
        "anomaly_count": 36,
        "ok_count": 0
      }
    },
    {
      "provider": "Saily",
      "store_domain": "saily.com",
      "store_loads_from_china": "unknown (not queried in this dataset)",
      "plan_page": "https://saily.com/esim-china/",
      "plan_verification": {
        "checked": "2026-10-08",
        "status": "blocked",
        "http_status": 403,
        "method": "Playwright browser",
        "note": "Browser opened the China page, but Cloudflare showed Just a moment / Performing security verification. The challenge remained after a 5-second wait. No plan prices, allowances or validity could be read."
      },
      "plans": [],
      "plan_notes": "Prices not verified on 8 Oct 2026: Cloudflare 403 security challenge in the browser. No prices copied from search snippets or other providers.",
      "routing": "not verified"
    },
    {
      "provider": "Ubigi",
      "store_domain": "ubigi.com",
      "store_loads_from_china": "unknown (not queried in this dataset)",
      "plan_page": "https://cellulardata.ubigi.com/travel-to-china/internet-and-esim-data-plans-china/?wmc-currency=USD",
      "plan_verification": {
        "checked": "2026-10-08",
        "status": "verified",
        "method": "Playwright browser; China landing page and individual product pages",
        "note": "Corrected URLs load. The catalog redirects to a China-filtered table but shows no rows. China landing-page cards and individual product pages expose prices. This is a partial catalog check, not evidence that no other plans exist."
      },
      "plans": [
        {
          "gb": 1,
          "days": 7,
          "price": 4,
          "currency": "USD",
          "checked": "2026-10-08",
          "url": "https://cellulardata.ubigi.com/rates-and-coverage/china-data-plans/china-1gb-7-days/?wmc-currency=USD",
          "priceText": "US$4"
        },
        {
          "gb": 3,
          "days": 30,
          "price": 7,
          "currency": "USD",
          "checked": "2026-10-08",
          "url": "https://cellulardata.ubigi.com/rates-and-coverage/china-data-plans/china-3gb-30-days/?wmc-currency=USD",
          "priceText": "US$7"
        },
        {
          "gb": 10,
          "days": 7,
          "price": 14,
          "currency": "USD",
          "checked": "2026-10-08",
          "url": "https://cellulardata.ubigi.com/rates-and-coverage/china-data-plans/china-10gb-7-days/?wmc-currency=USD",
          "priceText": "US$14"
        },
        {
          "gb": 25,
          "days": 30,
          "price": 33,
          "currency": "USD",
          "checked": "2026-10-08",
          "url": "https://cellulardata.ubigi.com/rates-and-coverage/china-data-plans/china-25gb-30-days/?wmc-currency=USD",
          "priceText": "US$33"
        },
        {
          "gb": 10,
          "days": 30,
          "price": 17,
          "currency": "USD",
          "checked": "2026-10-08",
          "url": "https://cellulardata.ubigi.com/rates-and-coverage/china-data-plans/china-10gb-30-days/?wmc-currency=USD",
          "priceText": "US$17"
        },
        {
          "gb": null,
          "days": 7,
          "price": 24,
          "currency": "USD",
          "checked": "2026-10-08",
          "url": "https://cellulardata.ubigi.com/rates-and-coverage/china-data-plans/china-unlimited-7-days/?wmc-currency=USD",
          "priceText": "US$24"
        },
        {
          "gb": null,
          "days": 30,
          "price": 69,
          "currency": "USD",
          "checked": "2026-10-08",
          "url": "https://cellulardata.ubigi.com/rates-and-coverage/china-data-plans/china-unlimited-30-days/?wmc-currency=USD",
          "priceText": "US$69"
        }
      ],
      "plan_notes": "Seven China product pages read on 8 Oct 2026 in USD: 1 GB / 7 days $4, 3 GB / 30 days $7, 10 GB / 7 days $14, 10 GB / 30 days $17, 25 GB / 30 days $33, unlimited / 7 days $24, unlimited / 30 days $69. One-off prepaid plans. Product pages name China Telecom, allow data sharing and say validity starts upon arrival (Smartstart). Unlimited pages say a fair-use policy may apply. They do not state where data exits or promise access to Google or WhatsApp.",
      "routing": "not stated on product pages"
    }
  ],
  "pricesCheckedAt": "2026-10-08",
  "price_method": "Prices read from rendered provider pages in a Playwright browser on 8 October 2026. Each observed plan records its exact displayed currency, price, allowance, validity and source URL. These price checks do not update the OONI observation period or measure website access from mainland China."
}