[Hong Kong SIM] How to purchase an eSIM with a phone number [China Unicom HK]

I normally live in China (Shenzhen), but I now need a Hong Kong phone number (for calls and SMS) for work.

While researching various telecommunications carriers in Hong Kong, I found that China Unicom HK allows you to purchase a Hong Kong SIM (eSIM) with a phone number while in Shenzhen. The store's customer service was also good, so I immediately purchased a China Unicom HK SIM card.

In this article, we will introduce how to purchase and sign up for a China Unicom HK SIM card (eSIM) in China (Shenzhen).

*Information as of September 2025

Overview of China Unicom HK

China Unicom HK is a Hong Kong subsidiary of China Unicom, a major state-owned telecommunications company headquartered in China. China Unicom is a telecommunications infrastructure company that occupies one of the "three major telecommunications carriers" in China, alongside China Telecom and China Mobile. As such, China Unicom HK operates in Hong Kong and overseas as a division of a major global corporation.

In addition, the services provided by China Unicom HK are developed under the brand name "CUniq."

● CUniq
https://www.cuniq.com/global/personal

Comparison between China Unicom and China Unicom HK

Going to Shenzhen to buy a China Unicom HK SIM card

① About the Shenzhen Service Center

China Unicom HK only has two stores in mainland China, located in Futian District and Nanshan District in Shenzhen.

● Locations and contact information for China Unicom HK (CUniq) stores:
https://store.cuniq.com/en/contact-us/store-locations

② Preparations and items to bring

○ Make a reservation to visit a China Unicom HK store
○ Ability to communicate in English, Chinese, or Cantonese
* Naturally, Japanese is not accepted
○ Smartphone (eSIM compatible)
* The author brought a Google Pixel 8 (Android) purchased at an au shop in Japan
○ Original passport
○ Purchase price of the SIM card

③ Go to the service center in Futian District, Shenzhen

I visited the China Unicom HK store in Futian District, Shenzhen. The store is located on the second floor of the Futian Port (checkpoint).

④ Store location in Futian District, Shenzhen

I took the Shenzhen subway and arrived at Futian Port.

The store is on the 2nd floor of the Futian Port (checkpoint) building, so take the elevator there.

However, it is important to note that you cannot go directly from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor by elevator. (Even if you press the 2nd floor button in the elevator, it will not stop at the 2nd floor.)

To go to the 2nd floor, you need to have someone from the China Unicom HK store on the 2nd floor operate the elevator from outside so that it stops on the 2nd floor In other words, to go to this store, you need to make a reservation in advance with someone from the China Unicom HK store

If you operate the elevator from outside to stop it on the second floor, the elevator will travel from the first floor to the third floor (the top floor) once, and then the next elevator will arrive at the second floor.

The reason for this route is that the second floor of Futian Port was originally a one-way floor for Hong Kong to Shenzhen traffic, and the store mainly catered to customers from Hong Kong. Therefore, it seems that it was rare for customers to come to this store from Shenzhen (mainland China).

⑤ Arrive at the store counter

I arrived at the China Unicom HK store on the second floor. By the way, this store is located in mainland China (Shenzhen), but it seems to be under the jurisdiction of Hong Kong.

⑥ Check the pricing plan

Check the pricing plan. I chose the "800 HKD (approximately 16,000 yen) / 9 months" plan, which gives you 8GB of internet data per month.

Of course, it also comes with a Hong Kong phone number (calls and SMS) function.

⑦ Purchase and sign a contract for a SIM card (eSIM)

To purchase a SIM card, you have to show your passport. It took about an hour from the inspection to the issuance of the SIM card.

This time, I paid for the SIM card using WeChat Pay.

⑧ SIM card (eSIM) installation settings

With eSIM, you will receive an authentication QR code like this. Simply scan this QR code with your smartphone and configure the network settings on your smartphone to activate China Unicom HK's network (for calls, SMS, and internet).

9. Installing the China Unicom HK (CUniq) app

Install the smartphone app "MyCUniq" provided by China Unicom HK from Google Play, Apple Store, etc.

The MyCUniq app allows you to see how much data you have used, as well as top up your data and add plans.

*Of course, there is also a PC version.

remarks

We have compiled some additional information and precautions to take when purchasing a China Unicom HK SIM card in China (Shenzhen).

○ Even if you don't live in mainland China or Hong Kong, you can purchase and sign a contract for a SIM card by presenting your passport.
○ You can also present your passport by sending image data, so you can purchase remotely from outside China.
○ You can purchase not only eSIMs but also physical SIM cards (USIM).
* However, if you purchase a physical SIM card (USIM), you must pick it up in-store (as it cannot be shipped outside of China).
○ Payment methods are WeChat Pay, Alipay, UnionPay, BoC Pay, Visa, and Mastercard
(if paying by credit card, only credit cards issued outside of China can be used).
○ As China Unicom HK is a service managed in Hong Kong, no "China invoice (fāpiào)" will be issued (only a purchase receipt will be issued).

summary

Above, we have introduced how to purchase a China Unicom HK SIM card.

China Unicom HK SIM cards offer stable call and internet quality, making them a recommended service for long-term business travelers and expatriates in mainland China or Hong Kong.

If you are a Japanese person or a Japanese company that needs a Hong Kong phone number (China Unicom HK) and find it difficult to purchase or sign a contract on your own, please feel free to contact us and we will support you.