Town in Yunnan, China
Internet in Dali: speed, SIM cards and coworking
Is the internet good in Dali?
Median fixed broadband in China is 238 Mbps and mobile is 176 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Cafés in Old Town and Xizhou are laptop-friendly; wifi is fine but usually needs a Chinese phone number.
Getting online in Dali
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Home fibre | Fibre from China Telecom and Unicom in most apartments; about 80–150 CNY a month. Rural guesthouses can be slower. |
| Cafés and coworking | Cafés in Old Town and Xizhou are laptop-friendly; wifi is fine but usually needs a Chinese phone number. |
| Tourist SIM | Airport counters sell local SIMs with passport registration; a roaming SIM or travel eSIM bought abroad is simpler and avoids blocked sites. |
| eSIM | Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors. |
| Carriers | China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom |
| Monthly data plan | ¥30–100 ($4.5–14.9) |
| Blocked services | Google (Search, Gmail, Maps), WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, ChatGPT and many foreign news sites are blocked. VPNs are unauthorized but widely used; install one before arrival. Roaming SIMs and travel eSIMs usually bypass the blocks. |
Coworking in Dali
There's no dedicated coworking scene here; people work from cafés and accommodation.
Internet speeds in East Asia
National medians, Speedtest Global Index.
| Country | Fixed | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong | 362 Mbps | 89 Mbps |
| Macau | 322 Mbps | — |
| Taiwan | 298 Mbps | 111 Mbps |
| South Korea | 251 Mbps | 251 Mbps |
| China | 238 Mbps | 176 Mbps |
| Japan | 234 Mbps | 66 Mbps |
| Mongolia | 86 Mbps | — |
Quick answers
Is the internet fast in Dali?
Median fixed broadband in China is 238 Mbps and mobile is 176 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Cafés in Old Town and Xizhou are laptop-friendly; wifi is fine but usually needs a Chinese phone number.
Which SIM card should I get in Dali?
Airport counters sell local SIMs with passport registration; a roaming SIM or travel eSIM bought abroad is simpler and avoids blocked sites.
Can I use an eSIM in China?
Yes. Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors, and travel eSIMs work too.
More about Dali
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Sources
- Speedtest Global Index: China
- China Mobile
- China Unicom
- China Telecom
- China Railway 12306
- National Immigration Administration
Speeds are medians from Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, cited for reference. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.