Interest and Other Income - Summary of Interest and Other Income (Detail) - CNY (¥) ¥ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Disclosure of interest and other income [abstract]
Interest income	¥ 11,447	¥ 10,065	¥ 11,443
Fair value gains recognized, net	2,894	5,495	4,442
Interest and other income	¥ 14,341	¥ 15,560	¥ 15,885

Disclosure of interest and other income [abstract]

No definition available.

Name:	chl_DisclosureOfInterestAndOtherIncomeAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	chl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of income associated with interest and other financing activities of the entity and operating income that the entity does not separately disclose in the same statement or note.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	chl_InterestAndOtherIncome
Namespace Prefix:	chl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The gains (losses) including exchange differences recognised in profit or loss on the fair value measurement of assets. [Refer: At fair value [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 13
-IssueDate 2020-01-01
-Paragraph 93
-Subparagraph e
-Clause i
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=13&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_93_e_i&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2020-01-01

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_GainsLossesRecognisedInProfitOrLossFairValueMeasurementAssets
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of interest income on deposits. [Refer: Interest income]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2020-01-01
-Paragraph 112
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2020-en-r&anchor=para_112_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2020-01-01

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_InterestIncomeOnDeposits
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration