Internet
There are cyber-cafes everywhere in China, especially in tourist areas. Most are patronised by young people playing online games but you still can check your Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail. Access may be a bit slow for international websites.
You will need to show your passport as China has tight regulations at Internet Cyber Cafes.
Telephone
A China SIM Card, together with a tri-band unlocked GSM cell phone, will allow you not only to have a local cell phone number for China but also to pay local rates - and without a contract. China Mobile offer free delivery in China. Worldwide Delivery is available. For your trip to China, make sure to purchase a China SIM card.
Features:
- A China Pre-paid SIM card from China Mobile. This brand allows you purchase recharge vouchers nationally ( online airtime recharge is available )
- Balance check and recharge prompts set up in English. Free balance check at any time in China from your handset
- Flat Domestic rates $0.04 per minute for all local, incoming international calls and China long distance calls anywhere in China
- Calls back to the US and Canada $0.38 per minute
- English-speaking customer representatives in China
- No yearly contract, monthly charges, minimum minutes per day or per call, and no credit checks from China SIM Card
In towns and cities, IDD service is provided at all hotels and post offices. Phone cards are available in post offices inside hotels or in the streets. Even more conveniently, most newsstands in major cities also carry phone cards. Telephone booths in the streets are mostly for local calls.
Some Useful Numbers
110--Police
112--Inner-city telephone mishaps
113--Operator of domestic long-distance calls
114--Inner-city telephone number inquiries
115--Operator of international long-distance calls
116--Information on domestic long-distance calls
117--Time
119-Fire
120--Ambulance
121--Weather forecasts
Postal Service
Tourist hotels provide postal services. If you want to send important items such as antiques and cultural relics that are under customs control, you will have to ask for the help of the local branch of the international post office, instead of the small post office in a hotel. The chins of China Post are good choices.
| Department | Description | |
| 1. | General Office | Responsible for the new postal research strategies and policies, coordination, media and publicity, feedback, complaints and safety and security issues. |
| 2. | Department of Postal Sector Management | Responsible for the regulation of postal market and the formulation of postal laws and regulations. |
| 3. | Department of Postage Stamps | Responsible for the issue of postage vouchers and philatelic services. |
| 4. | Department of Planning and Finance | Responsible for the finance, state-owned assets and the development of postal technologies. |
| 5. | Department of Public Service | Responsible for postal service quality. |
| 6. | Department of Post Routes Operation | Responsible for the construction and operation of post routes and logistic issues. |
| 7. | Department of International Cooperation | Responsible for the management of international postal affairs and services. |
| 8. | Department of Personnel and Education: | Responsible for the personnel, income payment and human resources education in the postal sector. Post bureaus at provincial, autonomous region and municipality level (31) Post bureaus in provincial capitals and other big cities Post bureaus at county level |
