Useful Tips on Communication in China

When traveling in China you will discover that China has an efficient communications service. Here you will find the most efficient ways to communicate and how to find what you require.

Firstly the postal network carries a variety of services including express mail and registered post.

The telecommunications systems are reasonably advanced and you can make international calls from all but the cheapest hotels.

Internet has become really popular and there are now many cafes with internet access. But you should know that the government does police the net and any website that it believes is controversial may be blocked.

Five-star hotel bookstores carry foreign newspapers but again these may be censored.

Local and International Telephone Calls

When in China you can make local and international calls from most hotels, telephone boxes and offices of China Telecom.

If you are in a large city the cheapest way to make calls is to use a phone card at a card phone. For domestic calls use an Integrated Circuit Card (can be used internationally but the rates aren't very good) and for international calls use Internet Phone cards.

If the local cell phone network is compatible with your phone then you will be able to use that. This can be costly so it may be cheaper to purchase a phone and SIM card whilst you are in China.

Useful Numbers and Dialing Codes

To call China from abroad dial China's country code 86, the area code (omitting the 0), and then the local number.

Hong Kong and Macau do not have area codes just country codes. Hong Kong is 852 and Macau is 853.

To make an intercity call simply dial the area code of the city and the local number

Beijing 010
Shanghai 021
Guangzhou 020
Chongqing 023
Kunming 0871

When making a local call, knock off the 0.

To make an international call from China dial 00, the country code, the area code leaving out any initial 0 and the local number.

Country codes:

USA & Canada 1
UK 44
France 33
Australia 61
Ireland 353
New Zealand 64
South Africa 27
Japan 81

For international directory assistance dial 115

For local directory enquiries dial the area code followed by 114

Internet & E-Mail Facilities

It is not the norm for personal computer ownership so you will find internet cafes (wangha) almost everywhere.

You will find the most internet cafes clustered around residential neighborhoods and university campuses. You can also get on-line at an China Telecom office.

Hotel business centers and Internet Cafes that target tourists tend to be expensive so unless the need is urgent it is best to avoid this route.

As mentioned before China polices the internet and certain content and sites are prohibited.

Postal Services

It has to be said that for the most part the postal service in China is reliable and certainly the domestic service is pretty fast.

To send airmail and postcards overseas can take up to 10 days.

Mail can be sent standard or registered (guabaoxin) and the Express Mail Service (EMS) is a reliable way to send documents and packages within the country and abroad.

The main post offices in China are open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm. Smaller post offices tend to close earlier and close at the weekends.

Most large hotels have post desks.

Try and drop any mail off at a post office rather than using a mailbox. It will also help postal staff if you can write the receiving country's name in Chinese characters.

There are reliable poste restante services available across the country. To use this service you will need some form of identification, preferably a passport to retrieve your mail.

The front of the envelope should be addressed with the last name underlined and in capital letters. Addresses in China always start with the country, then the province, the city, the street, the hose number and then the name of the recipient.

The postal code is written at the end.

Postal Directory

DHL Worldwide Express

Telephone: Beijing (010) 6466 221 or 800 810 8000

Shanghai (021) 6536 2900 or 800 810 8000

Federal Express

Telephone: Beijing (010) 6561 2003 0r 800 810 2338

Shanghai (021) 6237 5134

General Post Office

134 Changjang Lu, Dalian Near Bell Tower , Bei Lu, Shanghai

International Post Office

Jianguo Men Bei Dajie, Beijing

Sichuan Bei Lu, Shanghai

United Parcel Service

Telephone: Beijing (010) 6593 2932

Shanghai (021) 6391 5555

Courier Services

You will find that although courier services are widely available in China they are less so in remote areas and small towns.

It is best to send large bulky items by land, sea or air but for those smaller items such as documents or smaller parcels it is better to use a courier service even though this is likely to be somewhat more expensive.

International Courier Services

United Parcel Service (UPS)

Federal Express

DHL Worldwide Express

Magazines and Newspapers

The official newspaper in China that is written in English is the China Daily. But there is very little in this paper.

You will be able to find a variety of international magazines and newspapers such as the Economist, Newsweek, The Financial Times and the International Herald Tribune at hotel bookstores.

Be warned though that imported English language newspapers are censored and sometimes have the odd page missing.

Online newspapers can usually be found but news organizations such as the BBC are blocked.

If you are in Guangzhou, Tianjin, Shanghai or Beijing keep your eyes open for expat culture and entertainment magazines as these will offer the best news on local events.

Television and Radio

There are two English language channels offered on the state run television network, Chinese Central Television (CCTV).

CCTV9 isn't too bad even though it does have bland content and its news is biased. There are also some programs on CCTV.

You probably will not find BBC News 24 or CNN as cable and satellite are only available in top end hotels and diplomatic compounds.

Programs shown in Chinese range from soaps and historical costume dramas to wildlife programs, war films, domestic travel and biased news programs.

There is a wide range of Chinese language radio programs with a few English language programs.

If you desire to pick up the BBC World Service, Voice of America and other international programs you will need a short wave radio.

Source: China - the Eyewitness Travel Guide