Telephone, Telegram and Fax

Telephone communication within China is good and getting better as the national system upgrades to fiber optic cable. China's phone system runs smoothly. Direct long-distance dials (DDD) and International calls (IDD) can be made from hotel rooms or roadside telephone kiosks. When making a domestic call, visitors should dial the domestic prefix 0 plus area code and the number. When make an international call, just dial the international prefix 00, plus country code, area code and number.

International Direct Dial (IDD) telephone service is available from almost any telephone in the major cities, or from hotels and phone centers in secondary cities. IDD calls have a six-second minimum charge, the rate is 0.80 yuan per six second. All long distance phone made between 21:00 and 07:00 the next morning only need pay half the daytime price.

Public phones are available in many shops, restaurants, and on the street. (Be sure to give incoming callers your room number, since it is sometimes hard for receptionists to remember foreign name spellings).

In hotels, local calls are generally free or only charged a nominal fee while domestic long-distance and international calls will be charged a variable service fee ranging from 10 to 20 percent.

In some large cities, you can now buy IP phone cards which can save you money. Telegram, fax and telex facilities are available in hotels, post offices and telecommunication centers.

Postal Service

The postal service is one of the most efficient systems in China. Local rates are inexpensive and international rates are reasonable. Tourist hotels usually have their own post offices and shipping services, but hotel front desks provide the most convenient places for travelers to drop mail. All major international courier services have offices in major Chinese cities, and travelers can arrange with their hotel for pickup.

There are Post Offices in all cities and towns throughout the country. Domestic mail is very fast and the cost is low, normally 0.60 yuan for local delivery and 0.80 yuan for inter-city mail. Within some cities, there is often same-day delivery; between large cities, delivery is usually overnight. The international postal service is also efficient. Under normal circumstances it will only take 5-10 days for airmail letters or postcards to reach their destinations.

Points for special attention:
 

• Envelope sizes are standardized in China, so always buy them from post offices, hotels and appointed agencies.
• Stamps in China are not self-adhesive so you need to glue them onto the envelopes.
• The postal code is required when mailing letter.
• Post offices are very particular about how you pack a parcel. So pack the items you want to post in the post office, as you will have to get customs clearance for your parcel.

The Chinese postal services also offer Express Mail Service (EMS) to most domestic and international destinations. A number of international courier companies have offices in China, in which express mail service such as DHL, UPS, TNT and FedEx are now accessible to more than 10,000 cities in 170 countries and regions.

Post offices, with eye-catching green emblems, are usually found on main streets, at railway stations, the airport and major scenic spots. They open daily from 08:00-19:00.

Internet

Just as in the rest of the world the Internet is widely available in China. You will be able find access to Internet facilities in most major cities. Business centers in 4 and 5 star hotels provide an Internet service for visitors and find cyber cafes are plentiful.