| International call: international calls
can be made directly from the local land but the cost is expensive
which about 0.72 yuan per 6 seconds is. There has an inexpensive
way to make long distance calls are by using an IP (Internet
phone) card. IP card can obtained at convenient store, news-stands
and are available in both English and Chinese.
Internet and E-mail: internet cafes can
be easily found in Central Beijing and cost 3 yuan-15 yuan
for a relatively high-speed connection. They are generally
open all night. Many of them offer free Wi-Fi services and
inform visitors on the boards in front their gates. For a
list of Wi-Fi locations, besides Starbucks, see: www.chinapulse.com/wifi.internet
access and other high-tech service are increasingly available
in most hotel business center, with price as much as about
20 yuan for ten minutes.
Business travelers in Beijing can switch to a Chinese pre-paid
SIM, which saves a fortune. There are two mobile carriers
service Beijing, China Mobile and China Unicom. China Mobile
offers GSM, and China Unicom offers GSM as well as CDMA.
Cell phones: If you are going to be staying
in Beijing for even a short time, it may prove economical
to purchase a pre-paid Chinese SIM for you cell phone provide
your cell is open to all networks. There are two mobile operators
in China, China Mobile and China Unicom. Both offer a range
of pre-paid packages starting at around 50 yuan for the SIM,
depending on the distinctiveness of the phone number. A list
will be presented to you of available numbers. It costs to
receive calls so you will be required to purchase a minimum
50-yuan top-up card initially. Calls to Beijing landlines
or cells are charged at fixed rate of between 0.25 yuan and
.6 yuan. To receive calls costs between 0.1 yuan and 0.4 yuan
and text messages are fixed at 0.1 yuan. The process can be
difficult if no Chinese is spoken. PIN codes are required
and automated messages will require particular inputs. China
Mobile offers an English-language operator assistance line
by calling 10086 and China Unicom¡¯s similar service is at
10010. to avoid high costs on long-distance calling, add 17931
before the desired number. (English- language operator assistance
line of China Unicom) Both operators offer GSM, while China
Unicom also offers CDMA.
China Mobile: a new SIM on China Mobile
(Donggan Didai) is available from any shop where you see the
China Mobile sign. You¡¯ll be shown a list of available telephone
numbers. Unlike some Western countries, the SIM will vary
based on the distinctiveness of the number. The price of a
Shen Zhou Xing SIM starts at 50 yuan for an average number,
and rises to as much thousands of yuan for particularly attractive
numbers.
The Shen Zhou Xing SIM does not have any call credit when
you first purchase it. You should use a recharge card (chongzhi
ka) to add value, thus allowing you to make and receive calls.
Recharge cards are generally available in 50 or 100 yuan denominations.
To get on the air, simple slip the SIM into your phone -?
there is no PIN or pass code your handset should indicate
CHINA MOBILE. It usually costs 0.25 yuan per minute for local
calls. China Mobile also offers an English-language operator
assistance line: call 10086.
Travelers Check and credit
cards:
Traveler checks are easily cashed at the Bank of China in
Beijing. Major credit cards such as MasterCard, Visa, JCB,
Diners Club and American Express may be used to purchase goods
in large department stores. They may also be used to pay hotel,
at major shopping centers and for meals in some restaurants.
Electric current:
China uses a 220-volt power supply for standard domestic
and business purposes. There generally provide wall outlets
in the Accommodation places which both straight two-pin plugs
and triangular 3-pin plugs.
Tap water:
Tap water in China is considered hard and needs to be boiled
before drinking. All accommodation places will provide boiled
water or electric kettle.
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