Getting Connected in Beijing

Over the past decade, Beijing has developed a relatively fast and reliable telecommunications infrastructure. Telephone lines are reliable, and international dialing is simple to arrange. There are only two fixed-line providers in town: China Netcom (10060) and China Telecom, which you can contact through Beijing Telecommunications (10000). If you are renting a previously inhabited apartment, chances are that the telephone service is already active and you simply have to take over the monthly payments. To pay the bill, go to almost any Chinese bank and show the teller your phone number. Many foreigners use prepaid IP (Internet phone) or calling cards to save money calling internationally. Long distance rates vary depending on the destination country, but are typically RMB2-4 per minute. Using an Internet service such as Skype is the cheapest way to make international calls to most countries.

Mobile Phones

The mobile phone market in Beijing is thriving, and phones have become an indispensable tool of daily life. It seems almost everybody in Beijing, aged 8 to 80, has a mobile phone. They buzz, sing and ring constantly wherever you are in the city – a testament to a functioning network and affordable pay-as-you-go calling. Most mobile phones that are supported by GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) work throughout China, and you might find that Chinese SIM cards will work in your phone. American / European Blackberries work fine in China. However, if you’re moving to Beijing, it’s far more affordable to pick up a local SIM card as soon as you move here. China Mobile, the nation’s biggest telecommunications service provider, usually recognises two dual frequencies – 900 and 1,800 Hz. Network coverage across China is excellent. If you don’t have a compatible phone, a pay-as-you-go mobile phone can be purchased for RMB600-700 plus the cost of a SIM card. Calling and text-messaging other mobile phones is cheap. You can find RMB100 stored value cards for mobile phones in most convenience stores. Instructions for loading the stored value onto your phone are available in English.

Internet

Routers are readily available for about RMB200-300 for a basic home model. The most popular is the TP-Link brand. Call China Telecom (10000) and arrange for them to set up a wireless connection in your home. In the meantime, the number of places throughout the city that offer free Wi-Fi is growing exponentially. There are wireless hotspots in many coffee shops, restaurants, hostels and hotels.  At home, the most common is ADSL. Installation costs RMB300 and it takes at least a week to be activated. Ask your landlord about arranging this service in your home when you move in. Two other options are cable Internet, offered through Beijing Gehua, and broadband through your building or complex. Rates for these options are similar to ADSL; however, the connection is generally a bit slower. The Chinese government blocks certain sites that are deemed inappropriate, including Facebook and YouTube. As you surf the net, you will find sections of other sites blocked as well, such as parts of the BBC that deal with China and expat blogs that come up on Google searches. Major newspapers and email servers are left alone.

Post & Courier Services

China Post post offices are located throughout Beijing and are typically open 9-5 on weekdays and Saturday mornings. Services and availability of English assistance vary depending on the size and location of the branch. Do not count on there being an English-speaker to help you. Smaller centres only handle mailing letters, selling stamps and paying bills, while larger branches change money and handle international express mail and Western Union. Airmail letters and postcards normally take two to three days to domestic cities, about ten days to Europe and two weeks to North America. If you need to send a package overseas, bring the contents unwrapped to the post office. Postal officers will want to assess the value of contents, which cannot exceed RMB1,500. The growing number of private mail carriers providing a more reliable (albeit more expensive) service in Beijing includes UPS (800 820 8388, www.ups.com), DHL (800 810 8000, www.cn.dhl.com), TNT (800 820 9868, www.tnt.com) and FedEx (800 988 1888, www.fedex.com/cn_english).

Media

Familiarising yourself with local print media is a good way to get a feel for Beijing. There are a few Chinese papers published in English, and several major international papers are available at big hotels, bookstores and some cafés. There are several very helpful weekly and monthly magazines published that specifically cater to the expat community.

Newspapers

China Daily (www.chinadaily.com.cn) is the main English-language paper in Beijing. The Chinese-language People’s Daily can be read in English at http://english.peopledaily.com.cn. Take into account that newspaper editorial is scrutinised by the government, thereby necessitating self-censorship.

Magazines

For a light-hearted look at Beijing’s culture and entertainment and event listings pick up one of the several high-quality expat magazines. The most popular are City Weekend (www.cityweekend.com.cn), The Beijinger, Time Out Beijing and Beijing Talk. In addition to those, Beijingkids and City Weekend Parents & Kids are both geared towards expat family issues, news and events.