Users are charged on a per minute basis when dialing from home, office or hotel. Long distance service is provided at all hotels and post offices. Some public phone booths will require either coins or cards for making calls. Phone cards are available for sale in post offices, hotels, newsstands, convenient stores and in the streets.

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There are many telephone operating companies offering long distance calling cards at competitive prices. These cards are used with a landline. Easy to use, calling directions are clearly indicated in English and Chinese on the back of the card. The cards can be purchased in newspaper stands, corner grocery stores, mobile company outlets, and even the vendor on the street. Call charges are based on length and destination of call, and calling time (whether peak hours or not). You can also make long distance phone calls via internet phones in internet cafes for a very reasonable fee.

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Coin phone booths take one fen, five fen and one yuan coins. IC cards (normal phone cards) come in 30, 50 and 100 RMB. For phone cards, all you have to do is just put the card into phone and dial.

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Sometimes you may see in some corner stores a red phone and a white board with " ???? " (meaning public telephone) written on it. Fees are charged depending on the length of the call, but usually it costs about 0.50 yuan for a short call.

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Mobile phones are reasonably priced in China. You can buy one for as low as 500RMB. In addition, you would have to buy a SIM card, allowing mobile access. There are two types of options available when buying SIM cards.

One option is getting the monthly paid SIM card. For this service, a mobile user would have to pay 50RMB/month, plus 0.40RMB per every minute used. Bills are paid monthly at any banks or mobile operator's store outlets.

The second option is to purchase a rechargeable SIM card, paying a one-time fee of about 80RMB, plus the prepaid phone usage fees. Essentially this means pay first and then make your calls; and once the deposit is used up, you simply recharge your phone card. Recharge cards are available in 50RMB and 100 RMB. The rate for local calls is 0.60RMB per minute.

International calling rates for both option varies depending on the mobile operating company used and country called.

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The postal service in China is pretty reliable and can handle small to large items. Letters and postcards airmailed from Beijing should reach its destination within five to ten days. If you are receiving packages from abroad, the arrival time may vary depending on the size of the package and country of origin. Post offices are opened Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 6 pm.

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There are many ways to access the internet in Beijing. You can use the PRC Study Student lounge free internet access, or go to the internet cafes within school campus or around town and pay a usage fee. Chares vary from five RMB to ten RMB per hour. Also, it is easy to get internet connection from home through landlines, and sometimes broadband, if you have a computer.

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There are many outlets providing fax services for a fee. PRC Study will receive faxes for students free of charge; while there is a service charge for sending of faxes.

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Beijing offers both English and Chinese television programs and news.

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Keep informed about local, National and International news.

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