Postal Service
	Telephone, Telegram and Fax
	Internet

Postal Service

During the past two decades, a modernized postal network has been developed in China, covering the whole country and linking up with the world. The postal services network has become one of the most important carriers of information, commodities, and financial instruments.

There are Post Offices in all cities and towns throughout the country. Domestic mail is exceedingly 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.

Post offices in China handle EMS express mail business. Express Mail Service (EMS) is available 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.
Apart from post offices in cities, mailing service is also available in some hotels.
Following is the postal rates of international mail:

Telephone, Telegram and Fax

China is using more and more optical cables and extending its use of ground satellite communication stations. Pagers and mobile telephones cover main cities.
China's phone system is efficient. Direct long-distance dials (DDD) and International calls (IDD) all 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.
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.
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 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.

Internet

Just as in the rest of the world Internet services are now widely available in China. You will be able find access to it in most major cities, though at times it can be very slow to download. Business centers in 4 and 5 star hotels provide an Internet service for visitors and you can also find cyber cafes in many cities. One of the best places to look out for these is near to the universities.