Internet

Shanghai is a very Internet-friendly place for those bearing laptops. Most mid- to high-end hotels have in-room Internet access; if the hotel doesn't have a server but you have a room phone you can usually access a government-provided ISP, which only charges you for the phone call. Wi-Fi is growing exponentially—many hotels and even cafés provide it free.

If you're traveling technology-light, your hotel usually has a computer with Internet access that you can use. Internet cafés are also ubiquitous, but it's an unstable business and new ones open and close all the time. Known as wang ba in Chinese, they're not usually signposted in English, so ask your hotel to recommend one nearby. Prices (and cleanliness) vary considerably, but generally range from Y3 to Y10 per hour.

Remember that there is strict government control of the Internet in China. There's usually no problem with Web-based mail, but you may be unable to access news and even blogging sites.

Contacts

Cybercafes (www.cybercafes.com) lists over 4,000 Internet cafés worldwide.

Phones

The country code for China is 86; the city code for Shanghai is 21, and 10 for Beijing. To call Shanghai from the United States or Canada, dial the international-access code (011), followed by the country code (86), the city code (21), and the eight-digit phone number.

Numbers beginning with 800 within China are toll-free. Note that a call from China to a toll-free number in the United States or Hong Kong is a full-tariff international call.

Calling Within China

The Chinese phone system is cheap and efficient. You can make local and long-distance calls from your hotel or any public phone on the street. Shanghai's public phones are usually bright red cabins. Some accept coins, but it's easier to buy an IC (integreated circuit) calling card, available at convenience stores and newsstands. Local calls are generally free from landlines, though your hotel might charge a nominal rate. Long-distance rates in China are very low. For once, calling from your hotel room is a viable option, as hotels can only add a 15% service charge.

Shanghai's city code is 021, and Shanghai phone numbers have eight digits—you only need to dial these when calling within the city. In general, city codes appear written with a 0 in front of them; if not, you need to add this when calling another city within China.

For directory assistance, dial 114. If you want information for other cities, dial the city code followed by 114 (note that this is considered a long-distance call). For example, if you're in Shanghai and need directory assistance for a Beijing number, dial 020-114. The operators do not speak English, so if you don't speak Chinese you're best off asking your hotel for help.

To make long-distance calls from a public phone you need an IC card. To place a long-distance call, dial 0, the city code, and the eight-digit phone number.

Contact

Local directory assistance (114). Time (117). Weather (121).

Calling Outside China

To make an international call from within China, dial 00 (the international access code within China) and then the country code, area or city code, and phone number. The country code for the United States is 1.

IDD (international direct dialing) service is available at all hotels, post offices, major shopping centers, and airports. By international standards prices aren't unreasonable, but it's vastly cheaper to use a long-distance calling card, known as an IP (Internet protocol) card. These cards' rates also beat AT&T, MCI, and Sprint hands-down. If you do need to use these services, dial 108 (the local operator) and the local access codes from China: 11 for AT&T, 12 for MCI, and 13 for Sprint. Dialing instructions in English will follow.

Access Codes

AT&T Direct (800/874-4000; 108-11 from China). MCI WorldPhone (800/444-4444; 108-12 from China). Sprint International Access (800/793-1153; 108-13 from China).

Calling Cards

Calling cards are a key part of the Chinese phone system. There are two kinds: the IC card (integrated circuit; àicei ka), for local and domestic long-distance calls on pay phones; and the IP card (Internet protocol; aipi ka) for international calls from any phone. You can buy both at post offices, convenience stores, and from street vendors.

IC cards come in denominations of Y20, Y50, and Y100, and can be used in any pay phone with a card slot—most Shanghai pay phones have them. Local calls using them cost around Y0.30 a minute, and less on weekends and after 6 PM.

To use IP cards, you first dial a local access number. This is often free from hotels, while at public phones you need an IC card to do so. You then enter a card number and PIN, and finally the phone number, complete with international dial codes. When calling from a pay phone, both cards' minutes are deducted at the same time, one for local access (IC card) and one for the long-distance call you placed (IP card). There are countless different card brands; China Unicom is one that's usually reliable. IP cards come with face values of Y20, Y30, Y50, and Y100. However, the going rate for them is up to half that, so bargain vendors down. Y50 gets you around 20 minutes' talking time.