Internet in China

Internet cafes do a booming business in Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Hong Kong, Xian and most other tourist spots. Even smaller and more remote cities usually have some kind of internet cafe for those who need to get their regular email fix. Prices vary of course, from RMB10 per hour to RMB50 per hour in parts of Hong Kong and Shanghai. There are also a few internet bars popping up around Shanghai and Beijing, where internet access is provided free for those buying a drink or something to eat.

The big questions about internet in China is reliability, speed and most importantly, censorship. Do you get all the mail you are meant to? Can you search all the sites you want to? Does your mail get read before it goes out...

All good questions, as the world's largest user of the internet one does wonder. Wikipedia has some interesting comments on censorship in China.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_the_People's_Republic_of_China

They also comment on the 30,000 person strong Internet Police Task Force... Wikipedia wasn't even accessible until the International Olympic Committee requested this become available... this was in March 2008.

Those of you who like BBC or the New York Times... also not likely. CNN is often blacked out too.

Internet cafes can be found nearby most of the colleges, however, you will not want to use them to access secure email or banking information, etc. because of security issues. Using an internet café usually only costs around 3 RMB per hour.

Internet Providers in China

There are many different internet providers in China. Most will NOT have English speaking tech support and most will NOT have anyone who speaks English to help you set it up. Here you are at the mercy of someone Chinese. Get your head teacher or a colleague or a Chinese friend to give you a hand with this.

As China is a massive country, there are different providers that offer services in specific areas only AND with the interest, investment and profit in the internet, new ones are getting established weekly that are replacing old ones. Ask around. Find out what everyone else is using. If you can, test drive their connection. A good way to test the speed of the internet connection is to go to www.speedtest.net

Dialup Access to the internet is available in China through CNC (China Net Com) through most phone lines where CNC is the provider. The cost is around 2 RMB per hour and is just added to your monthly phone bill. Phone number: 169, Username: 169, Password: 169. This works on most phone lines, but the cost does mount up if you use it regularly as broadband is usually cheaper.

Broadband connections here can range and can be up to 5 Megabit download and 500 Kilobit Upload which is more than adequate for using skype. However, the quality of this is sometimes very variable during times of the day and also the location in the world you are trying to access. Sometimes watching video clips on the internet works, sometimes it doesn’t. Internal Chinese websites work very well with very fast speed. The cost of 1 years of internet usually ranges from 600 RMB to 1000 RMB depending on speed and provider.

Electrical System in China

A great site for information on the world's electronics is http://users.pandora.be/worldstandards/electricity.htm and see China.

The two types that are used are type A and type I. Type G is only used in Hong Kong. Both of these are usually located on the same power plug (type A above type I) and run 220v at 50Hz. For those in Australia and New Zealand, the 3 pin system is nearly identical. For European countries, an adaptor will be needed. These are widely available here to suit a huge range of plugs, but it might be advisable to purchase at least 1 before coming so that you can use the electricity straight away.

For those in North America, check if your appliances can take 220v. If not, you may need to purchase a transformer to run your appliance. These are not readily available here.

Cost of Computers in China

Costs for computers have fallen tremendously in China. It is possible to get a desktop computer for under US$300, including monitor. Name-brand printers and ink cartridges can be purchased here as well. There are 4 computer markets located within the vicinity of the intersection of 文化路 (Wen Hua Lu) and 东风路 (Dong Feng Lu). These markets offer a good supply of good quality new and second hand goods including computers, printers, webcams, USB flash drives, memory cards for cameras, speakers, MP3 players and more. One of these markets specialises in second hand products and can also fix any computer or laptop problem.

We are often asked if teachers should buy a computer there or in their home country. I most often advise the person to buy at home. The operating system will be in your local language and your warranty will be honoured.

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