Living
Internet
China has joined the global information revolution, but on its own terms. The aptly named ‘great firewall’ removes access to sites that the government deems inappropriate. These include pornographic sites, some that are critical of the government, and sites such as Wikipedia, Flickr, and parts of the BBC. Still, getting online is pretty simple.
For quick access, internet cafes (wang ba) are found throughout the city and fairly cheap; about ¥3 to ¥5 per hour. However, prepare for a haze of cigarette smoke, and perhaps a wait if you visit in the evening. There are wireless hotspots in many coffee shops, restaurants, hostels and hotels. Very few require payment and most don’t even need a password.
The last option, outside of your home, is to use cellular data networks. Buy a PCMCIA or USB dongle for your computer at any electronic or mobile phone market, and you can use your SIM card to surf the internet wirelessly. This can be a great option for those on the move, as it is faster than dial-up and reasonably cheap at around ¥0.03 per KB of data. Make sure you test the software when buying it.
At home, choices are limited. The most common is ADSL, now offered almost everywhere. Most agents or landlords will help set it up, as it must be installed in the name of the telephone account holder. It is simple to arrange, though it can take up to a week and costs ¥300 for installation. Pay-as-you-go rates are available at ¥0.05 per minute, but most residents will want to opt for a monthly plan of ¥120 to ¥188 (according to the data rate, of between 512 KB/s to 2 MB/s).
Cheap dial-up access is available anywhere you can find a phone jack. Simply dial 95963 (username and password 263, ¥0.07 per minute), or 16900 (username and password 169, ¥0.05 per minute) to connect. The fees will be added to the next month’s phone bill. Remember that you pay a small charge to the phone company as well, of about ¥1.20 per hour.
Two other possibilities are cable internet, offered through Beijing Gehua (www.gehua.com), and broadband, offered through your building or complex. Cable internet varies widely in speed, and is not available in all areas, so ask your landlord or agent, as it can be a bit trickier than ADSL. Rates for both are competitive with ADSL.
For quick access, internet cafes (wang ba) are found throughout the city and fairly cheap; about ¥3 to ¥5 per hour. However, prepare for a haze of cigarette smoke, and perhaps a wait if you visit in the evening. There are wireless hotspots in many coffee shops, restaurants, hostels and hotels. Very few require payment and most don’t even need a password.
The last option, outside of your home, is to use cellular data networks. Buy a PCMCIA or USB dongle for your computer at any electronic or mobile phone market, and you can use your SIM card to surf the internet wirelessly. This can be a great option for those on the move, as it is faster than dial-up and reasonably cheap at around ¥0.03 per KB of data. Make sure you test the software when buying it.
At home, choices are limited. The most common is ADSL, now offered almost everywhere. Most agents or landlords will help set it up, as it must be installed in the name of the telephone account holder. It is simple to arrange, though it can take up to a week and costs ¥300 for installation. Pay-as-you-go rates are available at ¥0.05 per minute, but most residents will want to opt for a monthly plan of ¥120 to ¥188 (according to the data rate, of between 512 KB/s to 2 MB/s).
Cheap dial-up access is available anywhere you can find a phone jack. Simply dial 95963 (username and password 263, ¥0.07 per minute), or 16900 (username and password 169, ¥0.05 per minute) to connect. The fees will be added to the next month’s phone bill. Remember that you pay a small charge to the phone company as well, of about ¥1.20 per hour.
Two other possibilities are cable internet, offered through Beijing Gehua (www.gehua.com), and broadband, offered through your building or complex. Cable internet varies widely in speed, and is not available in all areas, so ask your landlord or agent, as it can be a bit trickier than ADSL. Rates for both are competitive with ADSL.
