Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and state-run shops in major cities. Accepted cards include Visa, Master Card, and American Express.

Postal Service
Mailing service is available in urban post offices and some hotels. When mailing a letter in China, make sure to use a standard envelope, fill in the postal code, and attach enough stamps. Express mail service is available in most post offices and express mail companies. The business centers of major hotels offer telefax and telegraph services.

Telephones and Some Useful Numbers
You can dial international or domestic long-distance calls in your hotel room with your own expense. You may also make phone calls in post offices and public phone booths, where you are asked to pay right after you have finished your call. When you make a domestic long-distance call, remember to dial the area zip code before dialing the number you want. When making an international call, you should dial 00+country code+ area zip code +private number .

0086 - China's international zip code

110 - Police
119 - Fire alarm
120 - Ambulance
112 - Inner-city telephone mishap
113 - Domestic long-distance call operator
114 - Local phone directory
115 - International long-distance call operator
116 - Info rmation on domestic long-distance call
117 - Time
121 - Weather forecast

These phone numbers, which are effective anywhere in China.

Voltage & Converter
The electricity proved in major hotels (including Hong Kong) is 220/ 110 in voltage. In the bathrooms of many medium-grade and posh hotels, 110-volt sockets are available for electric razors and hair driers. Just in case, we suggest you to bring a converter with you during the trip.

Water
The tap water is drinkable only in a few luxury hotels, so make sure to ask a hotel manager if the tap water is potable. All the guest rooms in Chinese hotels are equipped with thermos bottles filled with boiled water. Bottled mineral water is popular in China nowadays.

Newspapers & Periodicals
Many hotels provide, free of charge, China Daily, Beijing Review, and foreign-language editions of publicity pamphlets. Foreign-language books, periodicals and tourist maps about China are available in Foreign Languages Bookstores and some Xinhua Bookstores.

Television
Television sets in most hotels provide satellite-transmitted English and Japanese programs. CCTV and some local television stations also broadcast news and other programs in English.

Laundry
There is no public laundry on the streets. Laundering services are available in hotels and cruise ships, usually through the floor attendant or housekeeping. One-day dry cleaning and pressing services are offer at better hotels.

Seeing a Doctor
The clinics in large hotels and restaurants offer medical and massage services to travelers. If you feel uncomfortable while on a tour, you may phone the outpatient department of the hotel, or ask your guide to take you to see the doctor as soon as possible.