Telecome & Post Services in Shanghai

• Sending Packages

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  Some of the large housing communities have an in-house mail counter where you can mail letters and small packages that are less than two kilos in weight. Larger packages must be taken to a post office. Packages can often be subject to inspection by customs officials. Antiquities or pirated goods will be confiscated: so do not try to send them out of China. If you bring your package to the post office unpacked, they will be able to easily inspect everything and perhaps ask a few questions. The large post offices have packaging material for sale, but they do not sell or offer scissors.

• Sending Letters

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  For international letters, have someone write the name of the country in Chinese below the address. When sending domestic mail, use official envelopes available at the post office and stationery shops. Place the postal code in the red outlined boxes and the full address in the middle of the envelope. It is safer to have the address written in Chinese characters. Use blue or black ink. Mail within China can be very slow, so for urgent shipments, contract any one of the companies listed under the directory heading “Courier Services”

• Receiving Packages

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  Large packages will not be delivered directly to you. you will receive a claim form, identifying an international post and telecommunications office in your vicinity, and the claim date. If you pick up the package after the specified date, you’ll be charged a daily fee, and after thirty days, the package will be returned to the sender. Fees at the post office are written in English and Chinese. Other post office services include money order, wire money transfer, and international and domestic telephone and telegraph services. The customs window is open for package inspection form 8:00am to 5:00pm.

• Internet Access

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  The speed of your internet connection depends on the level of service you sign up for. Most people in Shanghai choose ADSL, which can choose the speed from 512k to 4M per second. Other choice can be FTTP or VDSL. Also, cable television providers in Shanghai have also begun to offer service. Your best bet is to ask your landlord or management company for available options.

• Phone

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  China’s telephone services are improving dramatically IDD (International Direct Dial) is available in most hotels and housing compounds, and public phones are easily found. Automatic public phones cost RMB 1 for three minutes; deposit the coin, dial the number and let it ring, and once the call is answered, press the designated button to release the coin and begin the call. No-automatic phones in shops cost RMB 0.5 for three minutes. The cheapest way to make long-distance calls is by using and IP card. With an IP card, you can make international calls by spending less than half the rate of an IDD call. These are available at most hotels, internet cafes and news-stands; and instructions are in English.