IDD is available. Country code: 86. Antiquated internal service with public telephones in post offices, hotels and shops displaying a telephone unit sign. Domestic calls are cheaper to make between 2100 and 0700; it is also easier to get a connection during this time. It is often easier to make international phone calls from China than it is to make calls internally. There is a three-minute minimum charge for international calls.

Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies. There is coverage in most major urban areas in the southeastern and eastern regions, including Chengdu and Chongqing. There is also coverage in Xi'an, Lhasa, Ürümqi. Elsewhere is sporadic coverage.

Internet is available in many areas of China; there are Internet cafes in Beijing and other main towns. The number of Internet users passed the 100 million mark in 2005. Beijing routinely blocks access to sites run by the banned spiritual movement Falun Gong, rights groups and some foreign news organisations. Postings by 'bloggers' are now being actively curbed.

China's media are tightly controlled by the country's leadership. The industry has been opened up in the areas of distribution and advertising but not in editorial content. Access to foreign news providers is limited and re-broadcasting and the use of satellite receivers is restricted; shortwave radio broadcasts are jammed and websites are blocked. In general, the press report on corruption and inefficiency among officials, but the media avoid criticism of the Communist Party's monopoly on power. Hong Kong so far has retained its editorially free media. Each city has its own newspaper, usually published by the local Government, as well as a local Communist Party daily. Agreements are in place which allow selected channels - including stations run by AOL Time Warner, News Corp and the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV - to transmit via cable in Guangdong province. In exchange, Chinese Central TV's English-language network is made available to satellite TV viewers in the US and UK. Beijing says it will only allow relays of foreign broadcasts which do not threaten 'national security' or 'political stability'. All foreign-made TV programmes will be subject to approval before broadcast.
Press: The main English-language daily is the China Daily. There is also the weekly news magazine Beijing Review, with editions in English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. National newspapers include The People's Daily and The Worker’s Daily, with many provinces having their own local dailies as well. News agencies include the state-run Xinhua and Zhongguo Xinwen She (aimed mainly at overseas Chinese nationals).
TV: Chinese Central TV (CCTV) is a state-run national broadcaster, with networks that include English-language CCTV-9.
Radio: China National Radio is state-run; China Radio International is a state-run external broadcaster with programmes in more than 40 languages.

Service to Europe takes from between two days and one week. Tourist hotels usually have their own post offices. All postal communications to China should be addressed ‘People’s Republic of China’. Post office hours: 0800-19.00.