Phone Calls & Using Your Phone
All hotels in China will have phones where you can make calls back home, however please be aware that the cost of these calls may be expensive and rates will vary between hotels. It is possible to use mobile phone applications such as Skype and WhatsApp through an internet connection to contact friends and family back home free of charge.
SIM cards can be pre purchased in Australia or on arrival in China at major airports, kiosks, street vendors and shops in most major cities.
If you wish to use your own sim card from Australia, we recommend that you contact your mobile provider if you intend to use international roaming during your holiday and ensure you investigate all associated costs before you leave home. Most major providers have an optional add-on charged by the day to use your phone for calls and internet when overseas.
Australia: To call Australia, the international access code is 00, followed by the country code 61, then the local area code (omitting the first 0), then the number. For example, to call Wendy Wu Tours' Sydney office from China you would call: 00 61 2 9224 8888.
China: China's country code is 86. To call China, dial 0011 followed by 86, then the local number. Alternatively, the 0011 can be replaced with a + followed by 86 (i.e. +86), then the local number.
Postage
We recommend that you use the Post Offices rather than your hotel to post items, as hotels are often more expensive and unreliable. We advise you to use a courier service from Post Offices to send anything valuable or important.
Internet and Email
Free Wi-Fi connections are available in most hotels in main cities and tourist destinations. Note some hotels will only provide free Wi-Fi in the hotel lobby, and internet access in your hotel room may come at an additional cost. Wi-Fi is available on your Yangtze Cruise ship at an additional cost. Please note, Google is sometimes restricted in China also so you may experience some difficulties using Google-based programs such as Gmail.
In remote areas, you will rarely be able to access phone or internet facilities and mobile phones are not likely to have reception. We advise that you let friends and family at home know that you will be out of phone contact during these sections of your itinerary.
Censorship and Social Media
China restricts access to certain websites, usually those which include social media and forum-style discussions. Therefore, you will find that access to Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter and other social network sites are not available in mainland China. Please note, Google is sometimes restricted in China also.
Most locals rely on other social digital platforms such as WeChat, Douyin (China's version of Tik Tok) or Weibo for news, entertainment, shopping, etc. though you may choose to download an e-SIM (a digital SIM card that allows a user to connect to a mobile network without a physical SIM card) - see below.
Time Difference
China is 2 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.
In Xinjiang Province (north west China), although the time zone officially remains the same as Beijing, people and businesses run on an unofficial time that is two hours behind. Shops and banks open from 10am to 7pm and you might find yourself eating dinner at the official time of 9pm.
e-SIM
We recommend purchasing an international e-SIM which can be downloaded onto your mobile from a provider such as:
HolaFly - https://esim.holafly.com/
ByteSIM - https://bytesim.com/
Airalo - https://www.airalo.com/china-esim
What does the e-SIM do?
• Provides data for your trip to China (please check data limits as these are subject to change)
• Includes a built-in VPN for unrestricted browsing (without a VPN you won’t be able to access sites like Facebook or WhatsApp as these are blocked in China, even if you have internet access)
• Allows you to use WhatsApp via your usual phone number
• Means you won’t have to search for or join public Wi-Fi networks
• You won’t have to pay additional roaming charges
You must have a compatible smartphone to use an e-SIM. You can check if your phone is compatible on the HolaFly website. Most iPhones, Samsungs and Google Pixel phones are compatible, but please check before purchasing.
How does the e-SIM work?
• Once purchased, you will immediately receive a QR code via email along with set up instructions
• Scan the QR code with your phone camera to access your e-SIM
• We recommend accessing your e-SIM prior to arrival in China to ensure everything is working correctly
• Activate your e-SIM and switch your data roaming on once in China
Disclaimer: Please note, we are not connected or endorsed by any company mentioned in the above and cannot be held responsible for their product. This is for general information purposes only and you should not rely upon the information as a basis for making any business or legal decisions. We are not responsible for the contents of any linked site.