There are a lot of rumors about the Internet in China, about surveillance and bans on the use of certain resources, etc. Many of them are fictitious, but some are justified. If you like to scroll through your Facebook or Twitter feed, then upon arrival in China you will have to live without them, just like without YouTube; in China, access to these resources is closed. We will talk about mobile Internet in China using a tourist SIM card, as one of the most affordable options. After all, you can buy it before your trip and save a lot of money later.

Roaming card for China FreeRoaming will not only provide access to the mobile Internet, but will also allow you to receive and make calls, as well as send and receive messages. Although the popularity of the latter is significantly declining. The card works in roaming of local 3G and 4G mobile operators, which we will talk about a little later. Now I would like to highlight a number of advantages:

- Profitability. We only pay when we need mobile internet;

- Anonymity. Activated without any documents;

- Simplicity. All Internet settings will automatically come to your smartphone or tablet;

- Covering. It works not only throughout China, but also in 70 countries around the world;

- Openness. A single tariff for the entire host country without hidden fees.

In addition, the possibility of distributing mobile Internet via Wi-Fi is open. Tariffs in China will be as follows:

As mentioned earlier, a tourist SIM card uses the base stations of local operators according to the roaming agreement. Let's talk about these networks of cellular operators.

Mobile Internet in China it is present and perhaps one of the few countries where you can access the Internet with a variety of devices due to the huge number of standards used cellular communications. China is the only country with its own standard for 3G Internet - TD-SDMA; GSM, WCDMA and LTE are also present, which are used in Russia.

As for the operators, there are three of them: China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom.

WITHhina Mobile- most large operator in China, and indeed throughout the world. So in China the operator serves 360 million subscribers, and the total number of subscribers using the services of this operator is about 810 million. Works in standards - GSM, TD-SDMA and 4G LTE. If you need good 3G Internet, make sure that your phone supports the Chinese standard. Most likely there is no support for TD-SDMA. Then you better pay attention to the second operator China Unicom.

China Unicom is the second largest mobile operator in China by number of subscribers. Serves 150 million subscribers. It works in our usual communication standards - 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA/HSPA+. So, upon arrival in China, it is better to manually select the network of this particular operator.

China Telecom– CDMA operator is not particularly popular among the local population. Positions itself more as an operator of fixed Internet access. We do not use this standard in Russia, so we are not interested in it.

The coverage of all operators is not even bad. This is all thanks to the fact that the companies’ activities are regulated at the state level.

Modern mobile operators provide communication services to their subscribers not only within the home region and when roaming throughout the country. When traveling abroad, clients of the Megafon operator can be sure that they will not be left without stable and high-quality communications. To provide yourself with this integral part of life, you need to take care of a number of points in advance before your trip, familiarize yourself with the local tariffs, optionally activate packages and options that allow you to get a good discount and clarify payment options. How to activate Megafon roaming in China, under what conditions is it provided, what packages will be beneficial for voice calls, sending SMS, and how much will the Internet cost? All these issues will be discussed in the current article.

Roaming Megafon in China: is a connection required?

Often the term “roaming” means a certain additional service, which needs to be connected separately on the number before going on vacation/work trip, etc. In fact, the ability to use communication services in other cities and countries is basic (connected on the number by default). On the list basic services The number already contains “international roaming” and “long-distance roaming” - they can be disabled only at the request of the subscriber. Thus, Megafon roaming in China will be provided on the client’s number. However, there is a small nuance here.

Expanded international roaming

With the advent of such a concept as “online tariffing”, there was a need for another roaming service. The essence of online billing is that charges from the client’s number mobile operator carried out immediately after he has completed a paid action. In essence, this is no different from the principle of withdrawing money for voice communications and other services in your home region. Since operators in not all countries provide a similar tariff scheme, it is sometimes not necessary to activate extended international roaming. It is worth considering that in a country where there is no instant debiting of money for services, the performed action may be reflected within a few days on the Megafon number. Roaming in China involves online charging. Therefore, you need to contact the communication salon (the direct owner of the number with your passport) and activate the extended roaming service. You can do this completely free of charge.

Cost of communication services in roaming (without connecting to any packages)

So, before you start using roaming (Megafon) in China, before your trip you should familiarize yourself with the prices for communication services provided local operators. We remind you that the cellular company enters into contracts with local organizations that are communication service providers, which, in turn, provide tourists with stable and high-quality communications. What is the cost of communication services?

• You can make a voice call for 129 rubles per minute of connection (this cost is valid both for calls to your country and for calls to local numbers);
• an incoming call will also cost 129 rubles per minute of communication;
• you can send a text message in any direction for twenty-five rubles;
• You can receive an incoming message for free (from any number).

We reduce the cost of voice services

The operator offers several options to reduce the cost of services from Megafon - roaming abroad. The subscriber can enable/disable the proposed operations independently. Let's take a closer look at what cost optimization options can be used:

"Whole World" option. When activating this service, the subscriber will receive 40 free incoming minutes every day. In this case, 59 rubles will be debited from the account daily. Upon arrival in the Russian Federation, you must forcefully disable the service, otherwise the subscriber. the fee will continue to be charged.

Option "25 World". When connecting, the client is given 25 minutes of free incoming and outgoing calls. According to the terms of the option, the subscription fee will not be charged. Instead, at the moment of connecting the service, 829 rubles will be deducted from the balance.

Option "50 World". The operating principle of this service is similar to that described earlier. The only difference is the number of minutes. The cost of this option for optimizing roaming costs is 1,429 rubles.

We reduce the cost of SMS messages

• Package "50 SMS". You can activate the package for 495 rubles. Its validity period is one month. If the limit is exhausted, the 51st message will be charged at roaming rates (25 rubles for sending one message).
• Package "100 SMS". You can activate the package for 695 rubles. Its validity period is one month. When the limit is exhausted, the 101st message will be charged at roaming rates (25 rubles for sending one message).

Internet in roaming

Cellular communication in China implies the possibility of using the Internet. According to the terms of roaming from Megafon, the first time you access the Internet, a package of 50 megabytes is automatically connected. 350 rubles are written off for it. The subscriber can use this volume within 24 hours after its activation. If the traffic is spent earlier, the subscriber will not be able to use the Internet until the end of the day. Only with the onset of a new calendar day will it be possible to go online again. At the same time, as soon as the system detects a connection to the Internet, the package for three hundred and fifty rubles will be connected again.

We reduce the cost of the Internet

Options for optimizing the cost of Internet services when you are in another country this moment the operator does not offer. If you need to use the Internet, it is recommended to connect to wireless internet in public catering chains, hotels, etc. or purchase a local SIM card.

Where can I view the current cost of communication services before leaving abroad?

Often on TV or on the Internet you can see various advertisements of a cellular operator offering certain services, in particular regarding the Megafon roaming service in China (on behance, the main page of the official portal, websites of communication stores, etc.). You should only trust the data contained on official portal operator "Megafon" on the page international roaming. Moreover, since each country has individual prices for services, you should first indicate the name of the destination in the search field. Here, in addition to the basic cost of communication services, you can also find a list of available discounts and packages that provide reasonable savings Money abroad. And also clarify the information on how you can connect them.

Megafon roaming in China: reviews

People who are planning a trip to China are quite interested in knowing the opinions of tourists about the quality of communications. If you look at the available reviews, you can see that they are quite “mixed”. Many people note high quality voice communication, absence of network interruptions and stability - this is all roaming in China. Reviews about the Megafon company can also be found negative, in particular, this is due to the “imposed” Internet package. As a rule, when staying in other countries, people try to turn off the Internet for mobile device, since the cost of megabytes is quite high. However, if you inadvertently forget to turn off data transfer, 350 rubles will be immediately debited from your balance. Of course, after this the subscriber will have 50 megabytes of traffic. However, this is an extremely useless and inappropriate option, many Megafon clients note.

Conclusion

According to the majority of users of SIM cards from Megafon, it makes sense to purchase local SIM cards abroad if you need to conduct long-term negotiations on a mobile gadget and actively use the Internet. Despite the fact that the quality of communication offered by the operator in China is quite high, not all subscribers can afford to spend significant amounts. If you plan not to actively use communication services, for example, calling friends and relatives or sending text messages, then it makes sense to activate the proposed options - they will help you save significantly abroad. It is also recommended to disable data transfer (via mobile network) - this will eliminate the need to connect to the Internet and write off funds for activating the option.

You should think in advance about how you plan to top up your balance: it will be convenient to top up with bank card. You can also warn your relatives and ask them to deposit the required amount into your account.

A very convenient service is Beeline roaming abroad, which is aimed at people who often travel outside the country. After connecting, subscribers can take advantage of loyal connection rates specifically for their number (no need to constantly change the SIM card). For one-time registration new service, it starts working as soon as the subscriber leaves the territory of the Russian Federation. Available international calls in roaming in more than two hundred countries, so that the subscriber controls his expenses with the ability to call loved ones at any time.

Tariffs for international roaming Beeline

For international roaming mobile operator exhibits the most favorable rates, so as not to buy a separate card each time from another current network.

Fares are calculated using a prepaid payment system depending on the destination.

In some countries minute a conversation can be valued at 10 rubles, and in others - 100 rubles. Most cheap tariff for abroad it is set for the CIS countries, but in China or the USA roaming will be one of the most expensive.

"Planet Zero"

How to activate this service on Beeline? For this the subscriber needs to dial *110*331#, and to disconnect: *110*330#. Upon activation, 25 rubles are charged, given that all further services are free.

The quality of cellular communication will not be worse, as in the home region, so money will not be wasted. All homemade tariff plans freeze and become inaccessible outside the country of connection.

Characterized by "Planet Zero" such features:

• SMS messages for 7 rubles;
• Monthly fee: 60 rubles/day;
• Outgoing calls: 20 rubles per minute;
• Incoming calls are free up to 20 minutes per day, and beyond the limit for 10 rubles/minute.

If the subscriber has made absolutely no calls or written messages during the day, then the standard fee will not be debited from the account from abroad.

Thanks to the “Planet Zero” tariff, you can save money by spending a minimum of effort on connection. Payment for the service is unprofitable when visiting Israel, New Zealand, Taiwan, South Africa, Korea, Singapore and some other countries, full list which can be found on the official website. So you can freely visit Georgia or travel around Europe.

"My planet"

The international additional service “My Planet” will help to significantly reduce the costs of a list of incoming/outgoing calls and the exchange of SMS text messages. The option differs in the absence of a mandatory subscription fee, instead of which you only need to pay for a connection in the amount of 25 rubles.

The cost of call minutes depends on where you are. Conveniently manage tariff options in personal account using your phone number.

Planet connection is simple, so you don’t need to literally spend half a day to take advantage of the tariff’s capabilities. Connection is carried out using the combination *110*0071#, and to turn off you need to dial *110*0070#. It is worth knowing that the services “Planet Zero” and “My Planet” are not compatible (when you connect one, the second is automatically disabled).

"Roaming lightly"

Another type of Beeline roaming is “Light Roaming”, which is preferred by subscribers traveling from one region of the Russian Federation to another.

The cost of constant calls not from your “native” connection can empty your pocket, and purchasing local numbers is not always possible best option. Now the transition to this type of roaming is impossible, but those who have already managed to switch can enjoy all the benefits.

The package is profitable with a single tariff for calls - the cost for communication services is as close as possible to the prices of the home region. You must disable the option immediately upon arrival to avoid incurring a roaming fee. Mobile communication Beeline “Roaming easily” connects for only 150 rubles/month(it is not always possible to find a new package at this price).

Outgoing calls are charged as follows:

• 1.95 rubles for calls within the Russian Federation on the Beeline network;
• 4.95 rubles for dialing other operator numbers.

With the service activated, you can make calls throughout Russia, taking advantage of the main advantage - free incoming calls from both landlines and mobiles. The subscription fee is carried out on a daily basis and depends on the number of days in a particular month.

If the call lasts less than 3 seconds, no payment is charged. You need to find out how much SMS costs individually from the operator.

"International Communications"

In essence, roaming is international communication that operates in the territory where it operates. cellular coverage. If a question arises about international roaming, then the service “ International communications"can't stay away.

When connected, you can freely call abroad or travel abroad with a positive balance. Profitable communication in roaming can be ensured when you are in the CIS or other countries of the world.

Accurate The cost of international calls can be found by dialing 0611 so as not to encounter troubles and unnecessary expenses for communication during the trip.

The combination *110*131# will help you activate the International Communications service, and to disable it you can dial *110*130#.

Visitor survey

Internet in Beeline roaming abroad

Internet roaming prices are quite high, but this also means that you don’t need to use Internet access abroad. So in Belarus and other CIS countries the first 40 MB will cost 200 rubles per day, and if the limit is exceeded, each subsequent megabyte is valued at 5 rubles. All subscribers in roaming are connected to the “Most profitable internet", which does not require any additional settings.

The Internet provides many conveniences, without which it is even difficult to imagine traveling, as it can help you find the necessary information, navigate the area and get other help.

To avoid unnecessary Internet waste, it is better to disable automatic mms reception. Payment for megabytes will be charged in roaming upon use.

It is expensive not only to call Abkhazia, but also to use the Internet - for this direction, to get 1 MB you need to pay 90 rubles. All countries in which Internet roaming is available and prices for it are available on the official website, where the types of tariffs are also indicated.

How profitable is it to call abroad?

And which Beeline tariff is more profitable to choose? It depends on where you will be at the time of travel. So in Germany or Abkhazia, or maybe you’re just planning to travel from Krasnodar to Tula.

It will be useful to view:

Beeline roaming services are provided in Tunisia, Kazakhstan, and Thailand. Tariffs are read instantly, and after connection, by default all subscribers are charged a standard fee.

For any positive balance the set threshold is debited for the number of minutes of conversation or per SMS, for the megabytes used.

Beeline roaming in Turkey and Egypt

Considering that many Russian tourists constantly visit Turkey and Egypt, it is better to study all Beeline roaming tariffs, which will help you save money and freely call your family to share your impressions. Prices in these resort countries are identical and help optimize communication costs.

You can freely use the mobile Internet by visiting social networks and searching for what you need.

In Egypt, the following tariffication is relevant:

• Incoming call for 69 rubles per minute;
• Calls to other countries for 129 rubles/minute;
• Messages for 19 rubles.

How to connect and disconnect Beeline international roaming?

You can use Beeline roaming in Italy, Georgia and Ukraine. Vietnam, Cyprus, and Israel are not excluded from the services of a cellular operator, and Cuba is distinguished by the most common roaming services.

Useful video:

You can minimize the cost of an overseas call only if you activate the service on time and have available funds in your account. To enable roaming, just dial a few standard numbers on your phone. The same applies to shutdowns.

We wrote about how to activate roaming in this article.

Conclusion

For travel around the world, favorable rates are “Planet Zero” or “My Planet”, depending on the appropriate set of options. Beeline is concerned that you save on calls and offers a wide variety of roaming connections.

You can also call Germany or Belarus, but calls in Israel, the Dominican Republic and similar destinations will cost more. The official Beeline website offers a cost calculator and describes in detail each foreign tariff.

In the tariff calculator you need to enter the name of the city where you will go and click on the “Calculate cost” button

From time to time the operator offers discounts on roaming, so best rate Each subscriber chooses independently.

Having recently returned from the Middle Kingdom, I want to tell you about mobile communications and Internet access in China, which will undoubtedly be useful for all our tourists to know. Plus, as a bonus, at the end of our article I will give some other valuable information.

So, if you are flying to China for the first time, then, in addition to roaming, you may well wonder how to buy a Chinese SIM card, connect to mobile Internet and whether it is worth it.

What will we get?

• A couple or a group of tourists will be able to cheaply call each other or to other numbers in the host country.
• A number of free hotspots, for example, at the Beijing airport or the Starbucks network, will give you a password only after verifying the SMS code from a local number. The fact is that messages are not sent to non-Chinese numbers, only to “our own”.

Which mobile operator do you prefer?

There are two leading mobile operators in China: China Mobile and China Unicom.

Pros of China Mobile: the highest quality coverage in the most remote and remote places, for example, in Tibet.

Pros of China Unicom: It is possible to connect to a 3G Internet package operating throughout the country.

Where can I buy a Chinese SIM card and how to do it?

Option A

You can visit the office of the telecom operator of your choice (usually the choice is made using the “first-come-first-serve” method). Please keep in mind: English language Although it is international, it will not help you much in China. There are more chances to meet an educated employee with at least basic knowledge English in large cities, such as Beijing. However, in Beijing we did not come across such a thing in any of the two China Mobile offices we visited: they only understood Chinese.

If you are luckier, you will need a passport to purchase a SIM card. SIM cards vary in price depending on the beauty of the room. The Chinese believe very much in numerology, so “golden numbers” with 85 or 89 are significantly more expensive than, for example, with “unlucky” fours. However, these beliefs are alien to us, Russians, and you can safely ask for the cheapest SIM card: “tsui penyi de sim kaa” - 最便宜的Sim卡. Its cost will be 30-40 yuan, on the account - 10.

Option B

You can buy a local Chinese SIM card at a kiosk. If they are available, you will see a sign like this:

15894824558
13456515388
15956507585

You’re unlikely to need a passport here, but don’t even expect to be able to understand the English language. A SIM card in a kiosk costs a little more than in offices, but not critical. Tariff - what they will give.

Option C

In principle, it was possible to start with it, as from the very beginning, but this option is the most expensive, which is why we have it third. Buying a SIM card with a Chinese number at the airport. The overpayment will be serious: 150-200 yuan, but if you can only speak English, then it makes sense to make such sacrifices.

How to call from China to Russia

In principle, we explain how to call Russia and China (dialing methods) here:

To call Russia from a local SIM card, you do not need to dial domestic 8 or even +7. Instead, dial the country code 007.

To seriously save on international calls, use IP telephony from the Chinese cellular operator whose services you use. To do this, before phone number a special code must be entered.

For China Mobile. To use IP telephony from this operator, add the code 12593 before the phone number, then Russian code 007 and further telephone number (cellular or landline), for example, 9161234455. It turns out 125930079161234455. With this dialing method, calls will cost you 0.99 yuan per minute (about 5.5-6 rubles).

For China Unicom 3G. The digits of the code for calls abroad are 10193. The type of dialing is similar: to call home, in Russia, dial 10193007, and then the phone number, starting with its prefix. For example, you need to call your home number like this: 101930074954442233, if your number is +7495444223 (aka 84954442233). However, most directions will cost you from 1.99 yuan per minute (about 12 rubles). Outgoing calls to Tele2 numbers in code 954 will cost 0.8 yuan for the first 6 seconds, then 4.96 yuan per minute. For phones with the prefix 96525, a minute will cost as much as 5 yuan. Yes, this option is not cheap. It remains to add that these rates for international calls are given for calls from the Chinese province of Guangdong and may differ from others or change over time.

For China Unicom (reduced tariffs). To make cheaper calls from China Unicom numbers, use IP telephony with the starting code 17911. However, most likely, you will have to activate an additional service for this.

Attention! A number of tariffs of Chinese mobile operators are not initially supported international access, therefore, in this case, it will be necessary to connect this service separately.

How to send SMS

To send an SMS from a Chinese SIM card, you must again dial 007 instead of the usual +7, after which the number mobile phone, starting with its code, for example, 0079161234455. The +7 prefix can also work, but not always - it depends on the specific Russian cellular operator.

Where can I top up my account and how to do it

Option A

Operators' offices. Logical, isn't it? You can deposit any amount. For moderate consumption, about 40 yuan will be needed for a couple of weeks.

Option B

At newsstands. They are recognizable by the corresponding printed products presented on the windows. To top up your account, you need to purchase standard paper or plastic cards with a face value of 30, 50 or 100 yuan. An additional 1 yuan is charged as a card fee. To carry out the purchase/sale procedure, tell the seller the following “cipher”: “yao mai chung zhi kaa” - 要买充值卡. Or show a piece of paper with hieroglyphs. Translated into the language of mere mortals, it sounds like this: “I want to buy a charging card.” Add to this the name of the operator: “China Mobile” or “China Unicom”. Then, the amount, but not in words, but in money: for example, 51 yuan.

Using the card is easier than purchasing it: on the back there are instructions according to which you should call a specific number and enter a code.

Appearance of the paper envelope:

For China Mobile the action is as follows:

1. Call number 13800138000
2. Press number 2 to select English in the menu
3. Press 4 to top up your balance
4. Press 1 to top up your current phone
5. Enter the PIN code from the card.

If you did everything correctly, after a short period of time the autoinformer will tell you the current balance, for example, 55 yuan 37 fen (analogous to our kopecks).

Option C

Visit your regional office. You won’t be able to buy “charging cards” there, but your phone account will be topped up through systems such as Unionpay or Taobao. You will pay for this, of course, in cash. Without knowledge of the Chinese language, this option may seem difficult for many, if not a dead end. To understand the picture, I’ll add: without knowing Chinese, you won’t even always be able to order food in an average cafe in Beijing.

How to check balance on a Chinese number

For China Mobile. Send an SMS with the text YE or 101 to 10086.

For China Unicom. Send an SMS with the word YE to number 10010.

In the reply message you will receive information on Chinese, among the text of which we are looking for the treasured figure, for example, 249.19 (249 yuan and 19 fen), like here:

Attention! If your balance is reset, not only will you not be able to make calls yourself. A situation is possible when you stop receiving both incoming calls andSMS!

Cellular service in Beijing subway

Here I can say the following: in the Beijing metro I used the services of the China Unicom operator while roaming from MTS. The full network is available anywhere and everywhere, including tunnels. It is impossible to remain without communication. At the same time, I, of course, did not test the mobile Internet.

Chinese web

Mobile Internet

When buying a SIM card in China, it would be a good idea to check whether your plan supports 3G networks. It is also possible to simply point your finger at the table with the inscription 3G. If such a table is not available, show the seller the following inscription: 上网, which translates as “Internet”. I’ll say right away that it’s better to purchase a SIM card with Internet access, having prepared in advance in terms of transfer, because you may need to connect a separate service.

If the Internet is very important to you, it is better to give preference to China Unicom. This operator provides the fastest 3G Internet, having created a separate WO brand specifically for it.

China Unicom is ready to offer you a whole range of traffic packages. For example, 3 GB will cost 300 yuan, the validity period is 6 months. When connecting, the operator guarantees a speed of 7.5 Mbit/s; the pages actually literally flew, but no tests were carried out on the speed and smoothness of online video streaming.

In an Android smartphone, this Internet SIM card works “by itself”; nothing needs to be configured. If the smartphone option doesn’t suit you, you can buy a 3G modem at the China Unicom office (yours from home may not work if it’s “locked” to a specific operator) along with an Internet package. The settings for the “whistle” are as follows:

APN - "static" option
APN: 3gnet
Authentication:
Access number: *99#

In principle, the pleasure is not cheap, but in China the Internet is generally expensive, including wired Internet at home.

Internet via Wi-Fi

Free points Wi-Fi access around the city (if we are talking about large cities, of course) a lot. They are available in most hotels, shopping centers, cafes and restaurants. However, in a number of places, including McDonald's, in order to plunge into the network through the “waffle”, you will need to first register with a Chinese cell phone number.

Wired Internet

Here it is only worth saying that in the PRC it is true that Youtube is blocked for political reasons, social network Facebook and a number of “bourgeois” (for them!) sites. The exceptions are Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

If you can’t live calmly even while traveling, use a VPN to bypass this.

As for the quality of the Internet in hotels and public places (here we are talking not only about the “wire”, but also about Wi-Fi), in China it mostly leaves much to be desired, so for important and large-scale matters it is better to go online with early in the morning, when all the Chinese had not yet begun to “break into the narrow throat of the channel” in order to watch online films.

Offtopic: for travelers

Surely, while reading this article, you are interested not only in issues of cellular communications in China, but also in other issues. After all, they don’t fly to China just to talk on the phone! I’ll say right away that we were only in Beijing (Beijing, Beijing), so below we will talk specifically about the capital of China - Beijing.

How to get there from Beijing airport

We went by taxi. As you exit the airport onto the street, you will immediately encounter a winding queue for a taxi. If you don't make a mistake, don't be afraid. At night (when the metro is closed) you will have to stand for half an hour, but there is no need to worry - no one will be rude or push you around, this is the lot of the Russian nation, the Chinese have a different upbringing. During our 2 weeks in China, no one pushed or insulted us even once, even when we were pushing through the crowd at rush hour or riding in a full subway car. We have never seen anyone drunk or walking around the city with beer; the Chinese know how to behave even when drunk (we saw them in a restaurant).

A metered taxi to the city center will cost about 150 yuan. Taxi drivers don't understand English (Russian either). Give them a piece of paper with the address in your native language and take the hotel phone number (ours called it himself - from his phone).

There is also a separate metro line from Beijing airport. However, the metro does not work at night. We didn’t use it either there or back, but I’ll say right away that it’s extremely simple to figure out and there’s nothing to be afraid of. As a last resort, you can catch a taxi.

Beijing subway

We really liked the Beijing metro. Clean. Modern. Polite. A series of platforms with fences. Free toilets. The cost of the trip is 2 yuan (less than 12 rubles).

The diagrams hang at the entrance, you can calmly figure it out and understand everything. There are also applications for the same iOS or Android (however, I came across an outdated one - with an unfinished ring line, which has been working for a long time). There are English names under Chinese names. All lines are marked with numbers, only stations have names. Therefore, just find out which one you need, they are also divided by color (like ours). If you have a transfer, just get to the desired station, look for a sign on the platform with the number and color of the line, cross and move on. It's simple. Moreover, if you exclude the language barrier, then they will always come to your aid with pleasure.

For one trip you need to buy a card for 2 yuan (at the ticket office or from the machine, the former is better). It's plastic, you don't have to pay for transitions. When leaving, this card should be put into the turnstile, which will keep it for itself, so do not throw cards in the Russian style immediately after passing.

Also, upon entering, you need to go through security, like at an airport, passing your bags through a screening device. If you're not carrying anything bad, then it's okay.

And to end the story about the Beijing Metro - a video of our trip:

Where and what to eat

Here, as in Thailand, you will not have any problems (for those who have been to Thailand, food in Beijing is cheaper). Except perhaps linguistic ones. It is not customary to take tips in China. Cafes and restaurants are at every step. The Chinese have breakfast, lunch and dinner there, so at the right time there is pure hell - the roar of voices and the number of people literally drives us crazy. The prices are more than affordable, there is also communism, which we squandered many years ago. For example, a bottle of beer costs on average 4-8 yuan - be it in a cafe, in a store, or in a hotel. Imported - more expensive - 8-12.

The main problem in many non-European establishments is the lack of bread in combination with spicy and fatty foods. The Chinese prefer rice, which stopped growing well after just three days. If you're not used to it, you may have stomach problems. The portions are mostly huge - you can easily eat one serving of soup for lunch, and take it for two (the Chinese eat like Colorado beetles). And be sure to try the Peking duck. Compared to what is served in the Moscow restaurant of the same name - heaven and earth, including the price.

Attractions

We traveled as “savages”, so we found interesting places for ourselves and moved around the city on foot or by metro. Along the street - using GPS and Google navigator from a smartphone. We saw the following sights:

Wanfujin Street (Glutton Row)

Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

Zhitan Park and Temple of the Sun

Happy Valley Amusement Park

By the way, we never went on the rides - the prices are crazy, like in our Gorky Park, but the park itself turned out to be more than beautiful!

Sky Temple

the great Wall of China

This is our most interesting excursion, the only one for which we hired a personal guide with a car (500 yuan), because... We were driving out of town. It took about 2 hours to climb the wall (yes, it was climbing up very solid hollowed-out steps), which not everyone can handle. The feeling is unforgettable! Having reached the top, it seems as if the proud ones themselves are below you, as well as the whole World!

A short video:

Our guide was a girl named Anya (name for Russians, she herself is Chinese), she speaks our native language very well. If you need to book excursions in China or Beijing, here is her phone number +8613661100953 (WhatsApp available) and Email: [email protected].

Overpopulation

They say China is terribly overpopulated. This may be true in the northern provinces, but nothing like that can be said about Beijing. If anywhere you experience an acute sense of overpopulation, it is in Moscow. In Beijing, the streets are free and sometimes the question arises “where is everyone?”... even on weekends. There are traffic jams, but compared to our capital, the roads are rather clear. Even in a traffic jam, you are still driving slowly. Half of the cars on the roads are taxis, there are many expensive foreign cars: Porsches, Jaguars, Buicks, we even saw a Rolls-Royce near the Silk Market.

In general, even though the salaries in Beijing are lower than ours in Moscow, the standard of living is noticeably higher. This can be seen from the people who do not deny themselves many joys, and from the modern high-rise buildings of the metropolis, and simply from the mentally balanced and friendly population, which is strikingly different from ours.

Where to buy what in Beijing

We visited the Yabaolu market (a whole street of huge chic shopping centers - this is the main Russian-language “wholesale bazaar” in Beijing), the Silk and Pearl markets. If you want the best option for price and peace of mind, I recommend Yabaola.

If you want to try your luck at finding some kind of antique or just an interesting thing, welcome to the Antique Market. True, they can cheat you like there’s nothing to do.

Regarding electronics, there is a whole complex there, where even Bill Gates himself visited, also a wholesaler, but we didn’t go, so I can’t say anything. However, if you don’t want to risk buying a fake or overpaying, it’s better to ask Anna for help in finding goods.

And be sure to buy Chinese green tea, and in addition to it, take delicious sweets and a tea set along with a special board - now, in the summer, my wife and I enjoy having tea ceremonies right on the balcony!

Modern mobile operators provide communication services to their subscribers not only within the home region and when roaming throughout the country. When traveling abroad, clients of the Megafon operator can be sure that they will not be left without stable and high-quality communications. To provide yourself with this integral part of life, you need to take care of a number of points in advance before your trip, familiarize yourself with the local tariffs, optionally activate packages and options that allow you to get a good discount and clarify payment options. How to activate Megafon roaming in China, under what conditions is it provided, what packages will be beneficial for voice calls, sending SMS, and how much will the Internet cost? All these issues will be discussed in the current article.

Roaming Megafon in China: is a connection required?

Often the concept of “roaming” means some additional service that needs to be activated separately on the number before going on vacation/work trip, etc. In fact, the ability to use communication services in other cities and countries is basic (connected to the number by default) . The list of basic services on the number already contains “international roaming” and “long-distance roaming” - they can be disabled only at the request of the subscriber. Thus, Megafon roaming in China will be provided on the client’s number. However, there is a small nuance here.

Expanded international roaming

With the advent of such a concept as “online tariffing”, there was a need for another roaming service. The essence of online billing is that charges are made from a mobile operator's client's number immediately after he has performed a paid action. In essence, this is no different from the principle of withdrawing money for voice communications and other services in your home region. Since operators in not all countries provide a similar tariff scheme, it is sometimes not necessary to activate extended international roaming. It is worth considering that in a country where there is no instant debiting of money for services, the performed action may be reflected within a few days on the Megafon number. Roaming in China involves online charging. Therefore, you need to contact the communication salon (the direct owner of the number with your passport) and activate the extended roaming service. You can do this completely free of charge.

Cost of communication services in roaming (without connecting to any packages)

So, before you start using roaming (Megafon) in China, before your trip you should familiarize yourself with the prices for communication services provided by local operators. We remind you that the cellular company enters into contracts with local organizations that are communication service providers, which, in turn, provide tourists with stable and high-quality communications. What is the cost of communication services?

• You can make a voice call for 129 rubles per minute of connection (this cost is valid both for calls to your country and for calls to local numbers);
• an incoming call will also cost 129 rubles per minute of communication;
• you can send a text message in any direction for twenty-five rubles;
• You can receive an incoming message for free (from any number).

We reduce the cost of voice services

The operator offers several options to reduce the cost of services from Megafon - roaming abroad. The subscriber can enable/disable the proposed operations independently. Let's take a closer look at what cost optimization options can be used:

1. "Whole World" option. When activating this service, the subscriber will receive 40 free incoming minutes every day. In this case, 59 rubles will be debited from the account daily. Upon arrival in the Russian Federation, you must forcefully disable the service, otherwise the subscriber. the fee will continue to be charged.
2. Option "25 World". When connecting, the client is given 25 minutes of free incoming and outgoing calls. According to the terms of the option, the subscription fee will not be charged. Instead, at the moment of connecting the service, 829 rubles will be deducted from the balance.
3. Option "50 World". The operating principle of this service is similar to that described earlier. The only difference is the number of minutes. The cost of this option for optimizing roaming costs is 1,429 rubles.

We reduce the cost of SMS messages

• Package "50 SMS". You can activate the package for 495 rubles. Its validity period is one month. If the limit is exhausted, the 51st message will be charged at roaming rates (25 rubles for sending one message).
• Package "100 SMS". You can activate the package for 695 rubles. Its validity period is one month. When the limit is exhausted, the 101st message will be charged at roaming rates (25 rubles for sending one message).

Internet in roaming

Cellular communication in China implies the possibility of using the Internet. According to the terms of roaming from Megafon, the first time you access the Internet, a package of 50 megabytes is automatically connected. 350 rubles are written off for it. The subscriber can use this volume within 24 hours after its activation. If the traffic is spent earlier, the subscriber will not be able to use the Internet until the end of the day. Only with the onset of a new calendar day will it be possible to go online again. At the same time, as soon as the system detects a connection to the Internet, the package for three hundred and fifty rubles will be connected again.

We reduce the cost of the Internet

The operator does not currently offer options for optimizing the cost of Internet services when located in another country. If you need to use the Internet, it is recommended to connect to wireless Internet in public catering networks, hotels, etc. or purchase a local SIM card.

Where can I view the current cost of communication services before leaving abroad?

Often on TV or on the Internet you can see various advertisements of a cellular operator offering certain services, in particular regarding the Megafon roaming service in China (on behance, the main page of the official portal, websites of communication stores, etc.). You should trust only the data contained on the official portal of the Megafon operator on the international roaming page. Moreover, since each country has individual prices for services, you should first indicate the name of the destination in the search field. Here, in addition to the basic cost of communication services, you can also find a list of available discounts and packages that provide reasonable savings of money abroad. And also clarify the information on how you can connect them.

Megafon roaming in China: reviews

People who are planning a trip to China are quite interested in knowing the opinions of tourists about the quality of communications. If you look at the available reviews, you can see that they are quite “mixed”. Many note the high quality of voice communications, the absence of network interruptions and stability - this is all roaming in China. Reviews about the Megafon company can also be found negative, in particular, this is due to the “imposed” Internet package. As a rule, when in other countries, people try to turn off the Internet on their mobile device, since the cost of megabytes is quite high. However, if you inadvertently forget to turn off data transfer, 350 rubles will be immediately debited from your balance. Of course, after this the subscriber will have 50 megabytes of traffic. However, this is an extremely useless and inappropriate option, many Megafon clients note.

Conclusion

According to the majority of users of SIM cards from Megafon, it makes sense to purchase local SIM cards abroad if you need to conduct long-term negotiations on a mobile gadget and actively use the Internet. Despite the fact that the quality of communication offered by the operator in China is quite high, not all subscribers can afford to spend significant amounts. If you plan to not actively use communication services, for example, calling friends and relatives or sending text messages, then it makes sense to activate the proposed options - they will help you save significantly abroad. It is also recommended to disable data transfer (via the mobile network) - this will eliminate the connection to the Internet and the debiting of funds for activating the option.

You should think in advance about how you plan to replenish your balance: replenishing from a bank card will be convenient. You can also warn your relatives and ask them to deposit the required amount into your account.