How to Have Internet Access in China and Where to Buy SIM card for China

HOW TO HAVE INTERNET ACCESS IN CHINA AND WHERE TO BUY A SIM CARD FOR CHINA

You have three (3) options:

1. Buy a vpn ready sim card at Lazada before your trip. 

Why do you need a VPN ready SIM card?

In China, you cannot access non-Chinese apps like Google, Facebook or Instagram, if you do not have a vpn ready sim card. You need to separately install a vpn to do so. 

I got my sim card from Happy Telecom here: https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.RessQ  It uses China unicorn as the provider. The regular price is 660 pesos for 8 gb good for 15 days. I was able to get a discounted price during the lazada sale at only 420 pesos. They delivered it to my home before I left for my trip so I was ready to connect to the internet when I landed in China. 

 

My review: The sim card from happy telecom is very easy to use. You install it in the first sim card slot of your phone before you land. It receives a signal when you land at the airport and can immediately use it. I used it in Beijing and Shanghai and on the train from Beijing to Shanghai. The speed is even faster than the speed of the hotel wifi. I was also able to access all apps that I regularly use, which are non-Chinese apps. The only con is that the sim is purely data. So you cannot make local calls. If you need to make local calls with your sim, you can buy a sim card at the airport.

MY TIP: Make sure to get 1gb per day data. I noted that while browsing in China, I consumed 500-750 gb per day, browsing and uploading photos, and using alipay for my purchases, and my metro and taxi trips. So it's safe to get a 1gb per day sim for your trip. 

2. Buy a sim card at the airport. 

We landed at Beijing Capital Airport so my information is on stalls selling sim card at Beijing Capital airport. 

You can find the stall near baggage claim area. We arrived in Beijing at 12 noon. I tried to find out the stall's operating hours, but the person manning the stall couldn't understand what I was saying. You can view the rates from the photos below.

The con of buying a sim card at the airport in China is that it is not vpn ready. So you need to separately install a vpn to be able to access non-Chinese apps like Google. Note that you can only install a vpn prior to your arrival in China. 

This is at Beijing Capital airport, near baggage claim

3. Avail of the roaming offers by your telecom provider. 

This is actually the more expensive one which I do not recommend unless you do not have time to purchase a sim card. For example, Globe telecom offers 3gb for 3 days at 999 pesos, 5gb for 5 days at 1599, and 7gb at 7 days for 2199. It's 3 times the cost of a vpn ready sim I got at Lazada. The only advantage of this is the convenience of getting data by simply registering in the app. Also, by using using data roaming, you can access all your non-Chinese apps. 

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MY STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO APPLY FOR A CHINA TOURIST VISA IN MANILA

MY STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE ON HOW TO APPLY FOR A CHINA TOURIST VISA IN MANILA

1. First, have photo taken.

- You need to have your photo taken first because you can't fill up the application form and proceed to page 2 of the online form without uploading your photo in page 1.

- The size of the photo should be 48mm x 33mm, white background, in colored shirt with collar.

- You need a soft copy for uploading to the application form and at least 2 pieces photo print to be included with your printed application form. 

- Have your photo taken at Great Image. They are very reliable in taking visa photos. 

2. Fill up the application form online at https://cova.mfa.gov.cn/qzCoCommonController.do?show&pageId=index&locale=en_US

- Fill up the application form in all capital letters. It doesn't say so at the start of the online application form but it is said in the instructions after have submitted it online.

- You can save and edit the same application for a month. But once you have submitted it online, you cannot edit the application form anymore. You need to fill up a new one.

- You cannot edit the application form once you have submitted it.

3. Book an appointment HERE after submitting the application form online. 

- You will need the application ID of the form you submitted to access the appointment calendar.

- Print the application form then sign it. 

- Print the confirmation of appointment 

4. This is the checklist of the documents you need to submit:

FOR ALL APPLICANTS

A. Current passport with 6 months validity, with at least 2 pages free

B. Old passport with other valid visa

C. Photocopy of the information/photo page of your passport 

D. Photocopy of the emergency contact page of your passport

E. Printed visa application form with signatures

F. Printed appointment confirmation page

G. 1 pc photo as stated above

H. Confirmed flight itinerary

I. Hotel booking

I. Daily schedule of activities or itinerary: flight dates, daily activities, hotel address and contact information 

FOR FIRST TIME APPLICANTS, in addition 

A. Certificate of employment (detailing salary and length of employment)

B. Bank certificate indicating account balance, date of opening and average daily balance of the past 6 months, together with receipt of payment for the certificate

C. Bank statement of the past 6 months

D. Photocopy of ITR: Form 2316

E: Other Other relevant documents proving the applicant's economic condition/ employment/study, or supporting the applicant's travel to China, or explaining the travel purpose. 

FOR THOSE WITH EXPIRED CHINESE VISA, in addition

A. Old passport with expired Chinese visa

B. Photocopy of the expired Chinese visa

5. Arrive at the Chinese embassy before 8:00 am on the date of your appointment then get a number immediately. 

Checkout my post: My experience applying for a Chinese tourist visa in Manila

- Regular processing time is 4 working days. Apply on a Monday and pick up on a Thursday.

- After submission of documents, you are given a piece of paper stating the date of claiming of your passport

6. On the date of claiming, arrive at the Embassy before 8:00 AM to get your number.

- When they call your number, pay for your visa at the cashier, then claim your passport (current and old) from another window.

Checkout my post: My experience claiming my passport with visa at the Chinese embassy

8. After claiming, check the details of your Chinese visa BEFORE LEAVING THE EMBASSY if everything is correct.

Here is the link of the the requirements from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines: http://ph.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/visas/201208/t20120814_1336195.htm

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PHILIPPINE AIRLINES: Meals on Shanghai to Manila Flights

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES:

Meals on Shanghai to Manila Flights

Shanghai to Manila, economy class. 

These are the meal choices on PR 339.

Since we left 11:00 AM, the meal served is lunch. You have a choice of chicken or fish

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PHILIPPINE AIRLINES: Meals on Manila to Beijing Flights

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES:

Meals on Manila to Beijing Flights

Manila to Beijing, economy class. 

These are the meal choices on PR 358.

Since we left at 7:00 AM, the meal served is breakfast. You have a choice of chicken or beef.

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PRICE OF CHOOSING SEATS ON ECONOMY CLASS PHILIPPINE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

PRICE OF CHOOSING SEATS 

ON ECONOMY CLASS

PHILIPPINE AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

After booking your flight, you can choose your seats on economy class PAL international flights. Here are the prices for the MNL- BEIJING/SHANGHAI-MNL flights

Window seat: FREE, unless it's an exit row seat

Middle seat: FREE, unless it's an exit row seat

Aisle seat: 568 php or 10 usd, unless it's an exit row seat

Exit row seat: 2839 php or 50 usd, window, middle or aisle

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My experience claiming my passport with visa at the Chinese embassy in Manila

MY EXPERIENCE CLAIMING MY PASSPORT WITH VISA AT THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN MANILA

I arrived at 8:05 AM and there's already a line at the embassy for people waiting to get in. Office hours at the visa office of the embassy is from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM but they open the embassy at 8:00 AM and let people in to get their number. The number I got is 41.

My number was called out on the display on top of the cashier and I paid the visa fee before claiming my passport on another counter. I finished at 9:45 AM. 

MY TIP: Bring cash and the exact amount to pay for the visa. They only accept cash. The visa you applied for is the amount you need to pay before the passport is released to you. Whether or not the visa is issued, you need to pay a visa fee before claiming your passport.

WHERE TO PARK: There's a parking lot across the building where the embassy is located. 2 hours parking cost 90 pesos.

MANILA: What We Order at Gloriamaris Greenhills Chinese Restaurant

MANILA: What We Order at Gloriamaris Greenhills Chinese Restaurant

Gloriamaris Greenhills Chinese restaurant is famous for serving high quality Chinese food. Sharing with you below what we usually order. 

My tip:

1. Reserve early if you want to avail of a function room for a party of 12. A function room has a minimum consumable of 19,000 pesos. 

2. Try to avoid going there on payday weekend. It's very difficult to park. The restaurant parking is full and nearby mall parking areas are also full.

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