Others

Can I use my own country's driver's license in China?

According to the Road Traffic Safety Law, foreigners must hold a PRC（People’s Republic of China） vehicle drivers license if they drive vehicles in Chinese territory. To obtain a Chinese driver's license, the applicant must conform to related age and health requirements then attend training on related laws and regulations and pass the exam. The next step is attend vehicle driving training at a prescribed time and pass a test given by the local city’s Public Security Bureau Traffic Management Authority.Foreigners who have a valid foreign driver's license can go directly to the Traffic Management Section of the Foreign Affairs Department of the local city’s Public Security Bureau to lodge an application with the following forms:

(1) Motor vehicle driver's license application form.
(2) Originals and copies of applicants' passport and residence certificates.
(3) Health certificate issued by an approved hospital.
(4) A notarized Chinese translation of the valid foreign driver's license.
(5) Four one-inch color photographs with background.

How can I use the mobile phone that I have brought from home in China?

There are two ways to use your mobile in China:

(1) Visitors who wish to directly use phone numbers assigned by their domestic telecommunication operators should make sure that "international roaming service" has been turned on by their local provider before their entry to China.

Your domestic mobile telecommunication operator should provide an agreement on international roaming services with the local operator that you wish to use in China (which might be China Mobile). Your international roaming service charges will be collected according to the applicable charging rates as specified by your domestic mobile telecommunication operator. If your domestic operator and the local operator haven't signed a roaming agreement, the international roaming service will be unavailable through your domestic phone number.

(2) Visitors entering China can buy SIM phone cards and pre-paid phone cards to enjoy all the services provided by local mobile phone operators.


If you wish to use your own phone from home, make sure to bring a compatible GSM/GPRS 900/1800 dual-frequency mobile phone (the phone must be unlocked). You may purchase the pre-paid "Easy-Own" SIM phone cards and recharge cards provided by China Mobile to enjoy convenient mobile telecommunication services from China Mobile.

Visitors entering China can also buy (or rent) mobile phone terminals and buy SIM phone cards and pre-paid phone cards in China, they can then enjoy all the services provided by local mobile operators.

Currently, the "Easy-Own" pre-paid SIM phone cards sold at the China Mobile Service locations within Beijing have a unit price of 60RMB/card, including a credit of 50RMB. The pre-paid phone cards of China Mobile are available in a variety of price values. Once your pre-paid SIM card has run out of credit, you can conveniently recharge credit with a pre-paid recharge card.