Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Beijing Electric Power Corporation has an emergency service for night owls
without power. From 7pm to 6am you can call the 95598 hotline number and they'll
deliver a pre-charged card to your home. Theoretically there is an English helpline,
but sadly the English-speaking assistant seems to be permanently out to lunch.
WHAT'S THIS OTHER WATER BILL STUCK ON MY DOOR?
This mysterious bill is a white piece of perforated paper with blue writing, entitled
北
京市自来水集团有限责任公司缴费通知单
. It covers such things as tap water and
plumbing. At most they'll be stuck on your door every month, but in many places
much less regularly. Water costs RMB4 per cubic meter (m3), so these could add up
to around RMB40-150 per month. They can be paid at almost any bank. Pop into one
of the quieter banks, such as China Everbright Bank (
光大银行
) or Beijing Rural
Commercial Bank, pay in cash, and you'll be out in a jiffy. Alternatively, if you have
an account with banks such ICBC, Bank of Communications (
交通银行
), or China
Merchants Bank (
招商银行
), or with Zhifubao you can pay online.
WHAT IF I LOSE MY CARD?
Besides possibly needing receipts for tax reasons, they will come in handy if you
lose your IC card or forget your number. When you sign your lease, your landlord
may also give you the original paperwork used when setting up the IC cards. Keep
this in a secure place. If you lose your cards, you can take the most recent receipts,
your lease, and the original paperwork if you have it to the relevant utility office, and
they'll replace it within a few minutes.
WHERE CAN I GO FOR MORE INFORMATION?
The government's
www.ebeijing.gov.cn/feature_2/GuideToHeatingElectricityWater-
AndGas
gives fairly comprehensive but a little outdated information. A Chinese
neighbor will probably be able to give you the best advice.
Bus, subway, and bicycle transport is so cheap that it feels free. It's only RMB2 to go any-
where you like on the subway, and if you use an Yikatong card (metro card) you won't even
pay RMB1 to ride most buses.
