Telecommunications, mobile communications

Generally, you may use the telephone in the guest room to make international direct dialing (IDD) calls. In addition to the telecommunications fees, the hotels will charge an additional service fee of about 10 percent to15 percent. You may directly make international and domestic long-distance calls using an IP phone card or a prepaid card bought in stores on a public telephone.

To apply for telephone and broadband internet services, please call telecom operators at 10000 (China Telecom) or 10050 (China Railway Signal & Communication), or visit the operators' business outlets. Internet services are also available in hotels' guest rooms and business centers, as well as internet cafes. Guangzhou has two mobile communication networks, GSM and CDMA, which provide wireless internet services.

For details, please visit the operators' business outlets or call +86-20-10086 (China Mobile) or +86-20-10010 (China Unicom).

Banking services

Outlets of major banks in Guangzhou provide foreign currency exchange and re-exchange services, while three-star hotels or above provide foreign currency exchange services. Star hotels, some restaurants, as well as large department stores and supermarkets accept overseas credit cards. Most outlets of the Bank of China provide traveler's check cashing or collection services.

Postal, courier services

The post and telecommunications bureau has a city-wide service network. The bureau is open seven days a week, as well as operates the collection and delivery of international/domestic letters, parcels, express mail, and international business letters, telegraphs, telephones, and telexes. In addition, some postal savings bank outlets provide services like postal savings, remittances, and telegraphic remittances. There are green postboxes on the sides of main roads for people to send domestic and international letters.

Education

As China's current academic system stipulates, compulsory education lasts nine years, high school education lasts three years, junior college education lasts two to three years, undergraduate university education lasts four to five years, graduate education for a master's degree lasts two to three years, and graduate education for a doctoral degree lasts three to four years.

Compulsory education, high school education

Guangzhou has released policies that include the "children of overseas Chinese," "children of foreigners holding the Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners (including minor holders themselves)," and "school-age children of diplomatic personnel in consulates in Guangzhou" in the scope of compulsory education. These children are enrolled in schools near them as if they were locals as arranged by the district education bureaus without examinations. Other foreign school-age children may also apply for eligible private schools offering compulsory education according to the guidelines of the district that they are in.

Guangzhou has released policies that include the "school-age children of diplomatic personnel in consulates in Guangzhou" in the scope of high school education. They may take high school entrance examinations and apply for public high schools, private high schools, and secondary vocational schools as if they were locals. Children of foreigners attending junior high school in Guangzhou or overseas students approved to attend high schools in the city may apply for private high schools and secondary vocational schools.

Foreign students who need to transfer to primary and secondary schools in Guangzhou may contact the school by themselves following the Implementation Rules of the Guangdong Department of Education on the Management of Primary and Secondary School Students (Trial). After the school verifies and approves the application, it will handle the transfer and admission as required.

In addition, school-age children of foreigners may apply for admission to the school for children of foreigners in Guangzhou by themselves.

Higher education

Healthy foreign citizens who have education equivalent to a Chinese high school graduate or above, as well as hold an ordinary passport may apply for study or further education in higher education institutions qualified to recruit international students.

To study in higher education institutions in Guangzhou, international students must follow the Administrative Measures for Schools Recruiting and Training International Students issued by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Public Security.

Before entering China, international students should apply for XI or X2 visas to the Chinese embassies or consulates in their countries of origin or residence, or other agencies entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as submit relevant materials, such as the certificates filed with their education authorities and the admission letters issued by the higher education institutions, as regulated.

If an international student holds a study visa indicating that they need to apply for a residence permit after entering China, the student should apply to the exit-entry administration department of the Guangzhou public security bureau for a residence permit for foreigners studying in Guangzhou within 30 days from the date of entry.