Between the language barrier and the labyrinthine nature of China’s bureaucracy, paying bills can seem like an especially daunting task. When some are paid to a bank teller, others to an automated machine, and others still at your front door, what’s a stressed-out foreigner to do? Worry not; we show you the basics of paying bills. When in doubt, ask your landlord, management office, or a Chinese-speaking friend for help.
Electricity
Your landlord or management office will give you a rechargeable electricity card. Don’t lose it; though technically replaceable, getting a new one is a huge hassle. There should be instructions on how to buy electricity written on the back in Chinese. Here’s a primer in English:
Electricity units are calculated in kilowatt-hour (kWh) and bought in advance. Bring your electricity card to the bank (see banks listed below) and ask an attendant to help you maidian (买电), or buy electricity.
The teller will hand you a number. When your number is called, go to the corresponding window. The bank teller will ask how much electricity you want to purchase. The rate is currently RMB 0.49 per kWh, so RMB 100 will buy you roughly 204 units. To specify a number of units, say: chong [number of units you’d like]du (充 … 度). Or, you can specify a monetary amount by saying: mai [amount in RMB]kuai de dian (买 … 块的电). The bank teller will then top up your electricity card.
Back at your compound, locate your electricity meter box. It should be right outside your front door or on the same floor as your apartment.
Some have a lock, in which case your landlord should give you a key. Insert the electricity card into the slot in the meter and keep it inserted for at least 30 seconds until the meter is done reading it. The number of recharged units should show up on the meter or at least blink after it’s done reading. You might need to flip back the breaker for your apartment, which is usually located right under the electricity meter.
Banks
Go to any of the following banks to buy electricity from a bank teller:
Agricultural Bank of China 中国农业银行
Rural Commercial Bank 农村商业银行
Bank of Beijing* 北京银行
Bank of China 中国银行
Bank of Communications* 交通银行
China Everbright Bank* 中国光大银行
China Merchant Bank* 招商银行
Hua Xia Bank 华夏银行
Industrial Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)* 中国工商银行
Postal Saving Bank of China 中国邮政储蓄银行
*These banks have automated machines for buying electricity. The menu is in Chinese, but relatively easy to follow for people with basic reading ability. You can also ask a bank attendant to show you how to use it. The process should take no more than 10 minutes.
Tips
It’s best to top off your electricity when it starts falling below 50 units – or you risk being plunged in the dark when you least expect it.
Keep the electricity card away from strong electromagnetic devices like loudspeakers.
In case of loss: Take the electricity certificate (your landlord will have this) or your last electricity receipt and your housing contract to the bank. If you have neither of these, call Beijing Electric Power Corporation at 95598 and tell them the serial number on the meter. They will give you a number, which you will need to bring to the bank along with your housing contract to get a new card.
Got a question? Call Electric Power Corporation’s customer service line at 95598 (English service available).
Water
There are two ways to pay a water bill: at the door or via a rechargeable
card at the building management office. Water costs RMB 4 per cubic meter (m3). If you receive a water bill when you’re at home, it must be paid on the spot; if you’re not home, it will be taped to your door. You can pay the bill at one of the following banks:
Agriculture Bank of China 中国农业银行
Bank of Beijing 北京银行
Bank of China 中国银行
Bank of Communications 交通银行
China Citic Bank 中信银行
China Construction Bank 中国建设银行
China Everbright Bank 中国光大银行
China Guangfa Bank 广东发展银行
China Merchants Bank 招商银行
China Minsheng Bank 中国民生银行
Hua Xia Bank 华夏银行
Industrial Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) 中国工商银行
Industrial Bank 兴业银行
Postal Saving Bank of China 中国邮政储蓄银行
Rural Commercial Bank 农业商业银行
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank 上海浦东发展银行
Shenzhen Development Bank 深圳发展银行
Other Types of Water
Some compounds charge separately for reclaimed water (water used for flushing toilets), hot water, and drinkable water dispensed through a second faucet. The latter isn’t very common; most people buy bottled drinking water or install a water filter. Reclaimed water and hot water are typically paid for through a top-up card. After recharging your card at the bank or the building management, insert your water card into the water meter. When the meter reaches two units, it’s a good idea to buy more water. As with the electricity card, keep it away from strong electromagnetic devices. Note that apartment compounds will have different systems for purchasing water. Some compounds require you to purchase water from them exclusively (banks are not an option) and only on certain days of the week. Contact your building management for specific details. Drinkable water is usually ordered and paid in cash directly at your door.
Gas
There are two ways to pay for gas, or tianranqi (天然气) in Beijing: through a monthly bill or via a top-up card. The rate is RMB 2.05 per cubic meter unit. As with water, someone from the company will knock on your door and present you with the monthly bill. If you aren’t home, the gas bill will be taped to the front of your door. To pay the bill, take it to one of the following banks:
Agriculture Bank of China 中国农业银行
Bank of Beijing 北京银行
Bank of China 中国银行
China Citic Bank 中信银行
China Everbright Bank 中国光大银行
China Guangfa Bank 广东发展银行
China Merchants Bank 招商银行
Hua Xia Bank 华夏银行
Industrial Bank 兴业银行
Postal Saving Bank of China 中国邮政储蓄银行
Shanghai Pudong Development Bank 上海浦东发展银行
Shenzhen Development Bank 深圳发展银行
The top-up card system differs in each apartment compound, so it’s best to ask building management or your landlord about where to put money on your gas card, or tianranqi ka (天然气卡). After putting money on the card, find your gas meter (usually located in the kitchen) and insert the card for at least 30 seconds. The meter will read the card. One unit of gas (cubic meter) costs around RMB 2.
Internet
There are several types of Internet service in Beijing. The three major providers are China Unicom, China Telecom, and community Internet or xiaoqu kuandai (小区宽带). Wireless routers must be bought separately; they can be found at Wal-Mart, Carrefour, and electronics retailers like Bainaohui, Suning, and Gome. To pay for Internet at the bank, bring your bill and ask to fufei kuandai (付费宽带) or pay for broadband Internet. If you subscribe to China Unicom or China Telecom, you can also pay at any of their service offices.
China Unicom 中国联通
The most common type of Internet service in Beijing is ADSL broadband Internet from China Unicom. It requires setting up a telephone line and a modem (provided free of charge by China Unicom). First, call the English hotline at 10010. After providing your address, you will be directed to the closest service office to apply for broadband service. Bring your passport and your address written clearly in Chinese. The broadband will be installed within seven working days. Depending on the package, fees can be paid at the end of each month or a full year in advance. Yearly payment can only be done at the China Unicom Service Office. There are several monthly payment options; you can buy a phone card and charge your home phone number, pay at an automated machine with your Chinese debit card, or pay by cash at any bank, the post office, and select ATMs.
Speed (bandwidth) 2MB 4MB 10MB(Only for optical fiber users) 20MB (Only for optical fiber users)
Monthly RMB 168 RMB 188 RMB 168 RMB 188
Yearly RMB 1680 RMB 1880 RMB 1680 RMB 1880
Installation Fee RMB 235 for monthly, free for yearly subscribers
China Telecom 中国电信
Before anything else, call China Telecom’s English hotline at 10000 to check if the company
offers broadband Internet in your community. The next step is applying for installation via phone or at their service office. Installation is typically done within seven working days of applying. If you apply for one year, they will give you a contract number, which you can bring to a bank teller to pay in advance. If you apply for a monthly service, the installation fee and first month of payment can be paid to any bank teller by the end of the first month.
Speed (bandwidth) 1MB 2MB
Monthly RMB 100 RMB 150
Six Months RMB 580 RMB 780
Yearly RMB 1000 RMB 1200
Installation Fee RMB 250
Community Internet 小区宽带
Community broadband isn’t as fast as ADSL, but it’s a cheap option with at-your-door service. Building management in your apartment compound can provide the appropriate phone number to install this type of Internet. Payment is usually done per month or in advance for anywhere from three months to one year. When it’s time to renew the Internet service, an employee will come by your apartment and collect the payment in cash. Prices for each community vary, but below are some prices for your reference:
Speed (bandwidth) 1.5MB 2.5MB 3.5MB
Monthly RMB 120 RMB 150 RMB 160
Quarterly RMB 360 RMB 480 RMB 550
Six Months RMB 650 RMB 810 RMB 980
Yearly RMB 1100 RMB 1380 RMB 1550
Installation Fee RMB 100 for monthly, free for yearly subscribers
Landlines
Landlines (固定电话) can be set up with China Unicom or China Telecom. First, call the companies’ respective English hotlines at 100010 or 10000 (note that China Telecom landlines are only available for certain areas of Beijing). After providing your address, you will be directed to the closest service office. Bring your passport and follow the clerk’s instructions to apply for a landline; offices located near international compounds usually have a couple of employees who can speak English. Within seven working days, a technician will come to your house to set up the landline; they will call in advance to set up a date and time with you. Landlines are offered free of charge with one-year Internet packages at both China Unicom and China Telecom. Otherwise, the one-time installation fee is RMB 235 at China Unicom and RMB 300 at China Telecom. The user fee is RMB 21.6 per month at both companies.
RESOURCES
Bainaohui Computer Shopping Mall 百脑汇
Daily 9am-8pm. 10 Chaoyangmeiwai Dajie, Chaoyang District (6599 5912) 朝阳区朝阳门外大街10号
Beijing Electric Power Corporation 北京电力公司
(95598, English service available)
Carrefour (Shuangjing) 家乐福
Daily 8.30am-10.30pm. 31 Guangqu Lu, Chaoyang District (5190 9508) 朝阳区广渠路31 See Directory under Supermarkets for more listings.
China Unicom 中国联通
(10010, English service available)
China Telecom 中国电信
(10000, English service available)
Gome (Shuangjing) 国美
Daily 9am-9pm. Shungjing Qiao West, Chaoyang District (5862 3091) 朝阳区东三环双井桥西
Suning (Ciyunsi) 苏宁电器
Daily 9am-9pm. 5 Balizhuang Dongli, Chaoyang District (6557 9996) 朝阳区八里庄东里5号
Wal-Mart (Wanda Plaza) 沃尔玛
Daily 7.30am-10.30pm. B1/F, Block B, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District (5960 3566) 朝阳区建国路93号万达广场B座B1层
This article is excerpted from beijingkids Home & Relocation Guide 2012. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.
