Forums > Travel Yunnan > Can Tourist Get a 3G/EDGE Sim Card Easily?

Wow, 300rmb seems like a lot for a sim card. Here in Thailand they are usually free, or only about 50baht (less than $2). Of course, that doesn't include any credit though.

Is it possible to just buy a prepaid sim card cheap, then buy credit for EDGE or 3G? I will just need to do a bit of emailing over 2 or 3 weeks, then I will be leaving.

Also, which carrier might have best coverage between Kunming to Xishuanbanna to the Lao border? Hoping to catch up on emails on the bus rides.

I bought my tablet and realized that its only limited in the 3G area but it can handle any frequency for EDGE/GPRS (aka 2G). In Thailand the 3G carriers can use 1 or 2 freq's so I had to buy the tablet that used the frequency of my carrier. The same model tablet was available in either frequency.

Forums > Travel Yunnan > ATM Cards vs Machines -Which ATMs are best?

In Thailand, most ATMs charge you 150baht ($5) for a foreign bank card withdrawl, plus my bank back home charges another $5. There are some Thai machines that don't charge this fee though. So I was wondering if any of the Chinese machines don't charge a fee for an international card?

It sounds like my Visa ATM card with "Plus" on the back should work fine.

Forums > Travel Yunnan > ATM Cards vs Machines -Which ATMs are best?

I use a Visa ATM Card with the "Plus" symbol on the back from a Thai bank. From what I have read, Visa ATM cards seem to be the best to have. Do you agree, and are machines that accept these cards quite common in any town? (entering at Hekou)

Also, as I know from Thailand's ATM machines, some bank's ATM machines charge a much higher fee for foreign bank cards than other bank's ATM machines. Do all Chinese ATMs charge the same fee, or are some cheaper? If some are cheaper, which ones should I look out for?

Thanks for the info. This seems like a great forum!

Forums > Travel Yunnan > get from Hekou to Kunming

Does anyone else recommend "Jian Shui"? Or is somebody just link-building? I am still deciding where to stop during our trip from Heuko > Kunming > Xishuanbanna > Laos. I am going to Vietnam first so I'll probably pick up a lonely planet that should show me the most interesting places but personal recommendations are always best.

BTW; good visa-run write up Blobbles! From what I am reading about thieves, I think we'll avoid the night bus from Heuko to Kunming.

Forums > Travel Yunnan > Can Tourist Get a 3G/EDGE Sim Card Easily?

I will be travelling through Yunnan for about 2 weeks, (coming in from Lao Cai, Viet > Kunming > Xishuanbanna > Laos) and I will need to keep up with some business emails while travelling. I am buying a Galaxy Tab 7 Plus as its nice and portable, but the roaming rates from my local (Thai) providers are really expensive.

SO, I would like to buy a Chinese sim card with a data package when I get there. I have never been to China so I don't know if they are tight about giving these things out to tourists, or if you need a work permit, drivers license or anything silly?

-Would this be difficult for me to buy?
-Also, would there be any long contracts or could I just pre-pay for a month or something?

-Is it difficult to find a shop selling data Sim cards?

From what I understand, my Tab won't work on all networks/speeds? (Apparently, here in Thailand, this won't work with AIS' fastest package)

Here are the specs of my device according to Samsung:

(3G?) HSPA +21 900/1900/2100

EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900

-Given this, which provider would give me best coverage and speed traveling through rural parts of Yunnan, probably catching up on emails on the bus if there is any coverage at all.

Lastly, what kind of prices are we talking about for a plan like this, maybe 25 - 50mb/day, 250-500mb/month, or something like this?

Thanks a lot for any information, and feel free to let me know if you have any questions about Thailand. I have been living in Chiang Mai over 6 years.