Shanghai cell phone usage

[breausaw]

Going to Shanghai for a couple weeks in the spring with crew.

My understanding is if your cell phone is unlocked you can purchase a prepaid SIM card that allows your phone to work over there. Both the Admiral and I have unlocked phones, and I found a couple of online vendors who would gladly sell us there prepaid SIM cards for China.

Now granted we could rent phones while there but the average cost is around 15 bucks a day where as a prepaid SIM card with 1 gig of download and 240 minutes of talk time with unlimited incoming calls seems a much better value at 60 bucks a pop. I know one gig is not much but we wouldn't be watching movies or downloading much of anything just checking emails and looking for places to eat perhaps.

So was just wondering if anyone here has had recent experience with cell phone coverage while traveling in China; any Shanghai travel tips would be welcome also.

We will keep our eyes peeled for C-dorys on the Bund, wouldn't that be a hoot!

 

[JPL]

I have not visited China but I lived in Asia for a few years, here is what I always do when visiting a new country 1. when in country ask a local at one of the phone kiosks what PrePaid SIM card will work the best for my needs. 2. Buy the cheapest cell phone that supports that SIM (something less than 50Dollars). I then turn off my own cell phone stow it deep in my pack and use that as an emergency backup. This way it is guaranteed to work, prevents any issues with billing in the home country (these 4G phones are more connected ago a carrier than the 3g phones) and has me using a really cheap phone so I don't worry when i drop it or leave it at a restaurant.

Hope this helps.
John