[b]Communications[b][b][/b]Telephone codes[b][b]Country code: 86[b][b]Area code: (0) 21 [b][b]All Chinese area codes begin with a zero, which is dropped when calling China from abroad, and when making local calls.[b][b]Outgoing international code: 00 + country code[b][b]Directory inquiries: Dial 95115 or 50581000 x3 (for English) or x114 (Chinese)[b][b]To get a phone number for a bar or restaurant just “Guanxi” it: dial 885074 and you’ll receive a reply within seconds, containing the telephone number and address. [b][b][b][b]Public telephones[/b][b][b]With the proliferation of mobile phones, there aren’t many public phone booths left. Your best bet is a hotel lobby. Chinese public phones take prepaid phone cards available from convenience stores and street vendors. Local calls are incredibly cheap. International calls cost around Rmb10 per minute.[b][b][b][b]Mobile phones[/b][b][b]There are two mobile companies in Shanghai: China Mobile and China Unicom. China Mobile is larger but China Unicom has marginally lower rates. Both use the GSM system. China mobile uses GPRS phones, while China Unicom uses CDMA phones. [b][b]Check with your home firm to see if your roaming service operates here. Otherwise you can get a SIM card very cheaply, and buy pre-paid cards from streetside stalls or convenience stores. Many hotel business centres will rent you a handset. [b][b][b][b]Courier services[/b][b][b]Fedex[b][b]Tel: +86 (0) 21 5257-4620 or 800 820 1338[b][b]Order before 4pm if you want the delivery to reach its destination before 12pm two days later.[b][b][b]DHL[b][b]Tel: +86 (0) 21 6536-2900 or 800 810 8000[b][b]Deliveries take three working days.[b][b][b]UPS[b][b]Tel: +86 (0) 21 6391-5555[b][b]You need to order the pick-up before 1pm to catch that day's flight. Your parcel will arrive three working days later.[b][b][b][b][b]Internet cafés[/b][b][b]Business centres at most good hotels offer internet access, though prices are high. You’ll also find wireless access at Pu Dong International Airport, Starbucks outlets around the city, Element Fresh café and in the shopping and restaurant district of Xintiandi. [b][b]You can also try the Shanghai Library at 1557 Huai hai Middle Road (Tel: 6445-2001). Head for the small office on the ground floor, underneath the main entrance. It's open from 9am-8:30pm daily and costs Rmb4 per hour. You’ll need to have your passport with you. Be aware that certain sites in China are periodically blocked by the government.[b][b][b][b]Post offices[/b][b]Open: daily, 7am-7pm[b]Website[b]Overseas letters and postcards require five to ten days for delivery. [b][b]Shanghai's main post office (with English-speaking staff) is at Su Zhou Beilu at the intersection with Sichuan Lu, just North of Su Zhou Creek.[b][b]There are two other post office branches where employees speak English: one is at the Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Xilu and the other is at 1337 Huaihai Zhonglu.[b][b][b][b]Consulates in Shanghai[/b][b][b]American Consulate[b]1469 Huaihai Zhonglu[b]Shanghai[b]Tel: +86 (0) 21 6433 6880[b]Website[b][b]Australian Consulate[b]CITIC Square, 22nd Floor[b]1168 Nanjing Xilu[b]Shanghai[b]Tel: +86 (0) 21 5292 5500[b]Website[b][b]British Consulate[b]Shanghai Centre, Room 301[b]1376 Nanjing Xilu[b]Shanghai[b]Tel: +86 (0) 21 6279 7650 [b]Website[b][b]French Consulate[b]1375 Huaihai Zhonglu, Suite 12b[b]Shanghai [b]Tel: +86 (0) 21 6289 7414[b]Website[b][b]German Consulate[b]181 Yongfu Lu[b]Shanghai [b]Tel: +86 (0) 21 3401 0106[b]Website [b]