Banking

There are several major banks to choose from in China, but Bank of China has been operating outside of China longer than the other banks. There are more Bank of China branches outside of China so you can get your money from just about anywhere. It is also easier to do wires to the Bank of China because they do not require you to come in for each wire once they verify the length of your visa. The Bank of China near the school also has at least 1 employee who speaks English well.
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Bank of China 4 Haidian Lu	.	.

If you need an option to receive funds other than wiring, most of the banks are set up for Western Union, you will see the Western Union logo outside or at the teller window when you walk in.
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If you want to buy a cellphone go to the 4th floor of Mingzhu market, there are dozens of vendors for easy comparison shopping and to get a good deal. In the picture below the vendor on the right is offering a phone to the woman walking past. 

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Cellphone vendors and China Mobile at Mingzhu		.

Medical Care

For any medical treatment you can go to People's Hospital right around the corner from the HNPLS campus. They are building a huge brand new hospital right behind it which is close to completion. Please contact the office and they will make arrangements for you to visit the resident English speaking doctor.

Regarding your vaccine shots, if you want to do all three rounds of shots in your country you need to start early. When you go for your first shot they will give you everything you need from Typhoid, Tetanus and Hepatitis. The second and third rounds of shots are for Hep A & B. After the first shot you get a second in one month, and then a third shot between 6-12 months to ensure you build up proper resistance.

If you only get your first vaccination shot before coming to China you can go to People's Hospital for the second and third rounds. They have two options for Hep A&B, a China shot (60y) and an International shot (80y). The International shot is imported and costs slightly more.

Medicine

You can buy just about anything you want in China, but one of the "essentials" you need to bring from home is any type of medication, even over the counter. Things like aspiriin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, first aid cream, Hydrocortisone creams, Preperation H, whatever. You can purchase these items here in China, but you don't know what else is in the medicine. 

Utilities

If you are studying long term and have an apartment off campus you will probably need to pay some utitilities. The water company is located on 2 Haidian Lu. 

The school will help you set up English satellite TV, but if you want to get Chinese cable the office is on Renming Dadao.

The school will also help you set up the internet if the apartment does not already have it.

The gas company is located on the corner of 3 Haidian Lu and Haida Lu right by the post office. The employee will come by your apartment once a month to take a reading and they will give you a ticket. You need to wait a couple of days for the office to process the information, then take the ticket in to pay. When you walk in there is a long line to the left, but you will want to go to the line on the right, which usually only has one or two people waiting.

In the picture for the gas company it says China Post above the doors but that is because they own the building, the gas company is located inside.

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Water Company	Gas Company	Cable Company

Shipping

The only thing we have been prohibited from shipping so far is a laptop battery, the laptop was sent, but the PO said the battery could not because it was a lithium battery.

If your family or friends ship you an item using postal express, no signature required the item will be delivered to your door, the school, or your apartment building manager's office.

If you choose the cheaper option, which requires a signature, the item will be sent to the China Post Office on the corner of 3 Haidian Lu and Haida Lu. You will need to bring your passport for identification. you also need to fill out a form in Zhongwen so you will need someone who can write it. If you need assistance you can ask someone at the school office.

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China Post Office	.	.

Map

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Restrooms

If you need to ask where the restroom is it is called "xi zao jian" (shee zhao jee-an), which means washroom. If you ask someone and they do not understand, rub your hands together and ask again. If that does not work say "ce suo" (tseh suwoa) which means toilet. The couple of times someone did not understand my xi zao jian, they always understood ce suo.

BYOP. Bathrooms in China do not have toilet paper or paper hand towels, you need to bring your own. Many public restrooms (parks and bus stations) have someone sitting out front to sell you any paper items you may need, but if you do not see anyone, a xia mai bu (convenience store) is always just around the corner.

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Below is a guide map to some of the restrooms in Haikou that are very easy to use, you do not need to ask for permission. 

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