Damien Gildea wrote:Corax wrote:... it was close to impossible to use internet bars.
In Deqen (Yunnan) last October I was abruptly turned away from the only two internet places in town. Locals could only get online by submitting their ID cards. They didn't want anything to do with foreigners. Back down in Zhongdian though, tourists were walking around with their iPhones, Skype-videoing the souvenir shops to their friends back in Europe.
Uyghyrs who obviously didn't like westerners and the fact that I was there.
That's unfortunate, no? The more outsiders see what's going on, the better, I would have thought. Not that it's done Tibet much good so far.
Officially, you now have to have a Chinese ID-card to use public computers. Everywhere in China. Even in some internet bars in Beijing this rule is enforced. In some places where there's a lot of tourism it's easier to gain access, but it can be hard even in a place like Lijiang. In some places it's impossible. At least without help from the police. Two times I really had the need to use the internet and I got some help from the local PSB.
The only other way to gain access, if the police don't want to help you is 1. if you have your authorized guide with you and he/she agrees or 2. if you can show an emergency or accident report signed by the authorities. I'm not sure exactly what this means, but that was what I was told in an internet bar which wouldn't let me use their computers.
A funny little episode occurred in Yushu when I was trying to use the internet. The Tibetan guys working there were all into punk and rebellion (telling from their t-shorts and hairstyles). They told me it was forbidden to use the internet for foreigners and then one of the guys said: Police! Fuck you! Police! Fuck you! Flipping both middle fingers at some imaginary police in front of him. He then used his own ID to register for my session.
As you mention, the weird thing is that one can use WiFi and smartphones without any problems. I guess it's only a matter of time until we can see restrictions in that area too