Originally Posted by
rbAA
I'm not sure why, but when I first moved to China, it was never a problem for me to get a SIM with any of the major providers. I moved away for a few months and had lost my SIM (China Mobile,) and it was a major issue getting a replacement. Special office to go to and tons of paperwork, all to get a new number and SIM.
I think it is the new regulation. Getting a SIM card requires ID, picture-taken, and other things.