Gas.
In Beijing, most homes have three utilities, namely water, electricity, and natural gas. Natural gas is typically used to power gas cooking stoves, but some homes and apartments are also outfitted with gas boilers that heat water and/or generate heat for the household.
The current price for gas is 2.05 RMB per cubic meter. Gas is bought in units, rather than RMB.Gas, just like the other household utilities, is paid for by refilling a card at a participating bank. Landlords provide their tenants with a gas card and will inform them at which bank it can be refilled. Tenants should make sure they are provided with all utility cards before signing a lease agreement.
Especially for newcomers to Beijing with no knowledge of the Chinese language, asking a Chinese acquaintance to accompany oneself to the bank the first time can make the process a whole lot easier. Some banks have 24-hour refill machines in their ATM rooms, such as the Bank of Beijing. However, a compatible Chinese bank card is needed in order to use this service.
After refilling the gas card, it needs to be inserted into the gas meter at home. After a beep is heard, and the new unit count appears on the meter, the card can be removed.