China travel info

General information for the traveller new to China.

Visas
All foreign nationals require a visa to enter China and this can be obtained prior to departure through your nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate or from a local branch of CITS. Alternatively, if spending time in Hong Kong before visiting Mainland China, a visa can be arranged quickly and easily from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, CTS, CITS or from one of the many travel agents specialising in Chinese visas.

Different types of visa are available depending on length and purpose of stay and these are valid from the date of issue, therefore do not apply for the visa too far in advance. The visa takes up an entire page and will not be issued if one clean page is not available in your passport. Once in the country, an extension for a period of up to 30 days can be applied for at the Foreign Affairs section of the Public Security Bureau (PSB) - a branch of the police force that can be found in most towns.

Once in China, personal identification must be carried at all times.

Customs
Unlimited foreign currency may be imported but must be declared on arrival. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount that was imported and declared on arrival.

Visitors may take the following into China duty free:

• Alcohol - 2 litres of alcoholic beverages
• Tobacco - 400 cigarettes

Prohibited items: Arms, ammunition, radio transmitters/receivers, exposed but undeveloped film, fruit and certain vegetables.

Penalties for carrying or trafficking illegal drugs are extremely severe, ranging from long prison sentences to the death penalty.

A form must be completed declaring valuables such as jewellery, electronic goods, cameras etc. on arrival to ensure that they can be taken out of the country when you leave. Receipts for items purchased in the country such as jewellery, handicrafts and paintings must be kept as you may be asked to show these on departure.

Time
The whole of China is in the same time zone: GMT + 8 hours

Currency
Renminbi (RMB), also known as Yuan (Y) or Kwai - Check current exchange rates
10 jiao = 1RMB, 10 fen = 1 jiao
Notes issued: 500RMB, 100RMB, 50RMB, 10RMB, 5RMB, 2RMB, 1RMB 5 jiao, 2 jiao, 1 jiao
Coins issued: 1RMB, 1.5 jiao, 5 fen, 3 fen, 1 fen

Tipping
Tipping is not standard practice in China and is actually discouraged, although it is becoming more acceptable within international tourist hotels and restaurants. Tip porters and hotel staff 5-10RMB.

Banking Hours
Monday to Friday 9.00 am-12.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm

Language
The official language is Mandarin Chinese (Putonghua), however numerous dialects are also spoken throughout the mainland. Among these dialects, large groups speak Cantonese, Fukienese, Xiamenhua and Hakka. Cantonese is the main language of the Hong Kong and Macau SARs; whereas Mongolia, Tibet and Xinjiang (autonomous regions) have their own languages.

English is not widely spoken, therefore a phrase book would be extremely useful to point to key phrases written in Chinese characters. Another useful item would be a map with place names written in both English and Chinese.

Telephone
The international dialling code for China is 86
When making international telephone calls from China first dial 00 + country code + area code + telephone number

Local Telephone Codes

Beijing	010
Dalian	0411
Guangzhou	020
Guilin	0773
Hangzhou	0571
Harbin	0451
Hefe	0551
Kunming	0871
Nanjing	025
Shanghai	021
Shenyang	024
Shenzhen	0755
Tianjin	022
Xian	029
Zhengzhou	0371

Electricity
220/240 V AC, 50Hz
Either flat or square, two-pin and three-pin plugs are used. It is advisable to take a universal adapter, as these are difficult to find in China.

Water
Tap water is considered unsafe to drink so stick to boiled and bottled water. Most hotels provide distilled water or flasks of hot water in rooms on request.

Health
Make sure that you have adequate health insurance that covers evacuation, as although medical care is available, it is not always of the highest standard. Consider inoculations against typhoid, cholera, polio, hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis and take advice regarding anti-malarials. It is always best to check the current situation and any vaccination requirements with your doctor when planning your trip.

In restaurants, avoid cracked crockery and rinse chopsticks, bowls and cups with hot tea before use, as they may have only been washed in cold water.

International Airports

• Beijing - Capital International Central
• Chengdu
• Chongqing
• Dalian - Zhoushuizi
• Fuzhou - Yixu
• Gaoqi - Xiamen
• Guangzhou
• Guilin
• Haikou
• Hangzhou
• Harbin
• Kunming
• Nanjing
• Nanning
• Qingdao - Liuting
• Shanghai - Hongqiao
• Shenyang
• Shenzhen
• Tianjin - Zhangguizhuang
• Urumqi
• Wuhan
• Xi'an
• Zhanjiang,
• Zhengzhou

International Airport Departure Tax
RMB105

Domestic Airports
There are numerous domestic airports throughout China, which include those mentioned above.

Domestic Airport Departure Tax
RMB50

Etiquette/Dress Code
Casual clothes are acceptable everywhere, although smarter clothes can gain more respect. Revealing clothes should be avoided.

Problems that arise in China through cultural differences can often be put down to simple misunderstandings. In general, Chinese people are not forthcoming with information unless they are specifically asked for it, so be prepared to ask direct questions to get the information you need. Locals may not even speak honestly but will try to say what they think you want to hear. This is not done maliciously and an element of patience and understanding will ease the situation. Chinese people are courteous but reserved and politeness is appreciated at all times. Don't always be fooled by a smile as this can mean that the person is upset or embarrassed and try to avoid confrontational situations that may cause a loss of "face". Confrontation is not appreciated and will only worsen rather than resolve any situation.

Photography is not restricted around tourist areas but it is worth noting that taking photographs is not allowed in airports and permission should be gained before snapping away at any government or military bases.

Diplomatic Missions
Many countries have representative offices and consulates in China.

Useful Sources of Information
Further information on Chinese culture and tourist attractions:

Travel Guide - China
http://www.travel-guide.com/../data/chn/chn130.asp

Tour in China
http://www.chinavista.com/travel/virtualtours.html

[

Bookmark us

|

Printer-friendly page

]

Email a friend · Help · Hotel Chains

Copyright 1997 - 2009 AsiaHotels, All rights reserved.  View our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Powered by: