| Tourist Information |
China National
Tourist Information Center |
|
Accommodation |
Luxury hotels are available in major
cities. Reservation can be made through traveler agents. These
hotels have everything you need, including gropes, hairdressers,
toothpaste, shaver, etc In remote areas or small cities, hotels are
clean but not luxury. Foreign visitors have to bear with the
condition in those small hotels. |
|
China
Airlines |
From North America or Europe, all major
airlines provide flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guanzhou and Hong
Kong and then transit to other cities. Domestic flights can be
booked when you arrive in China through local airline offices or the
hotels. |
| Business Center |
Most of the hotels have business
centers for business travelers. They may have staff to help you to
translate, copy, fax or even draft documents. You can also rent
computer or computer time for using email. |
|
Currency Regulation
Conversion Rate |
You are advised to exchange foreign
currency into RMB, in hotel or local banks, for shopping although
most of the shops may accept US dollars. Credit cards are accepted
in the major shops in the tourist areas but small shops may only
accept cash. |
|
Drink |
Never drink tap water in China. Stiller
water bottles are available in fridge or boiling water from the
hotel. On a long ride on private car or bus, take with you some
drinks. |
| Entertainment |
Most of the hotels are close to
cinemas, opera, music hall, disco and other entertainment. CNN
program is also available in China. Gambling, drug and sex-related
business are prohibited by law. |
| Electronic equipment |
China uses 220V of European system.
Most of the hotels have a socket in the bathroom for using both 110V
and 220V. Outside of the bathroom, you should not connect your 110v
to the outlet unless your device has a transformer or can be used
with 220v. |
|
Food |
If you enjoy eating, China offers you
many varieties of foods in the styles of Cantonese, Beijing,
Szechwan, Shanghai and many others. Drink Chinese tea to help you to
digest after a heavy Chinese dinner. Always have food in a big
restaurant or in the hotel if you have a sensitive stomach. Western
food and fast food, such as Macdonald, Kentucky fry Chicken and
pizza, are now available everywhere. For details, see Food Culture. |
|
Visas,
Embassies |
Most of the foreign embassies are in
Beijing. There are also offices in other major cities such as
Shanghai, Chonging, Gongzhou and Hong Kong. |
|
Check list |
Get advice from your family doctors for
vaccination required for China visit. Bring with you medical kit
that some of the drugs may not be found in China. |
|
Travel Insurance |
It is advised to have insurance to
cover sickness and other possible traveling accidence. For
hospitalization in China, you may have to pay first and then claim
it back from your insurance company. |
| Language Info |
There is English speaking staff on duty
in hotels of major cities. You find no difficult to go around in
major cities too. For visit to remote area, you may find difficult
to communicate. Be patient and ask the hotel to find an English
interpreter to assist you. To learn some simple English-Chinese
phrases, click on the left. |
| Phone and fax |
You are advised to bring with you a
calling card, instead of making international call through hotel.
You may rent computer, pager or portable phone on short term from or
through the business center. |
| Safety |
China has very low crime rate,
comparing with a lot of other countries. It is still wise to be
cautious with your personal possession in public place. There are
pickpockets active in crowded areas such as stations, markets,
shopping areas, etc. Do not show off your money in public. Use your
safe in the hotel room and don't bring too much cash with you when
you don't need it. If there is any problem, report to the hotel or
police immediately. |
| Shopping |
Daily use goods are inexpensive in
China. CD, electronics and books can be purchased everywhere. For
expensive items such as antique, arts, jay, jewelry, etc., unless
you are an expert, you will be better off to purchase these goods
from government owned shops. |
| Sport |
Book golf and tennis through your
hotels. Swimming pool and gyms are available in major hotels. Pool
table and bowling are in most of the cities. For horse riding,
sailing and other sports, they are available in major centers only. |
| Taxi |
Book your taxi or limousine from the
hotel and fix the price before you go. From or to Airport, better
use hotel shuttle bus. |
| Tourist attractions |
Museum, temples, historical sites and
scenery are the major attractions to foreign visitors. First study
the background and it will help you to appreciate the difference in
culture and historical events.
|
| Traveling Documents |
Visa must be obtained from Chinese
Consulates in your country. It will take a couple days to process
the application. If you plan to stay in Hong Kong before entering
China, you may apply Visa in Hong Kong. |
|
Tourist Package |
Book your tour through your own agent
or the hotel. It may be more expensive but the quality is
guarantied. You may prefer to go on your own if you know how to get
around. |
| Traveling season |
The best season for traveling to China
is May or late October. The weather is nice and it is not high
season too. The worse is after or before Chinese New Year (January
and February). The weather is cold and people are too busy in
preparing for Chinese New year. |
| Washroom |
Washroom in public or even some of the
restaurants are poor managed. Go to hotels or big restaurants if you
have to go to washroom. |
|
Weather |
China covers regions from Hainan, an
island in the South, to extremely cold Inner Mongols in the North.
Generally, summer is very warm and humid, winter is bitterly cold in
the North. Southern part and coastal area have a better climate than
the inland and North. |
|
World
Time Table |
China is in GMT Zone +8. London +0 New
York -5 LA -8. |
