Travel

China
Capital: Beijing

Getting There
Many visitors fly into China arrive at Beijing [Capital of China], Shanghai, Shenzhen or Guangzhou. International airlines have connections to these and other mainland cities. Or one can fly to Hong Kong and then travel Shenzhen by train. All passengers must buy airport tax, which costs 50 yuan for domestic flights and 90 yuan for international flights (including Hong Kong).

Reminder: Visitors should reconfirm departure flights as soon as they arrive, or risk having their bookings canceled. This can be done by asking the hotel reception.

Additional Information: Train Travel from Beijing to Hong Kong

Weather
China has different kinds of climate. In the North, winters are very cold, with temperatures below 0C (32F) from November to March. In the summer, it can be very hot, with temperature up to 38C (100F). In the central regions of China, winters are cold and wet. Summers are hot, humid, and long. In the South, winters are short but summers are long and humid. Temperature gets up to 40C (103F). In July and August, heavy rain is common.

Money
The currency is Renminbi (RMB). The basic unit is the yuan.
Foreign currency and travellers' cheques can be changed at the main branches of the Bank of China, the tourist hotels, Friendship Stores and some department stores. Credit cards are also accepted in most mid to top range hotels, Friendship Stores and department stores.

Tipping
Officially, tipping is not legal in China. It has, however, become the custom for travel groups to give a tip to the Chinese travel guides and bus drivers. If you are traveling with a group, ask your guide, who is responsible for the "official" contacts of the group, whether and how much you should tip. On the other hand, tipping is still not usual in most restaurants and hotels although it is accepted in the modern top hotels and restaurants. Small gifts such as paperbacks, cassette tapes and Western cigarettes continue to be appreciated. Note that it is part of the ritual that any gift or tip will at first be firmly rejected.

Safety
There is still less crime in China than in many other countries. You can walk around safely in Chinese towns and cities without being pestered - this goes for women as well. However, criminal activities against tourists have increased in recent years. There have been thefts in tourist hotels, and money, valuables or photographic equipment have been stolen from foreigners. Don't leave your money, jewelry or valuables lying around in your hotel room, and try to keep your money safely on you.

Business Hours
Shops are open all days of the week, including public holidays. Opening hours are usually from 9:00am to 8:00pm. Government offices and banks are usually open from Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm, with a lunch break from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. This does not necessarily apply to the banks in the big hotels.

Visa
Visa are required by all foreigners entering mainland China (visas aren't needed for tourists visiting Hong Kong for less than 30 days). Standard tourist visas are valid for 30-day visits and are generally easy to acquire. Visitors should be sure to carry their passports while in China as they are needed to check into hotel, make plane or train reservations, exchange money or establish the holder's identity.

Customs
All visitors must fill out declaration forms to present on arrival. The copy should be kept, handed in on departure. Reasonable amounts of currency (including Chinese Foreign Exchange Certificates or FEC) can be brought in, along with alcohol and cigarettes for personal use, cameras, radios, computers and tape-recorders. Certain valuable items, such as video cameras, office machines, computers and gold declared on the form must be brought out of China or else import duty will be charged on them. Prohibited imports include arms, ammunition and explosive; printed matter, film or tapes detrimental to China; dangerous or narcotic drugs; infected animals, plants or foodstuff.s It is also forbidden to take out any of these items or endangered species of animals or plants and antiques without export permit.

Electricity
Most hotels have built-in converters in bathrooms for shavers and hair dryers. Otherwise, come equipped, because there is no standard type of plugs in use. Generally, the voltage is 220 watts. Plugs can be three-pronged angled, three-pronged round, two flat pins or two narrow round pins.

Water
Only a few hotels can offer quality tap water. It is advised to have flasks of hot and cooled boiled water in the room. Bottled mineral water is widely available.

Medical Service
There is a big difference in China between medical services in the towns and in the countryside. It is possible that, if you are traveling in the countryside, there will be no appropriate medical services. Some of the hospitals in the big cities have a special section for foreigners where English is spoken. Many of the big modern hotels have their own ambulance section or doctor. If you want to get treatment from a traditional Chinese doctor, you will have to make a special request. Normally, foreigners are treated with Western medicines. You can get the addresses of the hospitals from CITS or your hotel. Payment has to be made straight-away for treatment, medicaments, transport and interpreter.

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