China Travel Tips

Currency

In China, the following currencies from 16 countries and regions can be converted into Chinese RMB:
British Pound Sterling (GBP), Hong Kong dollar (HKD), US dollar (USD), Swiss franc (SFr), Singapore dollar (S$), Swedish krona (Skr), Danish krone (Dkr), Norwegian krone (Nkr), Japanese yen (Y), Canadian dollar(Can$), Australian dollar (A$), Euro (EUR), Macau Pataca (MOP), Philippine Peso (PHP), Thai Baht (THB) and Korea Won (KRW).

For the most favorable rates, change money at banks. You won't do as well at exchange booths in airports or rail and bus stations, in hotels, in restaurants, or in stores, although you may find their hours more convenient.

So far the following foreign credit cards are acceptable in China: Master, Visa, American Express, JCB, Diners.

Note: You cannot obtain Chinese currency outside of China, and you cannot exchange it back into foreign currency outside of China.

Customs Regulation and Habits in China

Customs Regulation: You will receive a short customs checking form either in the airplane or in the terminal on landing. If you bring more than US$10,000 cash to China, you must register it. Live animals, fresh product, and printed matter deemed seditious or pornographic are not allowed to be imported. The deemed seditious or pornographic printed matter, of course, is very broadly defined, including anything that criticizes the Chinese government. Customs officials do not usually inspect your personal baggage for improper reading matter, but it could happen. You'd better, for example, not bring books by Chinese dissidents. Customs inspection is usually fast and painless, unless you're suspected of bringing the above mentioned items.

When departing from China, you are not allowed to take out over-150-year-old Chinese antiques and deemed valuable items to China. Additional customs information is available from: http://www.customs.gov.cn.

Habits and Customs of China: In China, people should walk along the right side of the road. Please respect the habits and customs of the nationality in China. For example, some nationality does not have pork as dinner. Before visiting ethnic and religious attractions, please check out some relative information first.

Holidays and Business Hours in China

China Public Holidays:

• The New Year's Day-3 days (Jan.1 to Jan.3);
• The Spring Festival-7 days (usually falling in late January or early and mid-February);
• The Qingming Festival-3 days (April 3 to April 5);
• The International Labor Day-3 days (May 1 to May 3);
• The Dragon Boat Festival-3 days (usually falls in Late May or early June)
• The Mid-Autumn Day-3days (usually falls in Late September or early October)
• The October 1st National Day-7 days (Oct.1-Oct.7)
• It is customary for people to "borrow" weekends to make three-day holidays into one-week-long holidays.

Business Hours:
Our company follows the five-day week system, like most of the companies in China. Generally, banks, offices, government departments, and police stations (known as Public Security Bureaus or PSB) are open Monday to Saturday. Most open between 8 and 9 AM, close for lunch from noon to 2 PM, and reopen until 5 or 6. Many branches of the Bank of China and stores catering to foreigners are open Sunday morning. Some close on Wednesday afternoon. Museums are open 9 to 4 six days a week. All businesses are closed on Chinese New Year and other major holidays.

Our working hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (rest from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm)

Accomodation, Food and Transportation

Usually, hotels, food can be easily found around the airport, train station. And there are lots of taxies and buses there as well.

Electricity

To use your U.S.-purchased electric powered equipment, please bring a converter and adapter. The electrical current in China is 220 volts, 50 cycles alternating current (AC); wall outlets take American-style plugs, with two flat parallel prongs; however they may not take the converter's one oversized prong, used for grounding, as generally used in the United States.

If your appliances are dual-voltage, you'll need only an adapter. Don't use 110-volt outlets, marked "For Shavers Only," for high-wattage appliances such as blow-dryers. Most laptops operate equally well on 110 and 220 volts and so require only an adapter.

Health and Calls

Health: The major health risk in China is traveler's diarrhea, caused by eating contaminated fruit, vegetables or drinking contaminated water. So watch what you eat, stay away from ice, uncooked food, and unpasteurized milk and milk products. And drink bottled water or water that has been boiled for at least 20 minutes. Bottled water is widely available in the major cities of China. If you're going to rural areas, bring water purification tablets. Mild cases may respond to Imodium (known generically as loperamide) or Pepto-Bismol (not as strong), both of which can be purchased over the counter. Do NOT buy prescription drugs in China, as its quality control is unreliable. Ask your doctor for an antidiarrheal prescription to take with you. Drink plenty of purified water or tea-chamomile is a good folk remedy. In severe cases, rehydrate yourself with a salt-sugar solution (1/2 teaspoon salt and 4 tablespoons sugar per quart of water).

Pneumonia and influenza are also common among travelers returning from China; many health professionals recommend inoculations for both before you leave. Be sure you're well rested and healthy to start with. According to the National Centers for Disease Control (CDC) there is a limited risk of hepatitis A and B, typhoid, polio, malaria, tuberculosis, dengue fever, tetanus, and rabies in small cities and rural areas. In most urban or easily accessible areas you need not worry. However, if you plan to visit remote regions or stay for more than six weeks, check with the CDC's International Travelers Hotline. In areas where malaria and dengue, both of which are carried by mosquitoes, are prevalent, use mosquito nets, wear clothing that covers the body, apply repellent containing DEET, and use spray for flying insects in living and sleeping areas. Also consider taking antimalarial pills. There is no vaccine that combats dengue.

Emergencies & Telephones:

The country code for China is 86. The area code for Guilin is 773. When making a long-distance call, do not drop the initial 0 from the local area code (as was formerly the procedure).

• Ambulance (PHONE: 120).
• Police (PHONE: 110).
• Fire (PHONE: 119)

(Note: you can also dial 110 for ambulance, police and fire police)

• Information (PHONE: 114)
• Taxi (PHONE: 4644818)
• Tourists Assistance (PHONE: 0773 5833156)
• Weather: 121

Main Embassies in Beijing:

The country code for China is 86. The area code for Guilin is 773. When making a long-distance call, do not drop the initial 0 from the local area code (as was formerly the procedure).

• U. S. A (2 Xiushui Dongjie, Chaoyang District, tel. 010/6532-3431 ext. 229 or 010/6532-3831 ext. 264, fax 010/6532-2483).
• Australia(21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, tel. 010/6532-2331, fax 010/6532-3101).
• Canada (19 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, tel. 010/6532-3536, fax 010/6532-4972).
• U.K. (11 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District, tel. 010/6532-1961, fax 010/6532-1937).

To learn more information, please visit http://www.embassiesinchina.com/ .