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TRAVEL GUIDE TO CHINA
Airport Taxes
When you depart China there is a 90 Yuan
(around US$11) departure tax for international flights payable in
Chinese currency before check in. Departure tax on all other domestic
flights is included in your tour.
Baggage
On Domestic flights,
passengers are allowed 44 pounds of luggage per person. On International
flights, passengers are allowed two pieces of checked luggage. Excess
luggage fees will be charged if you check more than the stated
allowances, and these charges are your responsibility. At most
major airports, baggage carts are available for your luggage, usually
for a small additional fee.
Climate
and Clothing
China's geographic area is slightly larger than the U.S.A; it covers
similar latitudes, with the lion's share located in the temperate zone.
This provides endless year-round variety for visitors to the country,
from ice festivals in the north to tropical beach resorts in the south.
Keep in mind the vast distances between destinations when planning your
trip. Traveling, along the popular Golden Route (Beijing, Xi'an,
Shanghai, Guilin) is the rough equivalent of visiting Chicago,
Washington DC, Atlanta, and Miami, all in one trip. Weather wise,
Shanghai and Guangzhou's climates resemble those of US southeastern
coastal states, while Beijing's climate is more like Chicago's.
While China is a year-round destination, the months of May, September,
and October are ideal months for travel anywhere in the country. In the
north, the winters are cold, and summers are warm, with moist monsoon
air streams making it hot (80% of China's rainfall occurs between late
May and early October, mostly in the Southern regions). June through
August is a good time to visit central and northern China. Spring and
autumn are the best months for travel in Southern China. The months of
March and April are the lower-priced shoulder season; while the lowest
price, off-season travel, is from November through the winter months.
This is when adventuresome travelers are rewarded with unbelievably low
prices and far fewer fellow tourists.
Communications
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In towns and cities, IDD service is provided
at all hotels and post offices. Phone cards are available in post
offices inside hotels or in the streets. Even more conveniently, most
newsstands in major cities also carry phone cards. Telephone booths in
the streets are mostly for local calls.
Tourist hotels provide postal services. If
you want to send important items such as antiques and cultural relics
that are under customs control, you will have to ask for the help of the
local branch of the international post office, instead of the small post
office in a hotel.
Currency
Renminbi,
the Chinese currency, is issued by the state bank, the People's Bank of
China. The standard unit of the Renminbi is yuan, with jiao
and fen as the subsidiary units. Thus one yuan equals ten jiao and one
jiao equals ten fen. Yuan, jiao and fen are issued both in bills of
exchange and coins. Renminbi features the following denominations: one,
two, five, ten, fifty and a hundred yuan; one, two, and five jiao; and
one, two and five fen. The abbreviation for Renminbi is RMB.
Conversion services are available in China for the following foreign
currencies: US Dollar, British Pound Sterling, French Franc, Deutsche
Mark, Japanese Yen, Australian Dollar, Austrian Schilling, Belgian
Franc, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Swiss Franc, Danish Krone,
Guilder (or Florin) , Norwegian Krone, Swedish Krone, Singapore Dollar,
Malaysian Ringgit, Italian Lira, Macao Pataca, and Finnish Markka.
The Chinese bank handles conversion of the above-mentioned foreign
currencies into Renminbi or vice versa.
Different conversion rates are applied under different circumstances.
Buying prices are applied for the conversion of traveler's cheques,
credit cards and remittances; selling prices are applied for the
conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies (cash included); and
buying prices are used for the conversion of foreign cash into Renminbi.
So far the following foreign credit cards are acceptable in China:
1)Master;
2)Visa;
3)American Express;
4)JCB;
5)Diners.
Customs Regulations
According to related laws and regulations, the
luggage of inbound and outbound passengers must come under customs
supervision and control. Passengers should make accurate declarations to
customs officials regarding the luggage they carry into or out of the
territory.
Electricity
Electrical appliances will require an adapter
that can change the shape of the plug prongs, as well as an electrical
voltage converter that will allow a normal 110-volt American appliance
to take 220 Volt Chinese current. Most hotels have a hair-dryer in each room.
Food and
Water
All
breakfasts served in the hotel are Western and Chinese Buffets, with a large choice
of items to choose from. All lunches will be Chinese-style served at
local restaurants. Many dinners
will also be Chinese-style at local restaurants, while others may be
Western-style in the hotels where you stay.
For Chinese lunches and dinners at local restaurants, beverages
are included, but type of included beverage varies from restaurant to
restaurant. We recommend that when you arrive at the restaurant you
check which beverages are included, so you can avoid extra charges.
Please keep in mind that beverages that you order, not included on the
menu, are your own responsibility and are payable directly to the
restaurant. In the case of Western-style hotel dinners, drinks are never
included and must be purchased individually.
Not all the tap water in China is potable, but bottled mineral water
is for sale everywhere and we recommend that
you use bottled water for drinking.
Heath
Matters
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No special vaccinations are required, but
those who have traveled from an infected area before coming to China
should have vaccination records available for a Health Declaration form
upon arrival.
You can also
contact the Center for Disease Control (C.D.C.) 404-639-3534 for updated
information.
Holidays
New Year's Day - Jan 1st;
Chinese New Year/Spring Festival - late Jan or early/mid-Feb (7 - 10
days)
Ching Ming Festival - Apr
Labor Day - May 1st (7 - 10 days)
Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival - Jun
Mid-Autumn Festival - Mid Sep
National Day -Oct 1st (7-10 days)
Passports and Visas
A passport is required to
enter China and it must be valid for more than six months after the
return date of travel. Visas are required by all foreigners
entering mainland China although, at this stage, visas are not required
by Western nationals visiting Hong Kong and Macau. Travelers in transit
can stay in China visa-free for up to 24 hours as long as they have an
onward air ticket for a flight from China to another destination
departing within that time period. Visas are available from Chinese
embassies and consulates in most countries. Explorient offers Visa
application service to China.
Time Difference
Chinese standard Time
is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and 13 hours ahead of Eastern
Standard Time, USA.
Tipping
Tipping is customary and expected by
travel guides, tour bus drivers, porters and in hotels. On tours with private
sightseeing, gratuities of $8-$10 for travel guides, $2-$3 for drivers
per person per day is customary.
Transportation
Arrangements for domestic air and ground transportation are included and
made by the ground operator. All ground transportation, airport
transfers and sightseeing will be provided
via private car and guide. Travel by motor coach will be
by modern air-conditioned coaches for large groups.
China is generally safe
for tourists. While on your own, you are free to explore on
your own through a variety of transportation; however, we recommend the
use of taxis as they are both convenient and inexpensive.
What to Pack?
Valid Passport.
Travelers Checks. Copy of Your Airline Ticket. Your Medicines. Departure
documents. Voltage
converter. Travel alarm clock.
Camera(s), batteries & films. Sunscreen/Tan lotion. Pocket size
Kleenex. Extra luggage locks/keys. First Aid kit. Soft, foldable
slippers. Extra set of eyeglasses. Folding Umbrella. Comfortable
walking shoes. Back to Top▲ |
