CHINA PRACTICALITIES

Passport

• Your passport expiration date must be greater than six months from the date of entry for the visas you are applying for.

• You need to have a full passport with at least two totally blank consecutive pages.

Visa

British nationals require visas to enter Mainland China, but not Hong Kong. Visas cannot be obtained on arrival. Carefully check your visa validity as fines can be levied for overstaying. Visitors on a return trip to Hong Kong from the mainland should ensure they have a double or multiple entry visa to gain re-entry to the mainland.

Visitors who are transiting China en route to a third country (even if in direct transit, ie not leaving the aircraft during a stopover) should ensure that their visa is valid for both their outward and return journey.

• When applying for your visa you can either go to the Chinese Embassy in London or Chinese Consulate in Edinburgh in person or you can use a visa agent to obtain your visa for you. Postal applications are not accepted.

• For your convenience Trips Worldwide can obtain the visa for you at a charge of £60 per person.

• You can not apply before 3 month before your departure date - We suggest applying a month before you depart.

• It normally takes 5 working days to process

• You can apply for a visa for an 'accompanying person' using the same passport. But a photograph of the accompanying person (usually a child), using the same passport, should be affixed to the form. The full visa fee will apply for each person

• A single or double entry tourist visa is usually valid for entry within 3 month from the date of issue and is valid for a trip up to 30 days

Departure Tax

When you depart China there is a 90 Yuan (around £6) departure tax. Departure tax on all other domestic flights is 50 Yuan (around £3). Fees must be paid in Chinese currency at a special airport tax desk before check in.

Time Zones

Time throughout China is set to Beijing time which is eight hours ahead of GMT and seven hours ahead of British Summer Time. Time throughout Hong Kong is set to Beijing.

Airline Regulations on Luggage

The normal weight allowance for one person is 20kg per case. If over 20kg the charge is 1.5% of the airfare per kg of excess luggage.

Clothing

Winter months – October to mid March

Travelling to China during the winter months is ideal as you will avoid the usual crowds. However, please remember that you will need to wrap up warm by wearing several layers of clothing to combat the cold, as much of your time will be spent outside, sightseeing. You will need to take with you a winter coat, hat, gloves and warm comfortable footwear.

Spring months – mid March to mid May

The climate in China during the spring months is pleasant and sunny with daytime temperatures averaging 50-60ºF. However, you will need to take with you a lightweight waterproof jacket in case of the odd rain shower and also a warm sweater/ jacket to wear in the evenings.

Summer months – mid May to September

The climate in China during the summer months will be quite hot, with daytime temperatures reaching the upper 80’s especially in Xian, which can be quite humid, as can Chongqing and the Yangtze Gorges. We therefore recommend that you take with you lightweight clothing.

Cameras & Videos

• Cameras can be used just about everywhere in China, although taking photos is often prohibited inside actual temple buildings e.g. Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai.

• Do Not film police or military installations.

• You can now use cameras/video at the Terra Cotta Warrior Museum.

• There are currently no charges to use cameras in China.

• Camera and Video film, batteries and Memory cards are generally available in China.

Electrical

• Voltage is 220v 50 Hz

• A variety of plugs are in use in China, in most rooms you will find 2 or more different types.

Postcards / Stamps

Postcards in China are always sold in packs of ten and the going rate for a pack of cards is 5+ yuan if they buy from the street vendors and anything up to 5 times that price if they buy in the hotels.

Stamps are available in all hotels, usually from reception or bell boys/concierge and the hotel will send them. Stamps for a postcard to the UK. Costs 5 yuan and from Beijing takes about 8 days to UK.

It is better to buy stamps off the local guides or reception if you want to send postcards. If you buy them from a street trader ensure that they have given you the correct amount of stamps as requested

Currency

The basic unit of Chinese currency is the Yuan (sometimes referred to as Renminbi or RMB).

The Yuan is divided into jiao and fen. There are ten fen in one jiao and ten jiao in one yuan. Paper notes are issued in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 yuan; and 1, 2, 5 jiao.

Coins are in denominations of 1 yuan; 1 and 5 jiao; and 1, 2, and 5 fen (fen are increasingly referred to as cents). At the time of writing there are approximately 15 yuan to UK£1.

It is now possible to obtain Chinese yuan prior to departing the UK. It is best to check with your local Travel Agents or bank as to the amount of yuan that you can bring back with you - i.e. the denominations they will change back.

We still recommend that you take some money in sterling travellers cheques which can be exchanged at your hotel.

Credit Cards

• Most large stores and all tourist shops will accept major credit cards.

• Credit Card charges will show in RMB and be converted by UK credit card company into £.

• There may be a small charge added to the bill for using a credit card.

• ATM machines are more common now in China and passengers can draw funds.

Local Religious Customs

• There are no dress codes for temples.

• Shoes do not have to be removed in temples.

• Shoes should be removed if you visit the mosque in Xian or on the Silk Road tour.

Duty Free

Clients are allowed to import 400 cigarettes and 2 litres of alcohol into China.

Please note that no liquid will be allowed to be carried in hand luggage for the internal flights in China. All alcoholic drinks and any bottles must go into the passengers’ main luggage, only ½ litre of water or fizzy pop can be carried on board the aircraft. Any bottles which exceed the allowed amount may be confiscated.

Telephoning

Most hotels have direct dial facilities. Cost details can be obtained from the hotel operator in advance. Some hotels charge for the connection time so pax may find they’re charged for a call they made when nobody answered. It is possible to buy telephone cards from some hotels in China for ¥50 or ¥100. Almost invariably there will be a phone-card phone in the lobby and a ¥50 card will last around 3 mins. However some of the cards are regional. A phone-card bought in Beijing will not necessarily work from a phone in Xian. Cards marked I.C are the cards pax need and work anywhere if the telephone box is equipped to make international calls.

To call the UK 00 44 omit 0 local code & number.

Local Transport

Taxis are plentiful and cheap. They are metered so there is no need for negotiation before setting off. It is always useful to have your destination written down in Chinese to avoid any misunderstanding. It is also worthwhile carrying the name card of the hotel with you just in case.

Some cities have a limited underground system which is always crowded and used by foreign visitors as a one off experience (Beijing and Shanghai are both worth trying).

Local Cultural Customs

• Shouting and raising ones voice in China is extremely impolite. Displays of anger will get you nowhere.

• Chinese may laugh to cover embarrassment.

• Do not fill your own glass at the table before filling others.

• Do not leave your chopsticks pointing upwards in the bowl – it represents death.

• Chinese give and receive gifts with two hands.

• Many older Chinese do not consider it rude to spit in public, thus they will never sit directly on the ground, rather squat. Spitting is now much less common since SARS outbreak but hoicking, burping and sneezing can be quite common in public.

• Do not give clocks or watches as presents – they represent death.

• Do not give green hats as gifts – they represent adultery.

• Personal questions are quite normal in China e.g. asking ages and salary.

• Feng Shui, the harmonious alignment of buildings and objects, is still practised.

• Losing Face is one of the worst things that can happen in Chinese society.

• Avoid confrontational situations with guides where one side would have to lose face.

• Both sides should always emerge from negotiations with some positive benefit.

• Shows of anger will always cause you to lose face and will be counter productive.