China travel guide: Things you should know before travel

Question: Do I need a visa to visit China?
Answer: Yes, people of non-Chinese nationality need a Chinese Visa to enter China.


Question: How to get a Chinese visa?
Answer:To successfully apply for a Chinese Visa, you need to provide a valid passport, filled application form, and photos in person or through a third person. The process usually takes 5-7 working days.


Most travellers will need a visa. In most cases, this should be obtained from a Chinese embassy or consulate before departure. Please note that traveling to Hong Kong and Macau have different visa requirements. See those guides for more information.

As of 2005, nationals of Singapore, Brunei and Japan do not need a visa to visit China for a stay of up to 15 days, regardless reason of visit.

Hong Kong and Macau residents need to obtain a Home Travel Permit to visit China from the China Travel Service, which is a wallet size ID card valid normally for 10 years multiple entry.

Visa overview

L visa - tourism
F visa - business trips, internships, short study
Z visa - working
X visa - study more than 6 months

Getting a tourist visa is easy for most passports as you don't need an invitation, which you do for business or working visas. It is expensive compared to other countries' visa fees (currently $50 USD for U.S. passport holders and $35 for those hold passports from other countries). The usual tourist single-entry visa is valid for thirty days and must be used within three months after it was issued. However, in Hong Kong and Macau you can often get a 3 month visa.

Some travellers will need a dual entry or multiple entry visa. For example, if you enter China on a single entry visa, then go to Hong Kong or Macau, you cannot re-enter China without a new visa. With a multiple entry visa, you can.

Holders of most passports can easily get Chinese visas in Hong Kong or Macau, either by going to the government office themselves or paying a bit more to have a travel agent do it for them. China Travel Services handles visa processing. Currently they offer Same-day-service at extra cost: in by 12PM, out by 5:30PM. Next day and 3 day services are also available.

Obtaining a visa on arrival is sometimes possible, but usually only for the Shenzhen or Zhuhai Special Economic Zones. This is not recommended as it is not possible at some entry points or for some passports, and the visas are restricted: they do not allow travel outside the SEZ.

There may be restrictions on visas for political reasons and these vary over time. For example as of mid-2004:

Nigerians could not get visas in Hong Kong, presumably because the Chinese Government was upset that Nigeria extended diplomatic recognition to Taiwan.
Americans could no longer get Shenzhen-only visas at the border, presumably because the Chinese Government was irritated by US fingerprinting of Chinese travellers.
British nationals could no longer get Shenzhen-only visas at the border.
As of mid-2006, South Africans are having trouble with visas. No one seems to know why.



Question: For our visas, do we need something from you stating we are traveling with your tour company?
Answer: In some cases, our statement is not a necessity but if required, TravelChinaGuide.com will be delightful to provide you an official invitation letter, which shows we are the agent arranging your Chinese tours for you.


Question: My China trip starts in 6 months. Could you tell me when I should apply for my Visa?
Answer: Our suggestion is not to apply for your tourist visa too early. The earliest time you should consider is 3 months before your trip starts, as 3 month is the duration of a tourist visa. If you apply too early, your visa will be invalid before you enter China. For example, if your trip starts on Oct 10 and your visa is granted on Jun 2, then by Sep 02 your visa will have expired.



Question: Do I need a visa for a visit to Hong Kong?
Answer:Passport holders of certain countries or holding certain passports DO NOT need a visa during the specified visa-free period. Travelers who are not from those countries or those who want to stay longer need to apply for the appropriate visa or entry permit from the nearest Chinese Embassy. As an alternative, you may submit your visa or entry permit application to the HKSAR Immigration Department either directly by post or through a local sponsor.

More detailed information can be accessed at the website of the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region at the following page: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_4.htm



Question: Do I need a visa to enter Macau as a traveler?
Answer:There are more than 50 countries and territories, whose passport holders can enter Macau without a Visa within the 'visa-free period'. For those who need visas, they can get visa approved upon arrival at the airport. For details, please visit the website of the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region at the page:http://www.dsi.gov.mo/index_e1.html

Question: I notice you also organize tours to regional countries around China, so can you handle the Visas for us?
Answer:We suggest our clients handle their own visa applications both for China and other countries, as requirements may vary across the different countries of our visitors. For visas to any other countries you may wish to visit, please contact each country's local Embassy or Consultants for detailed information just as you would for your Chinese Visa.

Question:Is it safe to travel in China?
Answer:Yes. China is still one of the safer travel destinations in the world. Although petty crime, such as pick pocketing and purse snatching is on the increase, especially in major cities, serious crime against foreigners is rare. Also, the Chinese government guarantees the safety of the foreign travelers, even if relations between the visitor's home country and China are poor.
Considering all this, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't be as cautious in China as you would be anywhere else.


Question: What is the best way to visit China - join a pre-packaged tour or travel independently?
Answer:Most visitors to China prefer to take a tour arranged by travel agents, since it is the simplest, most efficient and the most comfortable way of traveling. Independent traveling, though more flexible and easier to customize, is difficult. Problems may arise due to cultural and language barriers for travelers who attempt to arrange accommodations, meals, sightseeing, and transportations for themselves.


Question: When is the best time to visit China?
Answer:In general, April, May, early June, September, October and early November are the best time to visit China.


Question:Do I need vaccinations to enter China?
Answer:Only yellow fever vaccination certificates are required from travelers from infected area. We do suggest travelers follow the suggestions of the World Health Organization and their doctors. We also suggest travelers bring along the international certificate of vaccination, which is often required at the customs.


Question: What health condition do I need to travel to China? Do I need to bring my medical record?
Answer:Generally speaking, there are no special health requirements for travel to China. But for those pregnant, elderly, disabled and child travelers as well as travelers with poor health, special care should be taken. Elderly travelers, or those with medical problems, are advised to make a thorough physical examination before visiting China. Travel to high-altitude areas such as Tibet is not suitable for those with pulmonary or heart problems and hypertension.
All travelers are encouraged to bring along their medical records, which will be of great help should an emergency occur. A complete medical record should include your blood type, vaccination record, allergies, medications you are currently taking (both prescription and non-prescription), your doctor's name, address, phone number, emergency contact name and phone number, and your insurance company's name, address and phone number.



Question:What should I pack?
Answer:We suggest you pack lightly, as most of the daily articles are available in China.


Question:May I take Chinese currency to China for my convenience?
Answer:Yes, you can take CNY to China, but you are limited in the value you can bring in accordance with the regulations of the General Administration of China Customs published on Jul 1st, 2005. According to the regulation, passengers who carry over CNY20, 000 in cash or foreign currencies in cash with a value exceeding US$ 5,000 shall be dealt with by the Customs according to relevant regulations currently in force. In the case that passengers carry foreign currencies exceeding US$ 5,000 in cash, and the intension is to take this money out of the country at the end of their stay, the passengers must complete Customs Declaration Forms in duplicate, one copy of which shall, after being endorsed by the Customs, be returned to the passengers for relevant procedures at the time of their exit.
It is quite easy to exchange your currency into CNY at your arrival airports, as well as hotels and banks in China, so it is not really necessary to bring Chinese currency to China.

China travel guide: Things you should know about China

Capital: Beijing Government: Communist state
Currency: Yuan (CNY) or Renminbi (RMB)
Area: 9,596,960 km2 Population: 1,313,973,713 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Mandarin (Putonghua), Cantonese (Yue), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages
Religion: Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2% (officially atheist)
Electricity: 220V/50Hz (various plugs)
Calling Code: 86 Internet TLD: .cn Time Zone: UTC +8

Question: What are the most popular destinations in China?
Answer: Besides the popular cities (Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Shanghai), some routes, provinces and old towns are also popular. These include Yangtze River cruises, Silk Road adventures, Mystical Tibet, old town Lijiang, water town Zhouzhuang and Zhujiajiao.


Question: Is bike riding a good way of exploring city life in China?
Answer:Riding a bicycle means you have joined the Chinese. A bike will easily take you to places that other means of transportation can not usually access. You also have an additional advantage of freedom of movement-you can stop wherever you want.
In China, most hotels and travel agencies provide bike rental services for visitors. When renting a bike a valid ID, such as a passport, and a deposit are usually required for each rental. Bikes returned in good condition should receive the deposit refund together with a receipt.

Here are some tips for biking in China:

Always ride on the right side of the street
Make a gesture and let others know when you want to make a left or right turn
Obey instructions by traffic police, and when an accident happens, immediately go to the police
It is prohibited to carry person on the back seat or ride "hands-free"
Avoid the roads during the peak hours of 7:00-8: 30 in the morning and 4:00-6:00 in the afternoon.



Question: I'm quite interested in trekking; could you give me some information on mountains in China?
Answer: The five most famous mountains in China are Mt. Taishan in Shandong, Mt. Hengshan in Hunan, Mt. Hengshan in Shanxi Mt. Huashan in Shaanxi and Mt. Songshan in Henan. You will see when you visit the following link that we organize most of the China major attractions into different categories, like temples, mountain, rivers, ancient cities, etc.


Question: What lawful rights, interests and obligations are foreigners entitled to in China?
Answer:
The General Principles of the Constitution of PRC indicate definitely that "the People's Republic of China protects the lawful rights and interests of foreigners within Chinese territory, and while on Chinese territory foreigners must abide by the law of the People's Republic of China."

Within Chinese territory, the legitimate rights and interests of the foreign visitors are protected by the People's Republic of China. And the freedom of foreign visitors is as inviolable as that of the Chinese nationals. Similar to nationals, all foreign visitors must abide by the law of the People's Republic of China. Any activities that disrupt public order, threaten public security, or infringe upon the interests of the state, the society or the collective would be punished according to the laws of China.

Within the period of their visas, foreign visitors can freely travel the areas open to foreigners. They should, however, respect the traditions and customs of local areas. Those who want to visit areas that are not open to foreigners should apply for a Foreigners Travel Permit from the local public security organ. Only after the approval is granted, can they enter the area legally.




Question: How do foreigners go about protecting their rights and interests?
Answer:The People's Republic of China protects the lawful rights and interests of foreigners within Chinese territory. If your legal rights and interests are infringed or something unpleasant happens to you, you may complain to related organs.
Complain to the National Tourism Administrative Bureau directly or to the Institutions of Supervision over Quality in each province, when:

Your travel agents, hotels or other travel operators offer you poor service or do not follow the agreement
The guides or other travel staffs extort money from you
You are injured or your baggage is damaged/ lost due to the fault of the travel operators

Also, all large tourist cities have hot lines for tourists to voice their complaints. Most of the complainants were satisfied with the verdicts, which were determined after thorough investigations and verification of facts.