China Travel Notes

China Climate

Pre Departure Planning

Travel and Cancellation Insurance

Obtain adequate cancellation insurance. Each year, we have several clients who must cancel trips for the most unexpected reasons. Cancellation insurance also covers trip delay, invaluable for booking alternative flights and hotels on the spot. We can provide a competitive quote through our partner, CSA Protection.

Similarly, ensure you have adequate emergency medical insurance, which covers urgent care and emergency air evacuation. Please ask us for a quote through our long-time (since 1996) in-country partner International SOS, which unlike intermediaries like TravelGuard, does not require time-delaying calls to international agents for services.

Passport Requirements

Your passport must have at least six months remaining validity from the date you intend to leave China.

You will need to renew your passport if it expires less than six months after the end of your trip.

Visa Requirements

Almost all travelers require a visa for stays in excess of 72 hours. This process can be done in person at the Chinese Embassy, or by sending your passport and completed forms to the Chinese Embassy. Or through Indochina Travel.

A standard tourist visa will be valid for 30 days and must be used within three months of the date of issue. A double entry visa will usually be valid for two visits of up to 30 days within a six month period.

There are some nuances to the visa system. Hong Kong and Macau are not part of mainland China. Most visitors can visit these states visa free for up to 90 days. However, when arriving from the mainland, travelers are stamped out of China and into Hong Kong. To return to the mainland you'll need a double entry visa.

The other exception to requiring a visa is 72-hour stopovers in one of five cities. Visitors can now stopover in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing, without having a visa. You're limited to staying within the metropolitan district in question and must have an onward flight. Note that a return flight is not eligible. This new rule provides opportunities to see a bit of China on a wider trip through Asia.

Obtaining a Visa

Indochina Travel may apply for your China visa, please inquire.

1. Indochina Travel will send you of the relevant forms to be completed, along with exact visa requirements.
2. FEDEX your passport, forms, photos, and applications to our San Francisco office.
3. Indochina Travel will apply at the San Francisco Chinese Consulate for your visa and FEDEX your passport back to you upon completion.

Luggage

Regional and domestic airlines restrict luggage to one piece with a weight of no more than 20 Kilograms (44 pounds) per person. Your passport, travel documents, jewelry, money, camera, fragile items and any medication should be hand-carried and not checked in.

On domestic flights, each passenger is allowed one piece of hand luggage.

Our China guided tours often connect a wide variety of destinations in just one or two weeks. You'll want to pack lightly for mobility and convenience as well as having a day pack for excursions.

Packing List

Indochina Travel can provide a detailed packing list before arrival, based on your destinations and time of travel.

Revealing clothing is not as much an issue in China as other conservative cultures in the region. When visiting religious shrines and temples, modest dress is required and easily removable footwear is recommended since such sacred grounds must be visited only in bare feet (with no socks). Having a sarong to use as quick wrap may be useful.

In remote areas, Western-style sit toilets may be scarce. Carry extra tissue on you for such stops.

Landing in China

All our private China tours included airport meet and greet services, with chauffeured transfers throughout.

Hong Kong Airport Notes

ARRIVAL: No visa is required for Hong Kong. Escorted China tours include a private transfer to city hotels (35 minutes). If you have a stopover in Hong Kong, the airport has ATMs to obtain cash before you transfer into the city.

TRANSIT: No visa is required for Hong Kong although you will pass through a quick immigration and security screening checkpoint. The airport is easy to navigate and efficient, leaving plenty of time to shop and eat. Level 7, the top floor, has noodle and fast food restaurants, including a McDonald's. There are also two Starbucks on level 5 and 6, which open at 7:00 a.m. The airport offers free Wifi Internet access and device charging stations (British-style adapter required).

Beijing Airport Notes

ARRIVAL: Visa required in advance of arrival. You will meet your escort after exiting baggage hall and take a private transfer to a city hotel.

TRANSIT: No visa is required for transit to connecting international flight or a layover of less than 72 hours. However, you will need to clear immigration before your connecting flight; a copy of your flight itinerary is required for this. The new airport is easy to navigate and efficient, with many places to shop and eat. The airport offers free WiFi Internet access although you must request an access code at any information kiosk.

Shanghai Airport Notes

ARRIVAL: Visa required in advance of arrival. Meet escort after exiting baggage hall for a private transfer to your hotel.

TRANSIT: No visa is required for transit to connecting international flight or layovers less than 72 hours. Note that you will need to pass through immigration before connecting with your onward flight; a copy of your flight itinerary is required for this. Free WiFi is available throughout the airport and there is a food court on the top floor.

Communication

Most hotels now provide free WiFi internet. There's been a surge in mobile internet connectivity with 3G and 4G connections available.

Note that China blocks a number of popular Western websites, including Facebook and media sources. This ban isn't applied in Hong Kong.

Money Matters

All top-end hotels and some top-end restaurants add a ‘service charge' of 10% or 15%. Tipping is not customary at these venues as you are already paying the ‘tourist price.' An appropriate tip for guides and drivers ranges from USD 10-20 per person/day.

The local currency is the Yuan or Renminbi.

Major credit cards are accepted in hotels and larger establishments. ATM facilities are found throughout the country but it can be recommended to stock up on cash before visiting rural areas.

US dollars are easy to change although travelers cheques are becoming increasingly difficult to change.

Language

Language is one of China's great challenges. And lovable surprises. In most countries, it's relatively to easy to learn a few basic phrases and combine them with locals' pidgin English. Unfortunately, Mandarin's tonal structure can make ordering a bowl of rice a real learning curve.

Reading often brings the most frustration. Turn up at the train station and a dazzling collection of symbols indicate your destination. So which is Shanghai? And which is Guangzhou? And what do all the strange lines and slants mean on the train ticket? It's time like these that you're always glad of an English-speaking local guide.

In the last ten years there's been a huge move by the Chinese government to incorporating Chinese. This is centered on Beijing and the city was transformed for the 2008 Olympics. Shanghai is even more multilingual, and Hong Kong will pose no problems (it was a British colony after all). In these, and many other major cities in the east of China you'll find signs in English in train stations and on the streets. Rural communities and smaller destinations are where you'll face greater challenges.

All our escorted China tours are led by experienced English-speaking guides. They also act as translators, enabling you to communicate with people across the country. High-end tourist establishments understand the importance of English communication and we only recommended hotels where English is spoken.

Health and Medical

China is a very safe and friendly place to travel. Medical facilities are excellent and crime is extremely low.

The following information must be viewed as a guide. It is not intended, nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Indochina Travel does not guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of any of this information and will not be liable for any loss, damage or injury directly or indirectly caused by this material or its use.

Eating and Drinking

Digestion problems are the most common traveler complaint in China but may come on due to travel fatigue, heat, or other reasons aside from food-borne bacteria. Still, the old travel maxim holds true: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it. Raw vegetables or any other uncooked foods will rarely be served in China, aside from luxury hotels and high-end restaurants. Also avoid dairy products which are not typically prepared or eaten in the region.

Chinese cuisine is typically fresh and safe to eat. Some of the most interesting meals can be had from street vendors, but caution is warranted, especially with dishes such as raw spring rolls, which may contain uncooked greens. For water, drink only bottled water. Locals, you'll notice, typically drink boiled tea, not water (which is not customarily offered). Ice is made from purified water.

Mosquitoes

In the countryside at dusk, wearing long pants and using repellent around your ankles and other exposed skin will deter bites. Be alert when eating outside (and often inside) — mosquitoes favor the draft-less, dark underside of tables (restaurants may also burn coil repellent).

Immunization and Vaccinations

Please review immunizations recommendations with your doctor or travel medicine clinic at least two months prior to travel.

Various Health agencies recommend the following vaccinations for China (none are required for entry).

• Polio booster
• Tetanus — diphtheria booster (effective for 10 years)
• MMR — Measles, mumps, rubella (update vaccines)
• BCG (Tuberculosis)
• Hepatitis A & B
• Japanese Encephalitis (monsoon season only)

Receiving a fuller immunization schedule may be unnecessary, expensive, and time-consuming considering the relatively short length of your trip, travel season, nature of your travel, and area of your stay (typically hotels in urban areas).

Malaria is no longer a concern in China. The whole of China is now rated at low to no risk, with antimalarials not usually advised.

Official Health and Safety Information links:

• U.S. State Department: www.travel.state.gov/travel/
• CDC: www.cdc.gov/travel/ (or by telephone: 800-232-4636)
• MD Travel Health: www.mdtravelhealth.com

Medical Facilities

Medical facilities in China can be excellent, particularly in the modern cities in the east of the country. However, facilities in rural China may be primitive. In an emergency, with your consent, efforts may be made to arrange transport to regional hospitals, or air evacuation to Beijing, Hong Kong, or Shanghai, which have world-class medical facilities.

For minor health issues, local pharmacies are well-stocked with a wide variety of western drugs and medications.

Medication

If you are taking medication, remember to bring enough medication to last the entire vacation, as it may be difficult to obtain a prescription for pre-existing conditions once traveling. We also recommend that you pack your medication as part of your carry-on luggage in case your main luggage is delayed. If you have a notable medical condition, please inform us in advance; no one likes surprises. All medical records will be kept strictly confidential.

Personal Security

Despite a tumultuous history, China is among the safest regions in the world for travelers. Aside from petty theft, crime against foreigners is unheard of. Thefts from hotels is very rare — its wise to leave all valuables like passport and cash in your vehicle or hotel safe.